Position Overview
The Student Engagement Center at the University of Kansas serves as a hub for student involvement, leadership development, impact programs and resources, and community programs. Through the Student Engagement Center, KU students deepen their connection to each other and KU by exploring communities and opportunities to thrive during their Jayhawk experience. Students will engage through registered student organizations, leadership experiences, and professional development workshops. The Center will impact students by providing for direct needs in the Campus Cupboard, Pregnant and Parenting Pantry, clothing closets, and the Emergency Aid Network. Jayhawks will build community as they connect with peers and engage in student support programs. The Student Engagement Center enhances existing programs by providing greater resources and deeper connections across Student Affairs.
The Associate Director for Leadership Programs is responsible for strengthening the KU student experience through registered student organizations, leadership development opportunities, and personal development workshops. The Associate Director for Leadership Programs will supervise professional, graduate, and undergraduate student staff to implement a dynamic student involvement and leadership development experience. The Associate Director for Leadership Programs engages with students, staff, faculty, student organization advisors, and the community to extend the reach of the Student Engagement Center.
The Associate Director reports to the Director of the Student Engagement Center and serves as a key member of the center's leadership team. Student Affairs at the University of Kansas makes learning possible through programs and services designed to support students across their KU experience as they achieve their academic and personal goals. Student Affairs serves as an advocate for students across the University community.
Job Description
50% - Student Organization and Leadership Development Programs
- Establish a dynamic, future-oriented mission and vision for registered student organizations, leadership development programs, and personal development workshops at the University of Kansas. Ensure all program activities and initiatives align with the unit's mission, vision, and strategic initiatives.
- Supervise program coordinators, graduate assistants, and undergraduate student employees focused on supporting registered student organizations, leadership development programs, and personal development workshops.
- Oversee the process for registering student organizations and the revision of Registered Student Organization Guidelines, in collaboration with the program coordinators.
- Lead the development and implementation of campus involvement fairs and other large-scale events designed to connect students to registered student organizations.
- Develop a dynamic, comprehensive leadership development curriculum for KU students and student organization officers. Collaborate with university, regional, and national partners to offer a multi-phased leadership development model designed to enhance students' leadership skills and experiences across their KU career.
- Create and implement student leadership benchmarks and associated programs to foster students' personal and professional development.
- Design ongoing training and communications strategies for registered student organization advisors. Ensure advisors receive regular training on risk management, conflict management, funding opportunities, and other Registered Student Organization Guidelines.
- Manage program budgets associated with registered student organizations, leadership development programs, and personal development workshops, in collaboration with the Director.
30% - Program Administration
- Manage the Pepsi funding and product request processes, including the Pepsi Funding Review Committee. Coordinate with university financial professionals to ensure timely payment of allocated funds.
- Coordinate funding processes and support for registered student organizations, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Student Senate.
- Oversee communications strategy and products to promote registered student organizations, leadership development programs, and personal development workshops, in coordination with Student Engagement Center and Student Affairs staff.
- Assess student engagement technology platforms, including Rock Chalk Central and related apps. Collaborate with campus partners to reduce duplication of similar technology platforms. Recommend technology platforms for adoption or removal as appropriate.
- Manage Rock Chalk Central platform, associated apps, and other technology platforms associated with the management of registered student organizations. Ensure staff across the Student Engagement Center effectively use Rock Chalk Central and related platforms to support center programs and organizations.
10% - Assessment and Planning
- Foster a culture of evidence-based decisions and practices related to registered student organizations, leadership development programs, and personal development workshops. Oversee the implementation of assessments to evaluate the effectiveness/success of programs within the Associate Director for Leadership Programs portfolio.
- Track data-based trends related to student engagement programs and services, both within and beyond KU. Identify trends over time and projections for future needs.
- Collaborate with peer institutions and professional organizations to benchmark KU programs with regional, national, and international best practices.
- Develop, monitor, and evaluate program learning outcomes. Ensure all registered student organization and leadership development programming advances departmental, Student Affairs, and university learning outcomes.
10% - Other Duties as Assigned
- Serve on Student Engagement Center, Student Affairs, and university-wide committees as needed.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree in higher education, college student personnel, educational leadership, counseling, social work, psychology, or a related field.
- Five years of full-time professional work experience in higher education.
- Three years of experience advising and/or working directly with student organizations and/or leadership development programs on a college campus.
- Applied knowledge of best practices and national trends impacting student involvement, engagement, and leadership development as demonstrated through work history.
- Three years of experience supervising professional and student staff.
- Experience developing and managing complex organizational budgets.
- Experience that required collaborative work with a students, staff, faculty, administrators, and other members of the community as evidenced by application materials.
- Strong written communication skills as evidenced by application materials.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience collaborating with internal and external constituents and foster productive relationships across audiences as evidenced by application materials.
- Membership in NASPA, ACPA, and/or similar professional organization.
- Commitment to professional development and professional associations as evidenced by memberships and/or presentations.
- Experience developing and implementing educational materials, programs, and workshops.
- Experience developing policies and procedures related to college students and/or student organizations.
- Experience developing, implementing, and assessing learning outcomes and strategic plans and priorities related to college student engagement.
- Experience in managing confidential and sensitive information as evidenced by application materials.
- Work experience that required managing complex situations as evidenced by application materials.
- Commitment to creating educational environments for college students, as demonstrated through work experience.
Additional Candidate Instructions
In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:
- Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
- Resume
- List of three (3) professional references
Only complete applications will be considered.
Application review begins Thursday July 17th, 2025 and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants are identified.
Contact Information to Applicants
Jordan Brandt
Director, Student Engagement Center
j.brandt@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$70,815
Application Review Begins
Thursday July 17, 2025
Anticipated Start Date
Monday August 4, 2025
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University of Kansas
Jul 08, 2025