Job Summary

Application Deadline: Monday, October 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

NOTE: Application materials that are submitted on the last day of application and are timed out will not be accepted.

Department: Office of Instruction

Months worked out of the year: 12 months

FTE: 1.00

Starting Salary Range:
Confidential Administrators Range 12
$13,458 (Step A) - $14,556 (Step C) Per Month
Based on education and experience

Anticipated Start Date: January 2027

Job Description

Cuyamaca College seeks talented, dedicated, and diverse candidates to apply for the Vice President of Instruction position. The successful candidate will be an equity-minded, dynamic, and collaborative leader who is deeply committed to advancing access, equity, and success for our diverse student body and who has a track record of creating and maintaining a work environment characterized by care, collegiality, trust, and inclusion. They will value and support the expertise and contributions of faculty and staff, engage constituents meaningfully in decision-making, and cultivate a culture in which students, faculty, and staff feel welcomed, respected, and empowered to succeed.

The person serving in this position will provide administrative leadership and oversight for the College’s instructional programs and services, Learning Resource Center, and workforce training and development. The Vice President of Instruction will serve as a member of Cuyamaca College’s President’s Cabinet and as a member of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Chancellor’s Administrative Leadership Group and will actively lead and collaborate in the participatory governance processes in partnership with College and District leaders.

Established in 1978, Cuyamaca College is a diverse, welcoming community where students belong and thrive. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, we view this designation not simply as a status, but as a commitment to action. The College is intentional about advancing access, equity, and success for our Black and African American students and supporting our large Middle Eastern and North African community. Cuyamaca College is recognized in California for its equity-minded and innovative approaches to education and its commitment to creating clear, accessible pathways that support students' educational and career goals. For more information about Cuyamaca College, please visit: .

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting to the President of Cuyamaca College, the Vice President of Instruction (VPI) serves as the College’s chief instructional officer, championing equity, excellence, teaching, and learning across a comprehensive instructional portfolio serving over 9,000 students each semester. The VPI provides leadership for instructional programs, curriculum, course offerings, scheduling, enrollment management, and initiatives that respond to student, community, and workforce needs.

As a trusted partner to faculty, the VPI works within a culture of shared governance to translate institutional priorities and innovative ideas into actions producing effective, sustainable, and meaningful results. The VPI supports faculty-led initiatives and collaborates across the College on career education, dual enrollment, strategic enrollment management, guided pathways, facilities planning, and equity-minded teaching and learning. The VPI ensures that instructional planning and decision-making remain focused on student access, success, and completion. They support curriculum and course offerings that meet student and workforce needs, as well as scheduling and enrollment practices that maximize student access and success.

The Vice President of Instruction advises the President on instructional programs and services, advances the institutional strategic plan with a distinct equity focus, and helps steer the college’s enrollment management efforts. Because student success depends on instruction and student support working as one, this role requires a strong partnership with Student Services, as well as Administrative Services, and Institutional Effectiveness, Success & Equity, to align programs, pathways, and resources to improve the student experience. The successful candidate will build trust across the college community, including students, staff, faculty, and administrators, and will be someone faculty can count on to listen, make thoughtful decisions, and follow through.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Vice President, under direction of the President, plans, organizes and directs the College instructional programs or student services programs in support of district goals and objectives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To provide leadership and supervise the planning, organization, and coordination of the instructional programs or student services of the college while achieving the institutional goals and objectives and ensuring academic support services are provided to students to achieve educational success.
• Provide leadership in the development of curriculum and program review processes in accordance with district goals and standards: assist in the development, evaluation and improvement of course outlines and objectives resulting in an educational program that is responsive to the changing needs of a changing society.
• Direct the recruitment, selection, assignment, supervision and evaluate the work of department directors/managers/supervisors and staff.
• Advise and confer with the President on management issues involving programs and services of the college, including issuance and/or revision of policies and procedures; participate in strategic and long-range planning for college activities and programs.
• Prepare, recommend and implement budgets for assigned areas; upon expenditure variations, take necessary action to assure compliance with budget limitations and established fiscal policies.
• Direct the preparation of reports as required by federal, state, local and district regulations; inform the President and other district staff as to the status of assigned functions or groups of services.
• Maintain current knowledge of legislation and educational trends pertinent to student services and instructional philosophy and practice.
• Represent the district at local, state or national meetings pertinent to specific assignment; Represent the district on related committees or commissions.
• Attend Governing Board meetings and make appropriate presentations as necessary.
• Maintain effective communication and liaison with District administration.
• Serve as acting President when required in the absence of the College President.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the President.

OTHER REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:      

• Direct the student admission, registration and records maintenance; oversee the development of probation, disqualification and evaluation policies and procedures for graduation, transfer and veterans’ benefits.
• Responsible for the development and publication of the college catalog and class schedules.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Any combination equivalent to: a Master's degree in education or closely related field from an accredited institution and three years of increasingly responsible management experience in an educational institution of which two years management experience have been with emphasis in the area or closely related area of the administrator's assignment.  

This position requires specialized mastery in a field of education or management, combining conceptual understanding with broad applied experience. Uses this knowledge in the development of new concepts and imaginative approaches for the resolution of novel, nonrecurring, and complex situations.

SPECIAL SKILLS OR REQUIREMENTS:

1.    Ability to prevent and resolve conflicts and problems; plan, measure and evaluate programs, services and activities; supervise staff; analyze and apply laws, rules and regulations and build consensus.

2.    Work effectively with the President/District, other administrators, faculty, staff, other educational institutions; community groups and individual citizens.

3.    Demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and staff.

4.    In-depth knowledge of the Education Code, Title 5 and other administrative regulations and the ability to apply these regulations.

5.    Ability to provide innovative leadership in the development, and achievement of the college vision, and articulate that vision to faculty and staff.

6.    Ability to work cooperatively and responsively with all segments of the College, District and community at large.

7.    Ability to successfully delegate, ensure adherence to College and District policies, practices and procedures, hold others responsible yet instill confidence among the faculty and staff.

8.    Sensitivity to all facets of the community including the needs of various groups which comprise it.

9.    Ability to exercise strong, dynamic, academic leadership to advance the College's mission.

10.  Facilitate communication and understanding of perspectives among faculty, staff, students, the community, Chancellor, and Governing board within the framework of a multi-college district.

11.  Commitment to the community college concept, including the open-door philosophy and a diverse curriculum for a heterogeneous student population.

12.  Dedication to keeping students informed while seeking their opinions and providing a range of student services.

13.  Commitment to a comprehensive, student-oriented environment that facilitates learning and student development.

14.  Dedication to keeping students informed while seeking their opinions and providing a range of student services.

15.  Dedication to the improvement of the educational process.

16.  Read, interpret, apply and explain complex laws, regulations, requirements, policies and procedures.

17.  Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.

Additional Information

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:

Applicants may find it helpful to refer back to the job posting, specifically the special instructions, while applying. Consider saving the job description or opening a new browser window.

*ATTENTION* Application materials with personal photos will render your application incomplete. Please do not include any materials that were not asked for. Having the following materials prepared and ready to attach BEFORE beginning the application may make the application process more seamless.

REQUIRED APPLICATION DOCUMENTS (APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING ITEMS)

1. A letter of interest (limit 1000 words) addressing the applicant’s leadership qualities and relevant experience with particular attention to their ability to build collaborative partnerships, work effectively within shared governance, and demonstrate thoughtful decision-making and follow-through.

2. A current résumé summarizing educational and occupational background, experiences, and achievements.

3. Official or unofficial transcripts verifying college or university degree(s) and/or course work.

*ATTENTION* Please upload .doc, .docx, or PDF files ONLY. If you are working on Google Docs or Mac files, please be sure to save as Word or PDF for your files to upload correctly.