Job description

Orangeburg, SC

Reports to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Situation Overview

ZRG has been engaged to recruit a Dean of School of Business for Claflin University.

About Claflin University

Founded in 1869, Claflin University shines as a Top 10 Private HBCU, and is recognized by national publications, such as U.S. News and World Report, Forbes.com and Washington Monthly, as one of America’s best liberal arts colleges. The University proudly serves the state of South Carolina, the nation, and the world. Its beautiful historic campus is home for approximately 1,900 students, from every region of the United States and more than 20 international countries.

Claflin University students demonstrate extraordinary achievement, distinctive confidence, and a lifelong desire to transform society through visionary leadership. Its academic programs prepare students to compete and succeed in a global and technological society.

Claflin University is recognized for its rich legacy of STEM graduates. Graduates are highly competitive and are recruited for employment and for graduate and professional schools.

Recent graduates have been employed at Fortune 500 companies, in the Silicon Valley and in Investment Banking. Many matriculated at research one and Ivy League institutions to pursue graduate studies. Others are graduates of nationally ranked health professions schools in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and public health.

Vision, Mission, & Guiding Principles

Vision StatementClaflin University will be recognized as a leading 21st Century institution of higher education that develops a diverse and inclusive community of globally engaged visionary leaders.

Mission StatementClaflin University is a comprehensive institution of higher education affiliated with the United Methodist Church. A historically Black University founded in 1869, Claflin University is committed to providing students with access to exemplary educational opportunities in its undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs. Claflin University is dedicated to providing a student-centered, liberal arts education grounded in cutting-edge research, experiential learning, state-of-the art technology, community service, and life-long personal and professional fulfillment.

Claflin University is a diverse and inclusive community of students, faculty, staff, and administrators who work to cultivate practical wisdom, judgment, knowledge, skills, and character needed for globally engaged citizenship and effective leadership.

Guiding PrinciplesAt the center of everything Claflin University do is a system of values informing and guiding all policies and programs. These values, expressed through their decisions and actions, are defined by five over-arching guiding principles:

Commitment to Excellence: Claflin University strive for excellence through creativity, innovation and efficiency that allow for optimization of resources. Commitment to Valuing People: Claflin University value people by providing a safe, wholesome, and healthy environment that fosters mutual respect, diversity, and inclusion.

Commitment to Being Student Centered: Claflin University focus on all aspects of student life including student-centered education by embedding skills and praxis that foster life-long learning and independent problem solving and also translate their needs and expectations into actions that embody exceptional service. Commitment to Exemplary Educational Programs: Claflin University provide exemplary educational programs and an effective learning community by ensuring that they represent the highest standards of academic excellence and by continuous quality improvement.

Commitment to Fiscal Accountability: Claflin University will commit to financial accountability by promoting and fostering a culture of compliance, integrity, and fiscal responsibility throughout the University.

Position:

Claflin University seeks an exceptional, visionary, and collaborative leader to serve as its next Dean of the School of Business. The Dean of the School of Business will serve as the Chief Executive Officer who will provide strategic leadership, academic direction, and administrative oversight for the School, ensuring alignment with the University’s strategic plan and mission of elevation and transformation of the next generation of visionary leaders. The Dean will advance the School’s reputation, strengthen student success and faculty achievement, and build partnerships with business, industry, and community stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Administration

• Provide visionary leadership to the School of Business in curriculum development, academic programming, faculty recruitment, and student success initiatives.
• Oversee all academic, administrative, and operational functions of the School.
• Lead accreditation and reaccreditation efforts (ACBSP).
• Develop and manage budgets, resource allocation, and fundraising initiatives in support of strategic goals.

Academic Excellence

• Promote excellence in teaching, research, and service among faculty and staff.
• Foster innovative and interdisciplinary academic programs that prepare students for leadership roles in business, entrepreneurship, and global commerce.
• Encourage and support faculty scholarship, professional development, and external grant acquisition.

Student Success

• Enhance student recruitment, retention, and graduation rates through effective mentoring and academic support initiatives.
• Expand experiential learning opportunities such as internships, co-ops, study abroad, and entrepreneurship programs.
• Ensure career readiness and strong employer connections for business students.

External Engagement and Partnerships

• Build and sustain strong partnerships with business and industry leaders, alumni, and community organizations.
• Act as a visible ambassador for the School of Business, advancing its profile locally, nationally, and globally.
• Pursue fundraising, grants, and philanthropic support to enhance School resources and opportunities.

Strategic Planning and Innovation

• Lead the School in developing and implementing a strategic vision aligned with Claflin University’s mission and strategic plan.
• Anticipate emerging trends in business education and position the School as a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the School’s operations.

Qualifications:

• An earned doctorate in business administration, management, economics, or a closely related discipline.
• A distinguished record of teaching, scholarship, and service commensurate with appointment at the rank of full professor.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in higher education administration, including budget management, accreditation, and faculty development.
• Proven ability to foster student success, academic innovation, and faculty excellence.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• A record of successful fundraising, grant acquisition, or partnership development preferred.
• Commitment to Claflin University’s mission as a historically black university and to preparing students for leadership in a diverse, global society.

Interview Process:

ZRG provides our global Clients with a rigorous and patented assessment platform grounded in data and analytics. Our interview process includes the following:

1. Initial interviews with ZRG
2. ZRG presentation of candidates to Client for calibration and discussion; Client selects candidates for consideration and initial interviews
3. Candidates complete ZRG’s on-line assessment
4. Finalist candidates advance to second and third round interviews with broader leadership team
5. Formal referencing
6. Offer extended

About ZRG Partners:

ZRG is a global talent advisory firm that is changing the way companies hire and manage talent. ZRG’s data-driven approach to executive and professional search has been changing the way clients think about how to find top talent. The company’s digital Zi platform combines talent intelligence, candidate insights, and process improvement to dramatically deliver executive searches quicker and with proven better results.

How to apply

Please visit https://www.zrgpartners.com/jobboard/1137 for more information and to apply.