Post to 100+ job boards and hire in days, not weeks.
Indeed Platinum Partnership Sales & Support: +1 (480) 360-6463

Chancellor job description template

If you are hiring for this role, start here. This free template is our detailed definition of the position, with everything you need to find and hire the right person. Copy it, add your own requirements, and post it.

Free job description below
Median pay
$65,857per year, about $32 an hour
Range32,640 to $84,000 a year
Hourly$17 to $40 an hour
EducationThe position of Chancellor is typically held by an individual with extensive academic experience and background.
Also calledDean of Students, Principal, Education Director
DepartmentEducation and Training
The role

What is a Chancellor?

Chancellors are heads of colleges or universities whose job is to lead these educational institutions to excellence and success in all aspects.

They develop and implement strategic visions, plans, and goals for the institutions’ growth and development, manage daily operations, monitor budgets and expenses, and participate in the development of academic and research programs and courses.

Chancellors monitor the performance of different departments, allocate resources, and manage the recruitment and hiring of faculty and staff members.

They also implement educational policies, standards, and guidelines and represent the institution to external stakeholders, community leaders, and members of the media to maintain a positive image.

What to screen for

The top Chancellor skills.

Five things separate a strong hire from a résumé that reads well. Use these as your scorecard criteria.

SkillWhy it matters
LeadershipExceptional leadership is fundamental for Chancellors because it allows them to foster a productive and positive atmosphere among faculty members and students. Leadership helps them lead the institution toward goals and visions, overcome challenges, set an adequate direction for the institution, and motivate faculty members.
Strategic ThinkingStrategic thinking helps Chancellors envision the future of the institution and establish long-term plans and goals. Chancellors use strategic thinking to analyze external and internal environments, identify opportunities for growth and development, and make informed decisions for the institution’s improvement and prosperity.
CommunicationCommunication represents a vital skill for Chancellors for multiple reasons. They must be able to communicate with clarity and professionalism, whether it’s with students, faculty members, stakeholders, and the media. Communication helps them convey their ideas, plans, and values, as well as to build trust and collaboration with different parties.
Problem-SolvingProblem-solving is another essential ability for Chancellors that enables them to maintain a positive and pleasant environment and atmosphere in the institution. They use problem-solving to address and find solutions for any potential problems and issues that may arise and resolve conflicts between faculty and staff members.
OrganizationChancellors must be well-organized and able to juggle plenty of responsibilities and assignments daily. Organizational skills help them keep track of documentation, plan and manage programs, initiatives, and other activities efficiently, oversee budgets and expenses, and tend to other essential operations to maintain their successful execution.
Free template

The job description, ready to post.

Copy it as written, or edit it until it sounds like your company. Both work.

ChancellorEducation and Training · Free to use and edit

We are hiring experienced Chancellors to join our university. In this important position, you will be responsible for managing daily operations and activities in the institution, developing and implementing strategic visions and plans for the institution’s growth and development, and establishing and overseeing academic programs, initiatives, and activities. You will manage and monitor budgets and expenses and implement academic policies and standards.

In addition, you will manage the recruitment and hiring of faculty and staff members, collaborate with stakeholders on making financial and operations decisions, and ensure the institution’s compliance with educational rules and regulations. Ultimately, you will maintain the positive image of the institution by representing it to external stakeholders, community leaders, and members of the media.

Our ideal Chancellor should have extraordinary leadership, communication, strategic thinking, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

Duties and responsibilities

  • Develop and implement strategic visions and plans for the institution’s growth and development
  • Establish and oversee academic programs, initiatives, and activities
  • Manage daily operations of the institutions
  • Develop, manage, and monitor budgets and expenses
  • Collaborate and consult with other stakeholders on making financial and operational decisions
  • Create and implement academic policies and standards
  • Participate in the development of various academic and research programs and courses
  • Ensure the smooth and proper execution of academic courses, conferences, and operations
  • Monitor the performance of different departments and allocate resources
  • Manage the recruitment and hiring of faculty and staff members
  • Ensure the institution’s compliance with educational rules and regulations
  • Maintain a positive image of the institution in the public and media
  • Represent the institution to external stakeholders, alumni, and community leaders

Requirements

  • A Doctoral degree in the relevant field of study
  • Minimum of 10 years of educational experience in the university
  • Familiarity with current educational standards, rules, and regulations
  • Exceptional academic background
  • Outstanding leadership and communication
  • The ability to establish and foster professional relationships
  • Effective problem-solving
  • Strategic mindset
  • Excellent organization
Add your pay range, benefits, and location before you post. Postings with a stated range get significantly more finished applications than the ones that leave it out.

Take the template with you

Copy it straight into your job board or ATS, or have it emailed to you with the interview questions for this role.

Education

What education this role needs.

The position of Chancellor is typically held by an individual with extensive academic experience and background.

They typically need a higher level of education, such as a Doctorate in a specific field.

Also, Chancellors often demonstrate strong academic achievements in the forms of publications, research contributions, and teaching experience.

Becoming a Chancellors frequently requires previous working experience in roles such as the department chair, dean, or provost.

After the applications land

Sample interview questions for a Chancellor.

Once you have gathered the applications, work through these in order. Twelve questions across four areas, enough to tell your shortlist apart.

Personal
  • What are your three most distinctive traits?
  • Could you briefly describe your academic path?
  • Was there anything that inspired you to become a Chancellor?
Human Resources
  • Could you tell us something more about your academic achievements and qualifications?
  • What was your first job when you started working in education?
  • Why are you interested in becoming a Chancellor in this institution in particular?
Management
  • How do you align your leadership style with the needs of the academic institution?
  • Can you tell us about your approach to strategic planning and setting goals?
  • What is your experience with managing financial resources and budgets within the institution?
Technical Skills and Knowledge
  • What do you personally think is the biggest challenge higher education is facing nowadays?
  • What are your ways of building professional relationships with stakeholders and other parties?
  • How would you ensure continuous improvement in teaching and learning?
Pay

How much to pay when hiring.

Annual pay by percentile. Where you land depends on the size of the cycle they will own, and the 25th percentile is usually where a first analyst hire sits.

10th percentile32,640
25th percentile$51,000
Median$65,857
75th percentile$75,500
90th percentile$84,000

Hourly equivalents run from $17 at the 10th percentile to $40 at the 90th.

Related job titles

Candidates may apply under a different name.

Post the title your industry uses and keep the rest of the description. These three roles overlap enough that the same posting usually reaches all of them.

Same work, different title

Three titles, one description.

Search behavior varies by industry, so the same job is advertised under several names. If you are unsure which one your candidates search for, run two titles and see which fills.

Dean of Students

$66,221 median

Principal

A Principal is a person responsible for overseeing daily activities and operations inside the school and on school grounds.

$109,393 median

Education Director

Questions

Frequently asked questions.

What do Chancellors do?

Chancellors are heads of higher education institutions, such as colleges and universities.

They manage daily operations and activities, develop and implement strategic visions and plans, establish and monitor the execution of various academic courses, programs, and initiatives, and manage and monitor budgets and expenses.

Is Chancellor the highest position in the educational structure?

Chancellor is not necessarily the highest position.

The hierarchy may vary depending on the type of institution and governance model. In some cases, positions that are higher than a Chancellor are the President, Board of Trustees, and Provost.

What are the essential skills for Chancellors?

Chancellors should have exceptional leadership, communication, strategic thinking, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Where do Chancellors work?

Chancellor is a position mainly found in high-level educational facilities, such as colleges, universities, community colleges, and private institutions.

More in finance

Other job description templates.

Same format, same free, same median pay data. Browse the full library if the role you are hiring for is not here.

Dean of Students

$66,221 median

School Counselor

$60,409 median

Principal

A Principal is a person responsible for overseeing daily activities and operations inside the school and on school grounds.

$109,393 median

You have the description. Now go find the person.

Paste this template into AvaHR, publish to 100+ job boards in one click, and screen every applicant in one pipeline. Free to start.

You'll never hire alone.