Presidential Fellow

Job Summary

The Presidential Fellow serves as a member of the President's Office and works directly with the President’s Office to strengthen presidential preparedness, strategic awareness, external engagement, relationship development, and follow-through.

The Presidential Fellowship is a highly selective leadership-development opportunity designed for emerging professionals who demonstrate strong potential for executive leadership, strategic thinking, and organizational impact.

The Presidential Fellow reports administratively to the Executive Assistant & Senior Advisor to the President and receives work direction from the President regarding assigned projects, research priorities, strategic initiatives, and fellowship objectives.

Working collaboratively with the Executive Assistant & Senior Advisor to the President and Executive Assistant to the President's Office, the Presidential Fellow helps ensure the President is prepared and positioned for important meetings, events, travel, relationships, and institutional opportunities.

The Fellow will also conduct research on emerging issues affecting Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster County, Christian higher education, the Church, faith, culture, and society. The goal is to help the President remain informed about the environment surrounding LBC and identify opportunities for the College to strengthen its voice, relationships, brand awareness, and mission impact.

The primary focus of the Fellowship is presidential preparation, strategic research, and relationship engagement. Other responsibilities are assigned as needed to support the President's Office and advance the developmental objectives of the Fellowship.

This position is designed as a high-trust, developmental fellowship that provides the individual with firsthand exposure to executive leadership, Christian higher education, institutional strategy, Board governance, advancement, community engagement, and external relations.

Occasional regional and national travel, including attendance at selected evening and weekend events, may be required.

Work hours will vary based upon presidential events, travel, institutional activities, and related responsibilities.

Because this is a developmental fellowship, responsibilities may evolve throughout the appointment based upon institutional needs and the Fellow's developmental goals.

Success in this role is measured by the quality and usefulness of executive preparation materials, research insights, relationship support, follow-through, and the Fellow's demonstrated professional growth throughout the appointment.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Appointment: One- to two-year developmental fellowship

Personal Qualities

• A growing relationship with Jesus Christ and commitment to biblical truth.
• A dedication to the mission of Lancaster Bible College.
• The desire to grow, develop, and mature both spiritually and professionally.
• A spirit of humility, curiosity, cooperation, and willingness to serve others.
• A high level of professionalism, maturity, discretion, and sound judgment.
• The ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
• A relational posture and ability to interact comfortably with students, employees, trustees, donors, pastors, community leaders, business leaders, and other external constituencies.
• A willingness to receive feedback, learn from senior leaders, and view the Fellowship as an opportunity for leadership development.
• A professional appearance and ability to represent Lancaster Bible College well in a variety of environments.
   

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Recent graduate, graduate student, doctoral student, or emerging professional preferred.
• Interest in higher education, leadership, business, research, ministry, communications, public affairs, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience conducting research, analyzing information, and communicating findings clearly.
• Experience working in professional, ministry, educational, business, or leadership environments preferred.
• Graduate study may be incorporated into the Fellowship depending upon the selected candidate and program structure.
   

Required Skills/Abilities

• Strong research, analytical, and critical-thinking skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize significant amounts of information into concise and useful executive-level briefs.
• Strong relational and interpersonal skills.
• High attention to detail and organizational ability.
• Ability to anticipate needs and work proactively.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in changing environments.
• Strong judgment regarding confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to understand the President's priorities and recognize relationships or opportunities requiring presidential attention.
• Ability to work independently while functioning collaboratively within the President's Office.
• Comfortable interacting with senior leaders and external constituents.
• Proficiency with Office 365 and contemporary research, communication, and productivity tools.
• Ability and willingness to attend selected evening and weekend events and travel with the President as needed.
   

Duties/Responsibilities

Presidential Preparation

• Research individuals, organizations, institutions, and issues in advance of presidential meetings and engagements.
• Develop concise presidential briefing materials that include relevant background, relationship history, context, potential discussion topics, and recommended questions.
• Prepare periodic executive briefing documents and research summaries that identify emerging issues, trends, opportunities, and challenges affecting Lancaster Bible College and Christian higher education.
• Work with the President's Office to ensure the President has the appropriate information and materials before significant meetings and events.
• Anticipate information the President may need to engage effectively with internal and external constituencies.
• Assist with preparation for presidential speeches, presentations, panels, interviews, and other public engagements.
   

Presidential Engagement and Strategic Support

• Accompany the President to selected meetings, conferences, donor gatherings, community events, institutional events, and other external engagements.
• Identify individuals and relationships that should receive presidential attention during events and gatherings.
• Help facilitate appropriate introductions and connections.
• Provide the President with relevant background and context regarding individuals he will encounter.
• Help the President remain aware of schedules, transitions, and time commitments during selected engagements.
• Assist the President in maximizing the relational and institutional value of external engagements.
   

Strategic Research and Executive Insights

• Conduct ongoing research on topics important to the President and Lancaster Bible College.
• Monitor demographic and societal trends affecting Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the United States.
• Research developments and emerging issues within higher education and Christian higher education.
• Research trends related to Christianity, spirituality, biblical engagement, churches, generational change, faith, culture, and society.
• Identify credible research, data, organizations, leaders, and emerging conversations that may inform presidential and institutional thinking.
• Develop concise Executive Insight Briefs that identify:
  • What is happening?
  • What does the data tell us?
  • Why does this matter to Lancaster Bible College?
  • What should the President be paying attention to?
  • What questions should LBC be asking?
• Identify opportunities where research and institutional expertise could contribute to LBC's external voice and thought leadership.
   

Presidential Follow-Through

• Capture significant information, commitments, introductions, and next steps arising from presidential meetings and engagements.
• Document and communicate follow-up responsibilities to appropriate individuals and departments and monitor progress as requested by the President's Office.
• Coordinate with the Executive Assistant & Senior Advisor to the President Executive Assistant to the President's Office, Advancement, and other appropriate departments regarding presidential follow-up, relationship stewardship, and action items.
• Maintain awareness of important presidential relationships and previous interactions to strengthen continuity in future engagements.
• Help ensure important relational opportunities and commitments do not become lost between meetings or events.
   

President's Office Collaboration

• Function as an integrated member of the President's Office.
• Work closely with the Executive Assistant & Senior Advisor to the President and Executive Assistant to the President's Office to coordinate presidential preparation, events, travel, meetings, and follow-through.
• Maintain clear boundaries between administrative responsibilities and the Fellow's responsibilities for research, preparation, engagement, and strategic support.
• Collaborate appropriately with Advancement, Marketing, Institutional Effectiveness, Academic Affairs, and other College departments when presidential preparation or research requires institutional information.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise appropriate judgment regarding information encountered through the Office of the President.
   

Institutional Voice and Thought Leadership

• Support the President in identifying opportunities for Lancaster Bible College to contribute thoughtfully to conversations regarding faith, higher education, the Church, culture, and society.
• Conduct background research that may support presidential articles, speeches, presentations, podcasts, community conversations, reports, and other external engagements.
• Work with appropriate faculty, staff, and institutional experts to identify existing LBC expertise related to topics being researched.
• Help identify opportunities for LBC to convene pastors, business leaders, educators, community leaders, and other partners around important issues from a biblical worldview.
• Support efforts to strengthen awareness of Lancaster Bible College and its mission locally, regionally, and within Christian higher education.
   

Fellowship and Leadership Development

• Participate intentionally in mentoring and leadership-development opportunities with the President and other institutional leaders.
• Gain exposure to areas such as executive leadership, Board governance, advancement, institutional strategy, higher education, external relations, and organizational leadership.
• Demonstrate a posture of learning, reflection, and professional growth throughout the Fellowship.
• Apply lessons from the Fellowship to personal leadership development and future vocational calling.
   

Other Responsibilities

• Attend selected College events and President's Office activities as assigned.
• Travel with the President when appropriate to the responsibilities of the Fellowship.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission, operation, and overall welfare of Lancaster Bible College.