Special Appointment Research Coordinator (9618)

Friends University•Wichita, KS

About The Position

Friends University is hiring a half-time (0.5 FTE) Research Coordinator for its Doctor of Ministry in Formation and Soul Care program, beginning in August 2027. This special appointment is contracted one year at a time, with an opportunity for evaluation and renewal at the end of each year. The Research Coordinator is not a formal faculty member and works with the lead mentor/director of the Doctor of Ministry Program on Spiritual Formation and Soul Care to support an effective research experience. For the first three years of each cohort, the coordinator supports approximately 45 students by hosting bi-monthly research huddles, offering individual research and writing support on request, and providing or curating doctoral project resources. In the fourth year, the coordinator manages the supervisors assigned to approximately 15 students, helping supervisors navigate their work without serving as each student’s supervisor. The coordinator also serves as instructor of record for CFSC 850 and 860, collects evidence of students’ satisfactory academic progress, oversees supervisor management and shares information with the graduate program director to support accurate registration and degree progress. The role includes following students through completion, including extension applications; assisting students with Institutional Review Board approval; and serving as a library liaison for interlibrary loan and database assistance. The position reports to the director of the doctoral program. Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references. Applications are accepted only through the university’s official employment site.

Requirements

Doctor of Ministry degree.
Extensive experience with Christian Spiritual Formation.
Established record of academic scholarship and mentoring students.

Nice To Haves

Ability to work in person from the Friends University campus in Wichita, Kansas; qualified individuals needing to work remotely may receive consideration.

Responsibilities

Work with the lead mentor/director of the Doctor of Ministry Program on Spiritual Formation and Soul Care to support the effectiveness of the research experience.
Host bi-monthly D.Min. Research Huddles during the first and third weeks of the month, including 30 minutes of instruction and 30 minutes for questions and responses; record the sessions and make them available to future students.
Teach topics including research methodology and methods, writing skills, style guides for D.Min. programs, the spirituality of writing, and practical research and writing tasks such as creating title pages, adding footnotes, and building literature maps.
Meet with students individually by Zoom or phone to discuss research and writing needs as requested.
Provide or curate resources to support doctoral project research and writing.
In the fourth year of each cohort, coordinate the supervisors overseeing student projects and help them navigate the supervision process; do not serve as the students’ individual supervisor.
Collect evidence that each student is making satisfactory academic progress.
Serve as instructor of record for CFSC 850 and 860, providing academic administration and final grades.
Oversee management of supervisors and share information with the graduate program director to support accurate registration and degree progress.
Follow students through program completion, including when they need to apply for extensions.
Work with Friends University’s Institutional Review Board to assist students in obtaining research project approval.
Serve as library liaison, assisting with interlibrary loan and other database needs for research.