Education Program Manager

Employer: The University of Kansas
Location: University of Kansas Lawrence Campus

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Employment Type: Full Time
Institution Type: Four-Year Institution

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Position OverviewKU Center on Disabilities (KUCD) is seeking an Education Program Manager to support implementation of grant-funded research projects on employment and transition from high school for people with disabilities. This position will work across projects to lead educational activities for employment service providers and transition councils, supervise research staff, monitor and communicate study progress, and assist with grant management and reporting tasks. These projects include focus in the following areas:

State-wide training and technical assistance for the Employment First Training and Technical Assistance Center.
State-wide systems change research to enhance transition from high school and employment outcomes for students with disabilities through the Transition Council Project.

The person in this role may directly supervise the work of professional staff (research assistants or aides, project coordinators), researchers with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and students and postdoctoral researchers supporting project goals. The ideal candidate will have experience working with and supporting people with disabilities, be highly reliable in a fast-paced office, pay close attention to detail, be adept at problem-solving, have project management experience, and have a degree in education (including special education), psychology (including clinical psychology), health and social sciences, disability studies, or related area.

The Education Program Manager will work directly with Dr. Evan Dean and will collaborate with others at KUCD. The Education Program Manager will also liaison with community partners including employment specialists, teachers, youth with disabilities, and family members of youth with disabilities.

About KUCD
The University of Kansas, Kansas University Center on Disabilities (KUCD) is recognized as a leading research center. KUCD implements and conducts grant-funded projects focusing on (a) applied research on effective assessment and intervention practices with a particular focus on self-determination and transition to employment and (b) interdisciplinary training in the disability field.

KUCD is committed to fostering a welcoming and supportive research and educational environment for faculty, staff and students. The Education Program Manager will have frequent interactions with and access to mentors at the KUCD to provide an environment that fosters collaboration, provides opportunities for networking, and expands research knowledge and training.Job DescriptionThe Education Program Manager will work directly with Dr. Evan Dean as well as collaborate with others at KUCD, including colleagues with disabilities, undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and staff. The Education Program Manager will also liaison with community partners including employment specialists, teachers, youth with disabilities, and family members of youth with disabilities. The person in this role will be tasked with the following responsibilities:

40% - Envision, conceptualize, design, and develop materials, content, programs and/or activities to foster engagement of employment service providers and community members projects seeking to enhance employment and transition service delivery for people with disabilities. This will include organizing and leading training and technical assistance activities such as: mentorship and technical assistance for employment service providers, training for Transition Council members, tracking study activities and timelines, monitoring data collection activities, and communicating with funders and national and state experts to organize presentations and knowledge-sharing.
30% - In collaboration with project teams, manage educational and information sharing (dissemination) activities including informational videos, plain language infographics, detailed project reports, state and national presentations, and peer reviewed manuscripts. This will include coordinating development of project reports through writing, proofreading and document lay-out.
10% - Supervise researchers, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in project planning, data collection tasks, information dissemination such as professional writing and presentations, and performing clerical tasks as assigned. 
10% - Design and conduct program assessments, analyze results, and modify programs based on results.
5% - Liaise with project partners to collaborate on issues that align with the mission of KUCD (e.g. secondary transition, employment). Create monthly reports for KUCD leadership based on information gained during these collaborations. Project partners could include state agencies (e.g. Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, Kansas Department of Education) , state-wide organizations (e.g. Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas, Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities), and local area schools or community organizations.
5% - Support and manage additional project activities as needed, such as administrative tasks (scheduling meetings using Outlook or Doodle polls, organizing and sharing meeting notes); supporting travel arrangements for project staff; and participating in KUCD service activities like committees, etc.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in education (including special education), psychology (including clinical psychology), health and social sciences, disability studies, or related area with minimum of three (3) years of related professional experience, OR Master’s degree in education (including special education), psychology (including clinical psychology), health and social sciences, disability studies, or related area with minimum of one (1) year of related professional experience.
Excellent written communication skills as evidenced in application materials.
Strong attention to detail as evidenced by application materials.
Strong interpersonal, organizational and administrative skills as required by previous experience.
Three (3) or more years of experience using multiple types of computer software and websites (e.g., Microsoft Office suite, Google Drive, Adobe Acrobat) as demonstrated by application materials.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations.Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with people with disabilities or their families.
Experience working with state agencies in Kansas (e.g. Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, Kansas Department of Education).
Experience with data management, analysis or storage systems (e.g., Excel, SPSS, Qualtrics, RedCap).
Excellent student and staff management skills as required by previous experience.
Communications experience, including development of materials to support study activities such as recruitment, protocols, and dissemination products.
Experience working with more than one project at a time.
Strong interest in research on employment, secondary transition, or related areas as evidenced by application materials.

Additional Candidate InstructionsIn addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

A cover letter addressing how your skills and experience meet required and preferred qualifications for this position.

Resume.

Contact information for three (3) professional references, including at least one (1) former or current supervisor.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application review begins Friday, November 6, 2026, and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.Contact Information to ApplicantsEvan Dean, Ph.D.
Associate Research Professor, KU Center on Disabilities (KUCD)
evan.dean@ku.eduAdvertised Salary Range$65,000 - $75,000, commensurate with experienceApplication Review BeginsFriday November 6, 2026Anticipated Start DateMonday November 30, 2026Apply to Job

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