Chancellor Lee F. Jackson and the University of North Texas System Board of Regents invite applications and nominations for the position of President of the University of North Texas.

The University of North Texas is located 35 miles north of Dallas and Fort Worth in Denton, Texas and is the flagship of the UNT System. Founded in 1890, UNT is a student-centered, public, research university. As one of Texas' largest universities, UNT has over 36,000 students and offers 97 bachelor’s, 101 master’s and 48 doctoral degree programs within the university's twelve academic colleges and schools.

Expert rankings in U.S. News & World Report put UNT among the top national universities that are "leading the pack" in innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus life, diversity and facilities. As Texas’ fourth-largest university and the flagship of the University of North Texas System, UNT is committed to developing leaders, thinkers and problem-solvers. The university is classified as a Carnegie RU/H: Research Universities (high research activity).

UNT’s colleges and schools include:

• Arts and Sciences
• Business
• Public Affairs and Community Service
• Education
• Engineering
• Honors College
• Information
• Journalism
• Merchandising and Hospitality Management
• Music
• Visual Arts and Design
• Graduate Studies

The university has a vibrant campus life, and its student athletes participate in NCAA Division I-A sports. The UNT System also includes the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth, UNT Dallas, and the future UNT Dallas College of Law.

UNT is more than one of the nation’s best music and teacher education schools. It is also is a broad-based, student-centered public research university dedicated to forging the future through discovery in the fields of science and technology. UNT's high-quality degree programs attract some of the best and brightest students. Average SAT scores of UNT freshmen are higher than the state and national averages.

At UNT, students gain the foundation necessary to lead Fortune 500 companies, classrooms, orchestras and laboratories. They are guided to careers as researchers and experience firsthand what it takes to create environmentally friendly plastics or new sources of energy. They learn how to think critically and how to find solutions for society’s most pressing problems.

With emerging scientific and engineering strengths — as well as new research collaborations that capitalize on the University’s brightest talents — UNT is not only keeping pace with the intellectual and work force needs of the 21st century, it is looking ahead. The University already is one of the top producers of doctoral graduates in Texas, and it plays a critical role in keeping the state’s industries vibrant and competitive while contributing to the global knowledge base.

Position Summary

The President represents the University and serves as chief spokesperson with key constituencies including local and regional community members, alumni, the UNT Foundation, businesses and industry, and the State Legislature. S/he exercises overall leadership for the University’s resource development and fundraising initiatives and provides effective leadership and management of responsibilities in fiscal management. The President has the general authority and responsibility for the administration and structural organization of the institution, within the policies and regulations of the University of North Texas System Board of Regents and under the supervision and direction of the UNT System Chancellor.

Currently reporting directly to the President are the following Vice Presidents and divisions:

• Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Vice President for Advancement and Director of Development of the UNT Foundation
• Vice President for Finance and Administration
• Vice President for Student Development
• Vice President for Research and Economic Development
• Vice President for University Relations, Communications, and Marketing
• Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity
• Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
• Director of Athletics

The president will be responsible for a budget of $778,791,001 and over 4,700 employees.

Qualifications

UNT’s next President will be a proven collaborative leader with vision and a track record of improving the focus and quality in an institution’s programs and faculty. Excellent communication skills are of paramount importance, as the President will serve as the chief representative of the University to a wide variety of external constituencies. The willingness to make a long-term commitment is expected.

Successful candidates will:

General Characteristics

• demonstrate the capacity and commitment to sharpen the existing strategic plans of the University and develop practical implementation schedules and meaningful metrics of progress;
• give depth and meaning to a University-wide vision of excellence;
• demonstrate the ability to secure the resources to fulfill that vision;
• have a strong appreciation for the University’s history and traditions;
• have a commitment to building a diverse community;
• demonstrate exceptional managerial skills to lead a complex organization;
• demonstrate the ability to work effectively with many internal and external constituencies.

Academic and Research Leadership

• possess exceptional academic credentials, with an outstanding record of scholarly and professional accomplishments that would merit tenure with the rank of full professor in one of the academic units of the University;
• have significant administrative experience, preferably at a major research institution with both arts and sciences, and professional programs;
• develop and articulate a powerful yet realistic vision for the future of the University and provide leadership as the institution strives for increased effectiveness through a process of continual assessment and accountability;
• understand the importance of promoting and fostering a culture that embraces academic excellence and increased research productivity;
• be committed to teaching and research excellence at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels both across and within multiple disciplines;
• have a strong commitment to diversity in all its forms, including a proven record of valuing and supporting differences;
• demonstrate a commitment to promoting interdisciplinary programs and research, and to dismantling disciplinary barriers and outmoded reward structures that impede interdisciplinary work;
• respect and support the unique qualities of each college and department, and a have a commitment to rewarding excellence in its diverse forms across disciplines;
• have an understanding of the infrastructure needed to support teaching and research excellence in a major and upwardly mobile research institution;
• demonstrate an appreciation for technology and its increasingly important role in higher education;
• demonstrate a commitment to supporting an active faculty governance model;
• have a track record of fostering and developing partnerships—locally, nationally, and globally—with other organizations, such as: governmental agencies, foundations, corporations, and other research universities.

Leadership and Management Style

• have a deep commitment to and expectation of accountability for clear strategic and tactical goals, meaningful metrics of progress, and performance accountability;
• demonstrate experience developing new revenue streams including private fundraising, solicitation of grants and contracts, promoting technology transfer, etc.;
• be knowledgeable about issues in enrollment management and possess experience implementing innovative student recruitment and retention strategies;
• experience in a broad spectrum of university affairs and knowledge about the management of academic programs, business affairs, research, human resources and student services;
• demonstrate the ability to recognize, select, recruit, retain, and manage a diverse group of talented faculty, staff and senior administrators as well as possess a record of delegating commensurate responsibility, authority, and accountability to those administrative officials selected;
• have a commitment to a participatory management style that encourages and empowers subordinates. Includes the ability to delegate, to mentor, to oversee without interfering, and to provide critical feedback;
• have superb communication skills with an ability to relate effectively to all internal and external university constituencies, and to promote the value of the University as well as to bridge the gap between divergent constituencies;
• demonstrate an ability to be the University's emissary to external groups and the community and be willing to participate actively in social and public affairs of the State, community, alumni, faculty, student and other important groups who interact with, or are part of, the University;
• have a track record as a creative problem solver and change agent;
• have the ability to make difficult, timely, and principled decisions;
• demonstrate success in promoting and sustaining organizational change and innovation;
• demonstrate innovative leadership ability and possess the capacity to conceptualize and synthesize various points of view while demonstrating practicality and decisiveness in addressing both short and long term institutional goals;
• have extensive knowledge of budget and planning processes.

Personal Attributes

• possess personal and professional security and integrity, and the ability to work in collaboration with peers, subordinates, internal and external constituents, and other University, System, and State authorities. We seek an individual who earns respect and trust, and who deeply values others;
• display a capacity to engage and inspire the academic community at the University and on a national level;
• have superior interpersonal skills, including a commitment to listening, problem solving, and consensus-building;
• be enthusiastic about working with first-generation college students;
• be committed to making a real difference in providing quality education for students and aggressively address issues related to student success;
• demonstrate an unpretentious self-confidence and a sense of humor;
• be creative, resourceful, and have a strong desire to make a difference.

Application Process

The Presidential Search Advisory Committee will continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. Screening of candidates will begin immediately. An application should include a letter describing relevant experience and interest in the position and curriculum vitae. Submission of materials via e-mail in MS Word .doc or .docx format is strongly encouraged. Nomination letters should include the name, position, address and telephone number of the nominee. All nominations will be handled in the strictest of confidence unless otherwise directed by the nominator.

Applications and letters of nomination should be submitted to:

Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner
Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates
1111 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 106
Monterey Park, CA 91754
Phone: 323-260-5040
FAX: 323-260-7889
Email: apsearch@storbeckpimentel.com

For more information about the University of North Texas, please visit www.unt.edu. The University of North Texas is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. This is a security-sensitive position and a background check will be conducted on all finalists for the position.