USciences President Job Description and Contact Information

ABOUT THE NEXT PRESIDENT
University of the Sciences’ (USciences) 22^nd president will be a visionary leader, strategic thinker, proven fund raiser and student-centric individual who inspires excellence in others.  S/he shall demonstrate experience in transforming an organization from vision through to implementation and outcomes and will value USciences’ desire to be the premier university educating professionals in healthcare professions, sciences, and healthcare business and policy.  This person will excel as chief ambassador and honor the unique history and traditions of the University.

Responsibilities and Working Relationships
The president will be the chief executive officer of the University and will be responsible for the overall direction of its affairs.  The president will have charge, supervision and authority over all the business and affairs of the University, subject to the control and direction of the Board of Trustees.

As the chief executive officer, the president works in close collaboration not only with the Board of Trustees, but also with a wide range of internal and external constituencies to provide overall leadership and direction for the University.  The president is expected to foster and build upon the existing strengths and traditions of the University and provide the personal and professional leadership to guide its future course.  The president is also expected to nurture the human and financial resources of the University and advance its role and standing in higher education not only throughout the region, but also on both the national and global levels.

The president reports to the Board of Trustees and: 

• exercises very broad delegated powers in accordance with the policies established by the Board of Trustees;
• keeps the Board of Trustees closely apprised of developments within the University;  and
• formulates plans and policies for Board consideration and approval, and implements the resulting board policies. 

The president is an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board of Trustees.  The president oversees and assumes fiscal responsibility for the financial operations of the University, and in doing so, prepares and submits a budget for the University for the next fiscal year to the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees prior to the annual meeting.

The president embraces and maintains a prominent and sustained role in fundraising, including direct solicitations from private donors, as well as private and public industries and entities, to expand the University’s resource base, operating funds, additions to the endowment fund, gifts for facilities and research grants and contracts.

The president, in collaboration with the faculty, staff and students, strives for the highest levels of achievement and academic rigor in all curricular and extracurricular activities in which the University participates.  The president supports and furthers the University’s community service, especially within the Philadelphia region.

The president serves as an advocate for higher education and health care at international, national, and regional levels.  This individual is expected to assess the future health care needs of society and the roles of the University and higher education in meeting those challenges, including a strong commitment to respecting and valuing the differences among the diverse groups comprising our community, our nation and the world.

The president recruits, develops, and retains excellent administrators, delegating requisite authority to them and providing a climate in which they can function effectively.  The president effectively communicates and interacts with all constituencies of the campus community, including alumni and the public at large, to carry out the University’s mission and objectives.  The president also builds and sustains strategic external partnerships that are mutually beneficial.

Opportunities and Expectations for Leadership
The incoming president will join USciences at a pivotal time, at a moment of great challenge, promise and opportunity.  The University is undergoing strategic planning, and this transformational leader will be instrumental in addressing both opportunities and challenges as USciences continues to adapt to a changing educational environment and respond to the evolving needs of the science and health care industries. In this key role, the president will have the opportunity to: 

• Oversee, contribute to and implement the strategic plan and articulate a vision for USciences, unifying all University constituencies and building a strong sense of identity, community and common high purpose among students, faculty,  administrators, external stakeholders, and strategic partners;
• Elevate the academic reputation of the University and distinguish it among its peers as a world-class institution and the first choice for students seeking excellence in the health professions and sciences;
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with health care industry leaders and other factions to support growth, learning and research at the University, enhancing program offerings and student clinical experiences;
• Propel USciences forward into an era of enhanced financial stability by continuing to strengthen the University’s endowment, engaging major donors and managing resources wisely, focusing them where they will be most effective; and
• Expand the University’s technological reach through online and distance learning and enhance existing campus technologies and facilities to meet current and emerging needs.

Key Success Factors
Leading candidates for this presidency will appreciate the distinctive mission and focus of the University and will have distinguished records of both professional accomplishment and administrative experience in the field of higher education or health care.  Leadership experience should show a talent for articulating a vision, setting both short- and long-term goals, and confidently overseeing the implementation of these goals.

In addition to possessing a strong record of leadership, the president must: 

• Articulate a clear academic and organizational vision that unites all the Colleges and defines the University’s overarching strategy and its place among other institutions of higher learning;
• Be a confident, proven fund raiser willing to engage major donors to bring together the vision and initiatives of the University with the resources to implement them;
• Be entrepreneurial, creative and persuasive in ability to initiate and implement innovative strategic change in collaboration with the Board of Trustees;
• Communicate openly and respectfully with all constituents of the University, including students, faculty, alumni, administration staff, the surrounding communities, strategic partners, and the Board of Trustees to clarify issues and elaborate decisions;
• Be visibly involved, interactive, and act as a motivator who sets a tone of excellence and inspires respect among all University constituencies;
• Be accountable and have the ability to delegate effectively and inspire others to great leadership;
• Exercise fiscal responsibility with University funds;
• Value transparency and an environment of shared governance;
• Be a discerning listener, open, accessible, trusting of others, and responsive to the ideas of others, fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment;
• Be willing to confront difficult choices and be thoughtful, fair, courageous, compassionate and objective in decision-making;
• Maintain appropriate balance between academic, research and social interests in keeping with the University’s mission and priorities;
• Be visible as an advocate for health care improvement on a national level;
• Possess an understanding of higher education and the role of a University in educating students and practitioners in the science and healthcare professions; and
• Be mindful and respectful of the University’s history and unique opportunity to be preeminent in the fields of science and healthcare professions.

Preferred characteristics include:

• Strong moral character and unfailing personal and professional integrity;
• The ability to be active, energetic, dynamic and well-organized;
• A demonstrated record of effective and courageous leadership;
• Expertise in applied learning in the health care professions and sciences;
• A demonstrated capacity to think boldly and creatively; and
• A passion for the science and healthcare professions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For additional information about University of the Sciences and the Presidential Search, please visit its Web site at: www.usciences.edu/presidentsearch.

COMPENSATION
Salary and benefits will be competitive. 

STARTING DATE
2012 

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS
The review of credentials will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

For best consideration, please send materials no later than December 5, 2011. Please send all nominations and applications, electronically and in confidence, to: 

Shelly Weiss Storbeck, Managing Partner, and Julia Patton, Associate Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, LLC
USciences@storbeckpimentel.com

University of the Sciences is an equal opportunity employer.