Associate Director for Impact Programs
- Employer
- The University of Kansas
- Location
- University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
View more categoriesView less categories
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
The Associate Director for Impact Programs is responsible for strengthening the KU student experience through programs and services providing for student basic needs, including the Campus Cupboard, Pregnant and Parenting Pantry, clothing and winter clothing closets, and the Emergency Aid Network. The Associate Director for Impact Programs will supervise professional, graduate, and undergraduate student staff to implement a comprehensive range of services designed to meet students’ basic needs and support their ability to succeed as KU students. The Associate Director for Impact Programs engages with students, staff, faculty, 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 Description55% - Impact Programs and Services
- Establish a dynamic, future-oriented mission and vision for impact programs and services at the University of Kansas. Ensure all program activities and initiatives align with the unit’s mission, vision, and strategic initiatives.
- Direct the Campus Cupboard, Pregnant and Parenting Pantry, clothing and winter clothing closets, and related impact services. Oversee all procedures related to students’ use of impact programs and services.
- Ensure physical spaces (both public spaces and storage facilities) associated with the Campus Cupboard, Pregnant and Parenting Pantry, and clothing and winter clothing closets are designed to meet the evolving needs of a dynamic student population.
- Establish program operating hours strategically to ensure broad student access to products and resources contained in the spaces.
- Oversee the center’s use of Pantry Soft and related technology platforms designed to maximize impact programs and services. Recommend technology platforms for adoption or removal as appropriate.
- Develop systems for donations, purchasing, and ongoing inventory of products to ensure KU students have adequate access to basic needs.
- Lead campus-based initiatives for increasing awareness of these programs to both drive student use and campus-based support through drives and donations.
- Collaborate with local, regional, and national suppliers to increase inventory across impact programs and services.
- Supervise program coordinators, graduate assistants, and undergraduate student employees focused on addressing students’ basic needs and associated impact programs and services.
- Supervise one or more practicum students from the School of Social Welfare. Maintain relationship with the school and eligibility to be a practicum site.
- Oversee communications strategy and products to promote impact programs and services, in coordination with Student Engagement Center and Student Affairs staff.
- Develop and manage program budgets associated with impact programs and services, in collaboration with the Director.
- Participate as Student Affairs representative in the KU Emergency Aid Network to ensure strategic use of Student Affairs student emergency support funds.
- Develop process to review applications and provide funding determinations in a timely manner.
- Partner with Student Engagement Center staff, Student Support and Case Management, Student Financial Aid, and other campus partners to promote emergency aid resources to KU students.
- Collaborate with Student Support and Case Management, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Affairs, and other campus partners to respond to individual student needs and concerns. Manage complex student needs and situations in collaboration with existing student care resources.
- Document student needs and efforts to support students using existing student care resources and platforms. Provide ongoing student support and follow-up as needed.
- Foster a culture of evidence-based decisions and practices related to the Campus Cupboard, Pregnant and Parenting Pantry, clothing and winter clothing closets, and the Emergency Aid Network. Oversee the implementation of assessments to evaluate the effectiveness/success of programs within the Associate Director for Impact Programs portfolio.
- Track data-based trends related to student basic needs programs and services, both within and beyond KU. Identify trends over time and projections for future needs.
- Cultivate ongoing relationships with the KU Endowment Association to foster support for impact programs and services. Work closely with KUEA representatives to develop materials to both cultivate new donors but also to provide feedback and appreciation to existing donors.
- 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 impact programs and services advance departmental, Student Affairs, and university learning outcomes.
- Serve on Student Engagement Center, Student Affairs, and university-wide committees as needed.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related field plus three years related experience, or a bachelor’s degree and five years related experience.
- Three years of experience advising and/or working directly with food security, basic needs services, case management, and/or emergency aid resources on a college campus.
- Applied knowledge of best practices and national trends impacting student basic needs, including food and housing security and emergency aid resources, as demonstrated through work history.
- Two years experience supervising staff or volunteers.
- Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with students, staff, faculty, administrators, and other members of the community.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills as evidenced by application materials and experience.
- Master’s degree in Social Work with related licensure or ability to acquire license with first two years of employment.
- Full-time work experience in a college or university setting.
- Experience collaborating with internal and external constituents and fostering productive relationships across audiences.
- Experience with 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.
- Experience developing, implementing, and assessing learning outcomes and strategic plans and priorities related to college student engagement.
- Experience in managing confidential and sensitive information.
- Experience developing and managing complex organizational budgets.
- Experience creating educational environments for college students.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application review begins Monday, November 23, 2026, and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.Contact Information to ApplicantsJordan Brandt
Director, Student Engagement Center
j.brandt@ku.eduAdvertised Salary Range$81,600Application Review BeginsMonday November 23, 2026Anticipated Start DateMonday January 4, 2027Apply 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.
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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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