Superintendent/President

Position Overview

Download Position Profile Here

Santa Monica College invites applications, nominations, and expressions of interest for the position of Superintendent/President.

The Superintendent/President is the Chief Executive Officer of the Santa Monica Community College District and President of Santa Monica College. Responsibilities are carried out in keeping with the policies and expectations of the seven-member elected Board of Trustees and a Student Trustee, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, and state law in a collegial manner.

Founded in 1929, Santa Monica College (SMC) is a two-year community college accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. SMC is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Black-Serving Institution and is the leader in California’s 116 community colleges system in transfers to the University of California, serving over 26,000 students each semester and offering 200+ academic and career-preparation programs spread over 65 disciplines.

The most competitive candidates will have experience working in a diverse academic and socioeconomic educational environment; demonstrated commitment to equity-focused leadership, responsiveness, and sensitivity to every aspect of human diversity and active promotion of an inclusive educational and working environment; a minimum of a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent; and a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible senior administrative leadership experience in education, or comparable executive leadership experience, with a demonstrated record of effective organizational management, sound business and operational practices, and strong fiscal oversight. An earned doctorate or other terminal degree from an accredited institution is preferred.

Starting salary is $360,000 – $420,000. The District pays 100% of the medical, dental, and vision premiums for the employee and eligible dependents; this may be subject to changes per the benefit plan year. A District-paid Life and AD&D Insurance covers the employee only. The total compensation package for the Superintendent/President is negotiable.

To review the job posting in its entirety and additional information about Santa Monica College please visit here: Superintendent/President Search - Santa Monica College.

Desired Qualities, Experiences, And Qualifications

Santa Monica College seeks a bold, creative, transformational visionary who will embrace the task of revitalizing the College following a period of enrollment and budgetary challenges. The next Superintendent/President will be an evidence-driven executive who governs collaboratively, a superb communicator across all forms, and possesses the emotional intelligence and empathy to improve morale in the face of these challenges. Successful leadership experience in community colleges and a terminal degree are preferred. Candidacies from fields other than higher education are welcome, provided such individuals exhibit an exceptional track record of leading complex organizations.

The New Superintendent/President Will

Leadership

• Lead the effort to ensure the College’s culture aligns with its mission and vision
• Champion Vision 2030: A Roadmap for California Community Colleges, a call to action for all 116 colleges across the state to lead with equity and excellence, act with urgency, and serve as a force for economic mobility, environmental stewardship, and community resilience
• Foster high standards of academic achievement and rigor in the classroom
• Be an advocate for underrepresented groups and work with colleagues to close equity gaps and foster dialogue about diversity and inclusion
• Be an advocate for academic freedom
• Ensure that faculty, classified professionals, staff, managers, and students feel their perspectives are welcomed and are valued in furthering inclusive decision-making and participatory governance
• Form an effective and collaborative working relationship with the Board of Trustees
• Solicit input from all stakeholders and welcome feedback on issues facing the College
• Model lifelong learning
• Use data to inform decisions and to ground choices in evidence

Strategic Management

• Articulate a compelling, shared vision for the future that galvanizes support for the path forward
• Be an astute observer of higher education trends
• Demonstrate past success in leading aspirational strategic planning efforts, including implementation over the short- and long-term
• Demonstrate experience implementing or significantly advancing Guided Pathways or comparable structural reforms with measurable improvements in completion and equity outcomes
• Engage artificial intelligence and emerging educational technologies thoughtfully and ethically, with attention to equity, participatory governance, and student success

External Affairs

• Have the skills to navigate the rapid changes in higher education policy at the federal level
• Have a record of success in private fundraising or the potential to succeed in this area
• Be active in the broader community and seek partnerships that benefit the College
• Serve as an effective advocate for the College with policy makers at all levels of government

Personal Characteristics

• Model the highest standards of trust, integrity and transparency
• Have a good sense of humor and an optimistic outlook
• Be a visible presence on campus and demonstrate an engaging, approachable, and collaborative leadership style

Minimum Qualifications

• All candidates must have evidence of responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students as these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practices; AND
• Earned master's degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent; AND
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible senior administrative leadership experience in education, or comparable executive leadership experience, with a demonstrated record of effective organizational management, sound business and operational practices, and strong fiscal oversight. Qualifying experience must include reporting directly to a governing board or chief executive officer and responsibility for strategic leadership, financial management, and institutional effectiveness.
• Experience working in a diverse academic and socioeconomic educational environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity-focused leadership, responsiveness, and sensitivity to every aspect of human diversity and active promotion of an inclusive educational and working environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and student success.

Nominations and Applications

The Search Consultants’ review of applications will begin immediately. Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit early in the process. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, to ensure full consideration, applications should be received by July 22, 2026.

Application materials should be submitted in PDF format through the AGB Search portal at: Superintendent/President – Santa Monica College and must include the following:

• Letter of Interest: A letter (seven pages or less) addressing why they are interested in the position, how they meet the qualifications identified in the profile, and how they would address the major challenges and opportunities facing Santa Monica College identified in the profile;
• Curriculum Vitae/Resume: A current curriculum vitae or resume of professional experience, accomplishments, and educational background;
• References: The contact information for five professional references, including email address, phone number, and relationship to the candidate. No references will be contacted without prior explicit approval.

Please direct nominations, confidential inquiries or any questions regarding the application process to ***email_hidden*** or one of the AGB Search consultants listed below.

Kim Bobby, Ed.D., Principal

[email protected] / 253-861-7738

Frederick V. Moore, J.D./M.B.A., Senior Executive Search Consultant

[email protected] / 712-299-2544

The Santa Monica Community College District is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants for employment, as well as District employees, shall have full and equal access to employment opportunities. No person shall be subjected to unlawful discrimination in any program or activity of the District. The District’s Board Policy 3420 (Equal Employment Opportunity) may be accessed at: https://admin.smc.edu/administration/governance/board-of-trustees/documents/Board-Policy-Updates-6-2024/BP-3410-Nondiscrimination-7-2023.pdf

The District is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. The District will provide equal employment opportunities in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, and will implement a comprehensive program to put those principles into practice.

Salary & Benefits

Starting salary is $360,000 – $420,000. The District pays 100% of the medical, dental, and vision premiums for the employee and eligible dependents; this may be subject to changes per the benefit plan year. A District-paid Life and AD&D Insurance covers the employee only. The total compensation package for the Superintendent/President is negotiable.

Additional Information

The Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1987, Public Law 99-603 requires that employers obtain documentation from every new employee which authorizes that individual to accept employment in this country. This requirement applies to both United States citizens and aliens. Any employee who is unwilling/unable to fulfill this requirement will not be employed. Santa Monica College does not sponsor applicants for visas.

If accommodations are needed for the application process in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact Karen Monzon at 310-434-4942 or [email protected].

It is the policy of the SMCCD that all candidates for employment need to be cleared for employment through the process of background check and verification of prior employment, references, and credentials.

Crime awareness and campus security information are available from Campus Police and Safety. (Public Law 101-542)

The Santa Monica Community College District does not discriminate in the educational programs and activities operated by the District, or in employment procedures and practices of the District.

The Board of Trustees reserves the right to extend time limits or to reinstate the search process at any time. Moreover, the Board of Trustees may choose to pursue an external appointment pursuant to the guidelines set forth in Title 5 regulations. SMCCD is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from underrepresented minorities and the disabled.

Equity Statement

Santa Monica College encourages equity-minded candidates to apply. SMC is a minority-serving, Hispanic-serving institution. We actively seek to attract candidates from minority groups that value equity, diversity, and inclusion. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are built into the culture at SMC and are an essential component of the work that we do. SMC is committed to racial and socioeconomic diversity as it reflects our student population, and we strive to hire candidates who share this commitment.

Diversity Statement

Experience working with African American, Latinx, Native American, and other racially minoritized students in the classroom, and a willingness to use culturally responsive instructional practices. Demonstrated sensitivity to issues of diversity and ability to motivate and teach community college students of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, sexual orientations, genders, cultures, and learning styles, as well as students with disabilities or varied levels of academic preparation. Please review our Faculty/Staff Diversity Reports at: https://admin.smc.edu/administration/human resources/diversity-equity-inclusivity/diversity-reports.php.