INCHE Executive Director Search 

 

Background 

The Board of Directors of the International Network for Christian Higher Education (INCHE) appointed Shirley Roels as the Executive Director, effective September 2017. Now she has indicated her intention in the course of 2025 to move to an advisory role with INCHE. Given this decision, the Board seeks a new Executive Director to complement other network staff. This appointment would take effect at some time in the second half of 2025.  

INCHE History and Mission 

Since 1975, this network has sought to serve Jesus as Lord by fostering Christian higher education worldwide. It is a network of Christian universities and colleges that contribute to each other’s educational development, an effort in which faith and learning are woven together. INCHE does this through initiatives that inform, connect, and equip its global administrative and faculty leaders through conferences, seminars, webinars, quarterly newsletters, other online resources, and grant-funded professional development opportunities. The network has five large global regions covering six continents.  

Scope of the Vacancy 

The Executive Director works in close coordination with field-based coordinators in several global regions as well as the INCHE administrative assistant in the hub office. The Executive Director position is configured as a quarter-time one that can be combined with other related leadership and teaching. 

Executive Director Responsibilities include: 

  • Board planning and relationships as well as support for good governance. 

  • Strategic planning for the worldwide network and each of the five global regions. 

  • Financial planning and budgeting. 

  • Fundraising with individuals and philanthropic organizations. 

  • Recruiting and sustaining members. 

  • Planning with regional coordinators for periodic conferences, seminars, and webinars. 

  • Collaboration with other worldwide centers and institutes in program planning. 

  • Communications with staff, board, and donors on an ongoing basis. 

Expected Background, Knowledge, and Competencies 

  • An earned doctorate and prior experience with Christian academic initiatives. 

  • Understanding of the tasks of teaching, learning, and scholarship in Christian higher education. 

  • Organizational skills for planning periodic network gatherings. 

  • Experience in planning and resourcing professional development opportunities. 

  • Written and oral communication skills. 

  • Cross-cultural relationship interests and appreciation for global travel. 

Location of the Office 

Currently, INCHE operates from the campus of Calvin University, based on a memorandum of understanding that has significant benefits for the network. Although the hub office can reside anywhere in the world via Zoom or MS Teams, the current proposal is to maintain the Grand Rapids/Calvin University/USA network office location for practical reasons.  

Search and Selection Committee 

The INCHE Board of Trustees has approved a three-person search committee.  It includes: 

  • Pieter Oudenaarden, Chief Executive Officer, Christelikje Hogeschool Ede, the Netherlands; INCHE board chair. 

  • DoSoung Choi, President, Handong Global University, Republic of South Korea; INCHE board member. 

  • Alan Cureton, President Emeritus, University of Northwestern-St. Paul, USA; INCHE board member.  

Expressions of Interest 

Questions and initial expressions of interest should be communicated to Pieter Oudenaarden at: working@inche.one.  To apply for the position, please submit a letter of interest and a full vita to him.  

Shirley Roels is available to answer questions about the position at director@inche.one.