Candidate Profile
The next President of LAU will be an accomplished leader with significant capacity, particularly when it comes to acting strategically, leading people, and collaborating and influencing. The candidate will bring a track record of successfully navigating complexity, elevating institutional ambition, and driving innovation. Working in collaboration with the Board, faculty, and staff, they will develop and implement a going-forward strategy for LAU to drive academic excellence, financial sustainability, and a healthy organizational culture characterized by empowerment and accountability. In addition, the candidate will be responsible for effective stakeholder engagement, ensuring that all constituents are energized and committed to LAU’s success. They will embody LAU’s values of inclusivity and ethical leadership. This role demands a leader who is a big thinker and a strategic decision-maker and who also has the ability to translate ideas and vision into on-the-ground reality and serve as a compelling advocate for the university.
Ideal Experience
Visionary Leadership
- Demonstrated ability to develop, communicate, and implement successful institutional strategies in the context of complex and rapidly evolving market conditions.
- Ability to create the “emotional lift” required to elevate institutional ambition and drive innovation and change.
Financial Acumen
- Proven track record in financial management, resource allocation, and fundraising in challenging economic contexts.
- Expertise in identifying and capitalizing on new revenue streams and investment opportunities.
Academic Leadership
- Strong commitment to fostering a research-intensive environment and promoting academic innovation.
- Experience in implementing educational programs that meet the evolving needs of students and the job market.
Organizational Capacity Building
- History of building energized, high-performing leadership teams, setting clear expectations, minimizing bureaucracy, and driving empowerment and accountability.
- Ability to build the organizational structures, systems, and incentives that support institutional goals.
- Skill in fostering a collaborative work environment that values open communication and shared governance.
Stakeholder Management and External Relations
- Effective in engaging and aligning internal stakeholder groups, including faculty, staff, students, and Board of Trustees.
- History of enhancing institutional reputation through strategic communication and public engagement.
- Proven ability to build consensus and manage complex relationships within and outside the institution.
- Track record of building successful institutional partnerships.