Vice President of Instruction

Role overview

Arapahoe Community College is looking for a forward-thinking, collaborative, and student-focused Vice President of Instruction to lead academic strategy and instructional support. In this role, you will serve as the College’s chief academic officer and play a central part on the President’s Executive Leadership Team, helping shape academic direction, strengthen teaching and learning, and improve student outcomes across a multi-campus environment.

The position is designed for a leader who values equity, faculty partnership, workforce relevance, transfer pathways, and continuous improvement. You will guide efforts that enhance instructional quality, expand educational access, deepen partnerships with concurrent enrollment partners, and support the college’s mission of helping students succeed.

About the college

Arapahoe Community College is one of Colorado’s longest-established community colleges, located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The college describes itself as a place committed to educational excellence, inclusion, individualized support, and removing barriers so students can achieve their goals.

Key responsibilities

• Set the academic direction for the college and provide leadership for instructional excellence, faculty development, and compliance with accreditation expectations.
• Support student success by using data-driven approaches, equitable academic pathways, and learner-centered programs.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships that improve workforce alignment, concurrent enrollment, transfer access, and community impact.
• Manage academic budgets, resources, curriculum, and assessment processes to improve instructional quality and outcomes.

What the ideal candidate brings

• A strong dedication to student success, equity, and high academic standards.
• Leadership that is open, collaborative, and effective at building trust.
• Ability to create and maintain partnerships that expand educational and workforce opportunities.
• Integrity, creativity, and a mindset focused on ongoing improvement.

Minimum qualifications

• A master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible leadership, administrative, or supervisory experience in higher education, including budget development, oversight, and administration.
• Experience in hiring, managing, and evaluating employees.
• Demonstrated ability to work with faculty and others to support teaching, learning, and instructional excellence.
• Ability to interpret and apply data as well as qualitative evidence to guide decisions, measure program performance, and communicate institutional priorities.
• Experience working across departments or units to align academic efforts with student goals.
• A demonstrated commitment to serving diverse communities, including underserved and underrepresented students, adult learners, students of color, veterans, and first-generation students.

Preferred background

• Senior leadership experience in a community college, such as a director or dean role, with budget responsibility that includes grants.
• Experience using assessment as a continuous improvement tool at the course, program, and institutional levels, with success engaging faculty in the process.
• Success partnering with faculty, student services, and workforce teams to design responsive schedules, programs, and pathways informed by data and stakeholder feedback.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty at all levels and with senior leaders to advance equitable student success.
• Experience leading strategic planning, program review, and assessment initiatives that improve student outcomes.
• Commitment to building a culture grounded in empathy, understanding, and care.

Application details

Applications must be submitted through the employer’s website. Applicants are required to provide a resume and a detailed cover letter that responds to the job announcement.

The cover letter should also explain any experience you have with embedding equity and inclusion into your work. The college specifically asks applicants to describe how they have helped create respectful, welcoming, and supportive environments, and what that commitment means in professional practice.

Additional information

This is a non-classified position. Benefits information is available through the benefits section on the employer’s website.