Director, National Defense Education Initiatives
- Employer
- The University of Kansas
- Location
- University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
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- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
60 % - External Education Strategy, Partnerships, and Program Development
- Monitor DoD, military-service, national-security, and returning-veteran education needs; use partner engagement, market signals, and outcome data to recommend priorities for NDI’s education portfolio.
- Serve as KU’s education liaison to assigned DoD organizations, military services, undergraduate PME institutions, service universities, military education centers, Geographic Combatant Command Academic Alliance partners, and other government or national-security partners.
- Develop and steward education-facing partnership agreements, partner visits, briefings, convenings, and communications that strengthen KU’s role as a trusted academic partner.
- Convene academic units and university services to assess partner needs, identify KU capabilities, and develop responsive education, credential, and learning-pathway concepts.
- Work with undergraduate PME institutions, service universities, military education centers, and KU academic units to develop or improve undergraduate education programs, stackable credentials, and learning pathways aligned with mission needs and KU strengths.
- Facilitate appropriate recognition of military education, training, and experience through established KU transfer-credit and prior-learning processes; preserve academic-unit and faculty-governance authority for curricular decisions.
- Coordinate education planning for approved military or partner locations, including instructional support, faculty orientation, student access, and academic-calendar alignment.
20% - Defense Workforce Development, Industry Engagement, and Returning-Veteran Pathways
- Build partnerships with defense-industry employers, government organizations, alumni, and workforce intermediaries to identify priority talent needs and expand internships, applied-learning projects, fellowships, mentoring, and career pathways.
- Connect students and returning veterans with education and career opportunities in public service, federal employment, and defense-industry fields; coordinate with the Military-Affiliated Student Center and other campus units for advising, benefits, and case-management services.
- Convene employers, academic units, and public partners to align program concepts and experiential learning with validated defense-workforce demand.
10% - Education Grant and Project Portfolio Management
- Develop education and workforce-development proposals and partnership concepts with academic units, sponsors, and research-development colleagues; serve as principal investigator, co-principal investigator, or project director when assigned.
- Direct assigned externally funded projects, including scope, work plan, staffing, budget monitoring, deliverables, data collection, partner communication, and required reporting.
- Maintain a portfolio view of partnership activity, program development, learner and workforce outcomes, and project performance; use results to recommend investment, renewal, improvement, or discontinuation.
10% - Office Leadership, Collaboration, and External Representation
- Advise the Assistant Vice Chancellor on emerging partner needs, program performance, policy or process improvements, and budget considerations; represent NDI and KU in assigned meetings and professional forums.
- Supervise assigned staff and student employees; establish goals, evaluate performance.
- Maintain a data-informed portfolio view of enrollments, student outcomes, partner activity, programs, grants, and workforce-development results; use this information to recommend priorities and demonstrate impact.
- Contribute to NDI strategic planning, communications, fiscal planning, website and outreach content, and other office-wide initiatives; perform related duties as assigned.
- Master’s degree from an accredited college or university and five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience, or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience.
- Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience developing, delivering, or managing education, training, credential, academic-program, or workforce-development initiatives in collaboration with government, military, higher-education, industry, or other institutional partners.
- Two (2) years of experience managing complex projects or programs with responsibility for scope, schedules, budget monitoring, stakeholder communication, deliverables, data collection, and/or required reporting.
- Completion of intermediate-level or senior-level professional military education (PME) offered by a U.S. military service, joint institution, or comparable accredited military-education program.
- Experience serving on a headquarters, general or flag officer, senior executive, joint, combatant-command, service, major-command, or comparable senior-leadership staff within the DoD, a military service, a federal national-security agency, or a military-education institution.
- Two (2) years of experience in a higher-education setting working with academic units, academic affairs, professional or online education, continuing education, military-affiliated education, enrollment services, or student-success functions.
- Experience working with a service university, undergraduate or graduate PME institution, military education center, or other military-education partner to develop, revise, deliver, or evaluate education programs, credentials, or learning pathways.
- Experience developing grant proposals or managing externally funded projects, including sponsor requirements, proposal or project budgets, performance measures, deliverables, and reports.
- Experience contributing to strategic planning, fiscal planning or budget development, strategic communications, website or digital-content management, outreach, or other organization-wide initiatives.
- A letter of application addressing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
- A resume; and
- A list of 3 professional references.
gmjdenning@ku.eduAdvertised Salary Rangestarts at $96,100 - commensurate with experienceApplication Review BeginsMonday October 12, 2026Anticipated Start DateMonday November 30, 2026Apply to Job
Organization
Working at the University of Kansas
Join the University of Kansas, and you’ll become part of a Jayhawk family that spans the globe. Wear your KU shirt in London, Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Nairobi or anywhere else, and you will likely hear a resounding “Rock Chalk!” from a stranger. Of course, the appropriate response is an enthusiastic “Jayhawk!” Because, after all, they’re not really strangers, they’re family.
The Jayhawk community is united by more than 150 years of tradition and by our commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge, transforming the academic experience, and creating solutions through innovative research. KU’s mission is to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world.
The University of Kansas is the state’s flagship university and one of just 66 invited members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). We consistently earn high rankings for academics and recognition as a premier research university.
KU faculty and staff embrace our role as the state’s flagship university, AAU member and R1 institution that serves the state, nation and world. We celebrate the energy and compassion that infuse the Jayhawk spirit; and, we remain true to KU’s historic values: the elevating force of education, the transformative power of research and the healing power of service.
Instruction
KU offers a broad array of undergraduate and graduate study programs, and we fulfill our mission through academic and research programs of international distinction, coupled with outstanding libraries, teaching museums and information technology. These resources enrich the academic experience for students from all 50 states and 112 countries, and provide enrichment resources for KU faculty and staff.
Research
The university attains high levels of research productivity and recognizes that faculty are part of a network of scholars and academicians that shape a discipline as well as teach it. KU staff are integral to our research success, participating in and supporting discoveries that expand knowledge and improve lives.
Service
The university and our employees serve society through research, teaching and the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. KU's academic programs, arts facilities and public programs provide cultural enrichment opportunities for the larger community. And, KU offers educational, research and service programs throughout the state. KU employees are encouraged to participate in and serve the campus and surrounding communities in a way that is meaningful to them.
International Dimension
KU offers more than 100 programs of international study and cooperative research for KU students and faculty at sites around the world. The university offers teaching and research that draw upon and contribute to the most advanced developments throughout the United States and abroad. At the same time, KU's extensive international ties support economic development in Kansas.
Values
The University of Kansas, our students and employees are committed to excellence. We foster a multicultural, inclusive environment in which the dignity and rights of individuals are respected. Intellectual diversity, integrity and disciplined inquiry in the search for knowledge are of paramount importance.
Our City and State
KU sits atop Mt. Oread in the center of Lawrence, a town full of natural beauty and culture. In fact, Rolling Stone magazine named Lawrence one of the best college towns in the United States. Lawrence is home to more than 100,000 people, and has a charming, Midwestern friendliness that welcomes visitors and celebrates diversity. In addition to KU, Lawrence is home to Haskell Indian Nations University, the premiere tribal university in the United States.
Lawrence’s historic and thriving downtown features restaurants, nightlife and local shops offering unique finds that you won’t find anywhere else. The town has more than 50 parks, an encompassing mixed-use trail, and quick access to biking/hiking trails along the Kansas River and around Clinton Lake. A five-minute drive from Lawrence, Clinton Lake offers fishing, boating, beaches, camping and other outdoor activities.
Located just 40 minutes west of Kansas City, Lawrence offers the appeal of a mid-size, suburban town with quick access to the amenities of a large city, including an international airport. The Kansas City metro area is home to world-class museums and cultural activities, Jazz clubs and other nightlife venues, expansive shopping options, and exciting professional sports with the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals and Sporting KC.
Kansas is in the center of the country, making it convenient and cost effective to fly or drive to destinations throughout the United States. Far from flat, the Flint Hills, just 90 minutes from Lawrence, offer panoramic vistas that showcase the breathtaking beauty of America.
Making KU Your Home
Something about Lawrence is magnetic. Long-time residents are never surprised when a KU student or employee from out of state decides to make Lawrence their permanent home. And, even those who do leave often find themselves returning to “the nest” at some point in the future. In fact, Lawrence has been named by several publications as one of the best places to retire.
At the University of Kansas, you’ll join a global Jayhawk family and find a place to call home.
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