Associate Dean/Open rank (Associate or Full professor)

The Associate Dean serves as a senior academic and administrative leader within the Staley School of Leadership and partners closely with the Dean to advance the school's mission of developing bold, curious, and connected learners through leadership education, scholarship, applied learning, undergraduate research, and honors education. The Staley School of Leadership provides university-wide programs and services that support students across all majors and campuses through academic and co-curricular experiences.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Administration

• Partner with the Dean to develop and implement the school's strategic vision, priorities, and goals in alignment with those of the university
• Provide leadership for school-wide initiatives that enhance student learning, engagement, and success
• Represent the school on university committees, councils, and task forces; including K-State Committee on Academic Policy, General Education Council, Assessment and Institutional Research, and Associate Deans committee
• Drive departmental evaluation, promotion, and tenure guidelines and documents
• Liaise with K-State units such as Graduate School, Office of Sponsored Programs, and Vice President for Research Office
• Serve as acting dean in the absence of the Dean
• Lead special projects and initiatives that advance the school's mission and strategic objectives

Academic Program Leadership

• Provide oversight and support for academic programs, curricula, and instructional initiatives throughout the school
• Implement academic policies and procedures for the school
• Promote experiential and applied learning that happens inside and outside of the classroom
• Partner closely with the Director of Leadership Studies to support the development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of academic programs and curricula
• Lead coordination of assessment initiatives across the school
• Monitor key performance indicators and student success metrics
• Communicate outcomes to stakeholders and recommend improvements based on evidence and best practices
• Collaborate with unit leads to advance instructional excellence, faculty success, enrollment growth, student achievement, and program innovation
• Support the expansion of interdisciplinary leadership education opportunities that serve students across colleges, majors, and campuses
• Provide strategic leadership for academic assessment and program review
• Foster alignment and collaboration among the school's academic, co-curricular, honors, undergraduate research, and applied learning initiatives
• Teaching responsibilities may be assigned based on college needs, the individual's expertise, and workload

Student Support and Success

• Use data-informed decision making to assess student outcomes and improve programming
• Foster a student-centered culture that supports recruitment, retention, persistence, and graduation
• Drive strategic enrollment management strategy for the school
• Support recruitment and prospective student visits
• Collaborate with campus partners to enhance undergraduate research, honors education, service learning, and community engagement programs
• Respond to student concerns, grievances, and disciplinary actions in partnership with respective faculty and/or unit lead
• Support university-wide leadership development opportunities and student engagement initiatives

Faculty and Staff Leadership

• Review and monitor key academic indicators, including enrollment, student success, faculty productivity, and program outcomes, in partnership with the unit leads
• Foster communication and alignment between Leadership Studies faculty and other Staley School units, advancing interdisciplinary collaboration and integrated student learning experiences
• Provide leadership for the performance and success of the Leadership Studies unit through ongoing partnership, goal setting, and evaluation of the Director of Leadership Studies
• Collaborate with the Director of Leadership Studies to identify emerging faculty, curriculum, and resource needs, and advocate for investments that support academic excellence and strategic growth
• Support succession planning, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness within the Leadership Studies unit to ensure long-term sustainability and excellence

External Relations and Partnerships

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with academic colleges, campus units, community organizations, alumni, employers, and external partners
• Support civic engagement, service, and leadership initiatives that strengthen community impact
• Cultivate partnerships that enhance applied learning and student opportunities

Research and Sponsored Programs

• Serve on the Associate Deans for Research Council
• Faculty support in proposal creation and connect to K-State resources and processes
• Periodic tracking and support of engaged scholarly work in the school
• Liaison to the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects and approvals within research and sponsored programs platforms

The Mary Lynn and Warren Staley School of Leadership at Kansas State University is a values-centered learning community that provides academic, co-curricular, and applied learning experiences to students across the university with the purpose of developing bold, curious, and connected learners to address our world's most complex challenges.

A focus on incubating new initiatives, and building and strengthening partnerships has allowed the Staley School to evolve in new and diverse ways - launching new academic programs and becoming home to additional university-wide programs and initiatives, committed to enriching learning both in and out of the classroom.

This position is On-site.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in higher education, leadership studies, student affairs, education, or other field
• Record of 5+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education
• Credentials or experience for appointment as a tenured member of faculty
• Consideration for associate professor includes current rank of associate professor and 6+ years of related experience
• Consideration for professor includes current rank of professor and 10+ years of related experience

The degree requirement is necessary for accreditation purposes and to ensure candidates possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities that can only be attained through a formal educational program at this level.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and complex organizational initiatives
• Evidence of successful collaboration with faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders
• Evidence of strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Experience with strategic planning, supervision, budgeting, assessment, and program evaluation
• Experience overseeing academic and/or co-curricular programs
• Experience with honors education, undergraduate research, leadership studies, experiential learning, student development, or related areas
• Demonstrated success securing external funding, grants, or philanthropic support
• Experience serving in a college- or major unit-level leadership role
• Record of scholarly or professional contributions related to leadership, student success, or higher education

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

Please submit the following documents:

1. A cover letter addressing your interest in the position and how your qualifications align with the responsibilities and requirements of the Associate Dean role.
2. Curriculum vitae

Applications close on: October 9th, 2026

Commensurate with experience