Position Overview
Department Overview:
The Madison and Lila Self Graduate Programs department provides financial support and professional development opportunities for promising graduate student leaders at the University of Kansas. Madison and Lila Self were deeply motivated by the idea that developing and investing in young leaders was vital for a successful future. In 1989, the Self's launched and permanently endowed the flagship program, the Self Graduate Fellowship. With the addition of a scholarship in 2014, the department now administers two distinct programs: the Self Graduate Fellowship (SGF) and the Self Memorial Scholarship (SMS). Both programs support graduate students at KU and follow the Self's mission to "identify, recruit, and provide development opportunities for exceptional students who demonstrate the promise to make significant contributions to their fields of study and society as a whole."

Position Overview:
The Assistant Director manages the educational programmatic and curricular areas of the department, including the following: the SGF Fellow Development Program, the SMS Scholar Development Program, the Professional Development Awards, and alumni relations network for the Self Graduate Programs department.

The Assistant Director serves as one of four full-time staff members with responsibility for implementing the SGF and SMS as specified by Gift Letters and a set of donor-driven Guidelines. This work is accomplished in collaboration with the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Graduate Studies (the Managing Trustee), the SGF Board of Trustees, and SMS Advisory Board.
Job Description
80% - Education Program Management

• Coordinate the four-year SGF Fellow Development Program to meet the goals established in the Guidelines. Develop and manage annual curricular program plan and budget. Organize and manage presentation of programs and trainings on a regular schedule annually - including Fall Skill Session, Spring Skill Session, Holiday Luncheon and Poster Session, Policy Luncheons, Communication Coaching Series, Government and Science Policy Seminar (held in Washington, D.C.), and International Seminar (held in Europe). The travel seminars are each hosted once every other year. Travel is required.
• Manage the Professional Development Awards applications, review, policies, reimbursements, travel authorizations, and records associated with the award. Identify needs and opportunities to support fellows and scholars in effective use of the award through research of opportunities, connections with alumni, and tracking of experiences. Inform use of award to internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate the SMS Scholar Development Program - calendar, logistics, curriculum, speakers, readings, transcript.
• Communicate program plans with Self Graduate Fellows and Self Memorial Scholars.
• Develop an international curricular experience for the fellows to complement their academics and the SGF Fellow Development Program.
• Conduct research to identify topics and content appropriate to graduate student audiences.
• Conduct research locally and nationally to identify, select, and recruit speakers with skills in presenting professional development programs and trainings for graduate student participants.
• Negotiate contracts for speakers/facilitators, events, and travel accommodations; provide documentation for payment processes.
• Set standards for program quality in collaboration with Director; evaluate programs and assess effectiveness in meeting program goals. Assess learning outcomes.
• Plan annual SGF Symposium. Coordinate schedule, speaker, alumni panelists, venue, food, promotion, invitations. Collaborate with all SGF stakeholders for annual event.
• Annually hire, train, and supervise a Graduate Assistant for Self Graduate Programs department. Provide cross-course learning opportunities with GA academic discipline and department responsibilities.

10% - Alumni Relations and Programming

• Coordinate the Society of Self Fellows (SSF), the SGF alumni network.
• Create year-long strategic plan for SSF to further engagement from alumni and support current fellows.
• Communicate with alumni to maintain relationship with the SGF and to promote participation in SSF activities.
• Manage the SSF Board of Governors: coordinate annual election to the Board, plan SSF annual meeting, assist Board with planning and implementation of activities.
• Produce electronic newsletters.
• Analyze data on alumni regarding time to degree, career placement, and career achievement for department and institutional reporting.
• Evaluate SSF programs and assess effectiveness in meeting program and donor goals.

10% - Joint Activities

• Joint activities for all staff include the following: support current fellows and scholars; work and attend all fellow and scholar development programs and alumni events; promote the SGF and SMS; communicate with faculty mentors; participate in meetings of the SGF Board of Trustees and SMS Advisory Board; and follow the donor-driven Guidelines and Gift Letters.
• Assume related responsibilities as designated by the Director of Self Graduate Programs.

Position Requirements
Travel is required to the Government and Science Policy Seminar (held in Washington, D.C.), and International Seminar (held in Europe). The travel seminars are each hosted once every other year.
Required Qualifications

1. Master's degree in related field and three (3) years of related full-time work experience - OR - Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of related full-time work experience.
2. Experience in program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation in a higher education setting as evidenced in application materials.
3. Prior experience managing detailed processes as demonstrated in application materials.
4. One (1) year supervisory experience.
5. Experience in collaborating with colleagues, especially faculty and staff in a higher education setting, to achieve goals as demonstrated in application materials.
6. Strong written communication skills demonstrated by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience working with graduate students in a higher education setting as evidenced in application materials.
2. Experience with professional development training and educational curriculum as shown in application materials.
3. Experience with alumni relations and programming as demonstrated in application materials.
4. Experience with budget management, especially Endowment funds as evidenced in application materials.
5. Experience with higher education policies, including state and Endowment policies as shown in application materials.
6. Knowledge of Canva, InDesign, Illustrator, LinkedIn, social media platforms, and/or Qualtrics as evidenced in application materials.

Contact Information to Applicants
Stefani Buchwitz
Director, Self Graduate Programs
buchwitz@ku.edu
Additional Candidate Instruction

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 Monday, March 24, 2025 and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants are identified.

Advertised Salary Range
starts at $65,000, commensurate with experience
Application Review Begins
24-Mar-2025
Anticipated Start Date
21-Apr-2025
Primary Campus
University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
FTE
1.0
Reg/Temp
Regular
FLSA Status
Administrative
Employee Class
U-Unclassified Professional Staff
Work Location Assignment
Hybrid
Disclaimer
The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.