Senior Director, College Access and Completion
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that provides access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity – regardless of race, gender, or geography. The Foundation uses its grantmaking, research, programs, affiliates, and initiatives to support the start and growth of new businesses, a more prepared workforce, and stronger communities. Our work is grounded in the principles of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion and is consistent with the aspirations of our founder, Ewing Marion Kauffman.
Based in Kansas City, Missouri, the Kauffman Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the United States with an asset base of approximately $3 billion. While striving to have national impact and global reach, the Foundation is deeply committed to Kansas City, as evidenced by work on initiatives that reach into neighborhoods and enrich the community and quality of life in the region. For more information about the Foundation, please visit the website at www.kauffman.org.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting directly to the Chief Impact and Strategy Officer (CISO), the Senior Director serves as the key programmatic, operations and administrative director for the College Access and Completion strategy, responsible for translating the College Access and Completion strategy into actionable grantmaking relationships, frameworks, resources, and results. The Senior Director will lead the day-to-day activities of the College Access and Completion team while forging strong relationships and alignment with the impact leadership team, officers, and other stakeholders inside and outside of the Foundation. This role builds a culture of shared accountability, strong communications, and decision-making transparency. The Senior Director is responsible for strong collaboration with peers, and a commitment to delivering a highly coherent grantmaking strategy under the direction of the CISO. They build trust with grantees and thought leaders in the space and have a sophisticated understanding of the college access, persistence, and completion field.
Specific Responsibilities Include:
- Informs and implements the strategic goals for college access and completion activities and operations, while building coherence across all three of the foundation’s grantmaking priorities: College Access and Completion, Workforce and Career Development, and Entrepreneurship.
- Supports and oversees highly effective grantmaking strategies that are grantee-centric, focused on individual and community outcomes, are equity-focused and are explicitly aligned to the Foundation’s grantmaking philosophy, funding priorities, and focus areas.
- Manages a team of Impact Officers who support all the foundation’s grant pathways, with a focused perspective on college access and completion.
- Provides strong leadership to the team, fostering a collaborative, communicative, and innovative team environment and encourages continuous learning and professional growth.
- Attracts, develops, coaches, and retains high-performing associates, empowering them to elevate their level of responsibility, breadth of engagement, accountability and performance.
- Ensures coordinated and strategically coherent grantmaking that advances the Foundation’s equity agenda.
- Monitors the operational and financial performance of grantees and holds them accountable.
- Allocates resources effectively, manages workload and ensures deadlines are met.
- Serves as spokesperson and participates in conferences, symposia or other convenings as a representative of the Foundation.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Education: Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and/or experience that demonstrates possession of competencies is required. Graduate degree in relevant field preferred.
Work Experience: At least ten years of supervisory and education program leadership experience, and deep experience developing, leading and executing college access and completion related programs. Philanthropic or nonprofit sector experience, and experience managing grantmaking portfolios, preferred.
Travel: This position requires occasional business travel.
QUALIFICATIONS
Qualified candidates for this position must be highly motivated, capable of self-direction and able to work collaboratively in a team. Candidates must exhibit a keen sense of responsibility and enjoy working with multiple demands, shifting priorities, and constant change. - Has a passion for advancing equitable and transformative solutions for communities served by the Foundation.
- Possesses a strong understanding of best practices and areas for opportunity in the college access and completion landscape regionally and nationally.
- Possesses a network of best-in-class experts and practitioners in the College Access and Completion field who could be tapped to inform the Foundation and enhance impact in the region.
- Is experienced with managing staff or teams, using strong coaching and mentoring skills.
- Leads with a commitment to equity, innovation, and impact.
- Has excellent collaboration and communication skills, including well-developed interpersonal, written, listening and presentation skills.
- Is comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty, and with the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations.
- Prioritizes and multi-tasks effectively using excellent organizational skills with keen attention to detail.
- Possesses strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Has the ability to function well in a high-paced and at times, stressful environment.
- Possesses a passion for “doing what is right,” with unquestioned integrity, positive ethics and values reflective of the Kauffman Foundation.
- Has strong computer literacy skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, and business applications.
NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Kauffman Foundation firmly supports the principle and philosophy of equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, creed, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected category pursuant to applicable federal, state or local law.
TO APPLY
Interested applicants can apply for this position by submitting a cover letter and resume. Job posting will be removed at 12pm CT on June 16, 2025.
Please note that this role is Kansas City, MO based and associates must reside in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Job Type: Full Time
Salary Range: $100,000 and over
