Executive Director of Continuing Education

Location : Fresno, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2025-00404
Department: Continuing Education
Opening Date: 04/03/2025

Position Summary

Under the guidance of the Associate Provost for Adult Learning, the Executive Director of Continuing Education (CE) provides strategic leadership and vision for the University's Continuing Education programs. This role focuses on developing and managing noncredit and credit-based programs, including skills-based courses, certificates, micro-credentials, customized training for businesses and industries, lifelong learning courses, and professional development for educators.

The CE office offers a diverse portfolio of credit and noncredit programs and develops new, innovative, workforce-relevant offerings that meet the evolving needs of local businesses, industries, social service providers, and K-14 educators. Acting as an expert resource for adult learners, CE supports the creation of high-demand courses and programs tailored to post-traditional students and graduates of FPU.

The Executive Director must demonstrate strong leadership, supervisory, and delegation skills to effectively manage a team that collaborates with university leadership, faculty, staff, and community partners. Key responsibilities include strategic planning and execution of professional development and competency-based training, courses, workshops, credentials, and certificate programs across online and other modalities.
Essential Functions

Continuing Education Programming

• Develop the strategic plan, annual budget, and provide fiscal oversight for all CE programs.
• Create and maintain a sustainable business model that is consistent with the unit's overarching purposes to support K-14 educator professional growth and economic and workforce development of the region and help carry forward the Fresno Pacific University Idea. This includes a vision for providing courses and programs that serve the needs of FPU graduates.
• Work with the Associate Provost for Adult Learning to identify annual program goals and objectives, revenue targets, and develop and maintain a system of program evaluation and assessment to ensure continuous improvement of service sand CE programs.
• Provide direct supervision for professional staff who support all the various aspects of continuing education coursework and programs.
• Oversee and manage all aspects of program operations, including the development, implementation, and enforcement of policies and procedures for faculty, students, and constituents.
• Address and resolve faculty and student issues, concerns, and disputes, ensuring compliance with institutional standards while fostering a supportive academic environment.
• Lead programmatic decision-making, support faculty professional development, and act as a liaison between students, faculty, and administration to maintain effective communication and a positive educational experience.
• Recruit, contract, and provide direction to faculty and expert consultants to develop and deliver dynamic CE programs.
• Provide direct supervision and oversight of the Continuing Education Program, maintaining program and academic integrity.
• In addition to managing a complex budget, seek out grant opportunities and partnerships that support program growth and expansion.
• Collaborate with academic partners and work across units to maximize interdisciplinary and innovative adult-focused program development that is aligned with workforce needs.
• Build and strengthen relationships with partner institutions, school districts, business leaders, local economic development groups, and the community; and serve as CE's outward-facing leader and spokesperson.
• Serve on internal campus committees and work with FPU's schools to collaborate and support the growth of meaningful and/or needed continuing education programs that lead to increased adult student access and enrollments, especially among FPU graduates.

Communication and Promotion

• Oversee marketing for CE programs.
• Delegate appropriate marketing and communication tasks to CE team to effectively promote classes and programs.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with and between the CE's program staff, and other colleges.
• Maintain communication and relationships across the university.
• Maintain communication with external stakeholders.

Financial Management

• Prepare the annual CE budget and provide fiscal management.
• Oversee the administrative and financial operations and work with staff to develop individual program budgets, MOU's and contracts for faculty and various other partnership agreements.
• Analyze and manage program budgets and foster entrepreneurial approaches to noncredit and credit programming for effective cost recovery and increased revenues.

Miscellaneous

• Demonstrate a commitment to serving and inspiring students and colleagues in a context of a Christian University, integrating your Christian faith into your role and responsibilities.
• Embrace the , and values of Fresno Pacific University, affirm the , and support the ideals and practices articulated in ""
• Uphold and advance Fresno Pacific University's commitment to Christ-centered higher education, holistic student development, and serving diverse communities.
• Complete tasks timely with work that is comprehensive, complete, and accurate
• Communicates clearly, listens attentively, and seeks to understand others
• Collaborates productively with colleagues of varying skillset
• Other job duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required:

• Master's Degree, preferably in a field related to adult education, business administration, or higher education administration
• A record of successful leadership experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to generate program revenue, including obtaining and/or administering grants, contracts, and program fees.
• Understanding of postsecondary environments and demonstrated ability to work with faculty and instructors.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate and maintain strategic internal and external partnerships to benefit the success of initiatives and students.
• Experience in the development of training curriculum and programs, including incorporating new learning technologies, and knowledge in adult learning theories.
• Excellent communication skills, particularly in written communication and oral presentations.
• Familiarity with environmental scanning and market research, and the analysis of competition and sales.
• Ability to think, respond, and act quickly within a high-paced and results-driven environment.
• Effective leadership and team management skills.
• Effective partnership building skills, and the ability to facilitate discussions with senior leadership.
• Experience working with diverse populations and constituencies; and, in particular with adult learners.
• Advanced proficiency with computer software used in communication and program development (i.e. Microsoft Office, Internet, Email, etc.)
• Board understanding of educational technologies, IT systems processes, and troubleshooting abilities pertaining to CE programs, website, and internal data.
• Experience and skill in developing, implementing, and maintaining adult and continuing education programs in accordance with adult learning theory models and established best practices.
• Vision for opportunities beyond the obvious, coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit to carry out the mission, vision, and purpose of CE.
• Understanding of, and experience working with, community-campus partnerships, particularly as they relate to continuing education and economic development.
• Ability to develop and analyze department and program budgets.
• Ability to implement financial policies and procedures effectively.
• Ability to evaluate and analyze program information and effectively communicate information via reports.
• Strong organizational and communications skills and capacity to work in a fast-paced, high-energy, change-oriented environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive data and to build processes to ensure the data is secure.
• Ability to work with a diverse population of staff and students in a positive manner.

Preferred:

• Doctoral degree
• Experience managing multiple projects and developing reports for external funding agencies.
• Familiarity with workforce development programs and regional employer needs.
• Experience with Canvas or other similar online learning platforms, and online curriculum development.

Environmental Conditions:

• Indoors in a normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, fumes, vibrations, and temperature changes at least eighty percent (80%) of the time.
• Frequent computer use at a workstation, up to eight hours per day.
• Frequently work at a fast pace with unscheduled interruptions.
• Drive personal or University vehicles to appointments.
• Public contact position requiring professional apparel, personal hygiene, and grooming.

Physical Demands:

• This position typically functions indoors in an office environment with light to moderate noise associated with business office equipment. The position may involve travel for meetings and events.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: remain in a stationary position 80 % of the time, be able to move about inside the office to access file cabinets/office machinery etc., operate a computer and keyboard and other office productivity machinery such as calculators/copy machines/printers. The employee is occasionally required to position self to reach items on the floor and in high cabinetry.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Employee must be able to communicate with others to exchange information including both over the telephone and in-person communication with callers and community members and be able to read a computer screen and paper documents.
• Reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities will be provided in accordance with law.

University Information

$72,000 to $100,000 is the annual salary for this role and reflects what Fresno Pacific University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition to compensation, FPU offers a competitive benefits package.

Reserving its rights as a religious institution, Fresno Pacific University is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, age or disability, or other classes protected by applicable law. Committed to excellence and actively supportive of cultural diversity, FPU invites individuals who contribute to such diversity to apply. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you should contact FPU's Human Resources Department at As a religious institution, the University will administer the equal opportunity employment policy consistent with the Fresno Pacific University statement of faith, the FPU Idea and the University's governance by the Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.

*This information, including salary, is accurate as of April 3, 2025.
Fresno Pacific University offers a wide range of affordable benefits that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage. As well as, a 403(b) retirement plan, life insurance, and a number of unique unviersity benefits. Please visit and you may review our current Holiday Calendar.

For any benefits questions, please email us at hr@fresno.edu.