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.

Reporting to the Chief Impact and Strategy Officer (CISO), the Senior Director serves as the Foundation’s  programmatic and operational strategist for College Access and Completion priority area.  As a leadership team member of the Strategy and Impact team, the Senior Director translates the Chief Impact and Strategy Officer’s grantmaking vision into the development of an intentional and robust college access and completion grantmaking portfolio, partnerships, and learning opportunities that advance equitable economic mobility.
 
The role requires senior-level strategic and systems thinking and collaborative leadership. The Senior Director provides day-to-day leadership for the College Access and Completion team while ensuring strong alignment with the CISO and fosters a culture of shared accountability, transparent communication, collaboration within the Impact and Strategy team and with other key Kauffman teams, and high performance.
 
Key Responsibilities Include:
 
Strategic Leadership & Grantmaking

• Execute and continuously refine a cohesive College Access and Completion strategy under the direction of the CISO.
• Lead the development of grantee-centric, equity-focused grantmaking frameworks that advance individual and community outcomes.
• Serve as Impact Officer for high-stakes, strategy-aligned grants and ensure rigorous assessment of grantee performance.
• Collaborate with Impact & Strategy leadership to build coherence across the Foundation’s three priority areas: College Access & Completion; Workforce & Career; and Entrepreneurship.

• Manage, coach, and develop a team of Impact Officers, ensuring clarity of roles, professional growth, and strong execution.
• Model a collaborative, learning-oriented team culture that values innovation, equity, communication, and accountability.
• Serve as the Capacity Building grant pathway lead for the Impact & Strategy team.

• Ensure grantmaking systems and operations are efficient, coordinated, and aligned with Foundation values.
• Allocate team resources effectively, manage workload, and uphold deadlines.
• Monitor grantee operational and financial performance and address gaps when needed.

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with grantees, community partners, and national thought leaders in college access and completion.
• Represent the Foundation at conferences, convenings, and external events to elevate learning and visibility.
• Convene stakeholders and facilitate communities of practice that strengthen the regional ecosystem for economic mobility.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of leadership experience in higher education, college access/completion, or related fields.
• Experience in philanthropy, higher education, or nonprofit leadership strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading teams and implementing programs at scale.

• 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.