Education Program Manager

University of Kansas • Lawrence, KS

22h

About The Position

The Education Program Manager at the KU Center on Disabilities (KUCD) supports implementation of grant-funded research projects focused on employment and transition from high school for people with disabilities. The role leads education, training, and technical assistance activities for employment service providers and transition councils; supervises research staff and researchers with intellectual and developmental disabilities; monitors and communicates study progress; and assists with grant management and reporting.

The position works directly with Dr. Evan Dean and collaborates with KUCD faculty, staff, students, postdoctoral fellows, colleagues with disabilities, and community partners, including employment specialists, teachers, youth with disabilities, and their family members. Projects include statewide training and technical assistance for the Employment First Training and Technical Assistance Center and systems-change research through the Transition Council Project. The manager may directly supervise professional staff, researchers with intellectual and developmental disabilities, students, and postdoctoral researchers.

KUCD is a research center conducting grant-funded applied research, particularly on self-determination and transition to employment, and interdisciplinary training in the disability field. KUCD describes its environment as welcoming and supportive, with opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, networking, and research knowledge and training.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in education (including special education), psychology (including clinical psychology), health and social sciences, disability studies, or a related area, plus at least three years of related professional experience; or a master’s degree in one of these areas plus at least one year of related professional experience.
• Excellent written communication skills, as evidenced by application materials.
• Strong attention to detail, as evidenced by application materials.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and administrative skills demonstrated by previous experience.
• At least three years of experience using multiple types of computer software and websites, such as Microsoft Office, Google Drive, and Adobe Acrobat.
• Experience working with people with disabilities or their families.
• Experience working with Kansas state agencies, such as the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services or the Kansas Department of Education.
• Experience with data management, analysis, or storage systems, such as Excel, SPSS, Qualtrics, or RedCap.
• Excellent student and staff management skills demonstrated by previous experience.
• Communications experience, including developing materials to support study activities such as recruitment, protocols, and dissemination products.
• Experience working on more than one project at a time.
• Strong interest in research on employment, secondary transition, or related areas, as evidenced by application materials.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with people with disabilities or their families.
• Experience working with Kansas state agencies.
• Experience with data management, analysis, or storage systems such as Excel, SPSS, Qualtrics, or RedCap.
• Student and staff management experience.
• Communications experience developing recruitment, protocol, or dissemination materials.
• Experience working on multiple projects at a time.
• Interest in research on employment, secondary transition, or related areas.

Responsibilities

• Envision, conceptualize, design, and develop materials, content, programs, and activities to engage employment service providers and community members in projects that enhance employment and transition service delivery for people with disabilities.
• Organize and lead training and technical assistance, including mentorship and technical assistance for employment service providers and training for Transition Council members.
• Track study activities and timelines, monitor data collection, and communicate with funders and state and national experts to organize presentations and knowledge-sharing.
• Manage educational and dissemination activities with project teams, including informational videos, plain-language infographics, project reports, state and national presentations, and peer-reviewed manuscripts.
• Coordinate development of project reports through writing, proofreading, and document layout.
• Supervise researchers, including researchers with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in project planning, data collection, information dissemination, professional writing, presentations, and assigned clerical tasks.
• Design and conduct program assessments, analyze results, and modify programs based on results.
• Liaise with project partners on issues aligned with KUCD's mission, such as secondary transition and employment, and prepare monthly reports for KUCD leadership based on those collaborations.
• Support and manage additional project activities, including scheduling meetings, organizing and sharing meeting notes, supporting staff travel arrangements, and participating in KUCD service activities such as committees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager