Special Appointment Research Coordinator

FRIENDS UNIVERSITY•Wichita, KS

3d•$35,000 - $40,000

About The Position

Friends University is hiring a half-time (0.5 FTE) Research Coordinator for the Doctor of Ministry in Formation and Soul Care program, beginning in August 2027. The position is a special appointment rather than a formal faculty role and is contracted one year at a time, with evaluation and the opportunity for renewal at the end of each year. The Research Coordinator 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 students. The role reports to the director of the doctoral program. For the first three years of each cohort, the coordinator supports approximately 45 students by hosting bi-monthly “D.Min. Research Huddles” during the first and third weeks of each month. Each huddle includes 30 minutes of instruction and 30 minutes for questions and responses, and sessions are recorded for future students. Topics include research methods and methodology, writing skills, style guides for D.Min. programs, the spirituality of writing, and practical research and writing tasks. The coordinator also meets individually with students by Zoom or phone at their request and provides or curates resources to support doctoral research and writing. In the fourth year of each cohort, the coordinator manages the supervisors overseeing approximately 15 students’ projects. The coordinator does not serve as each student’s project supervisor, but coordinates with supervisors and helps them navigate the supervision process. The role also includes documenting satisfactory academic progress, serving as instructor of record for CFSC 850 and 860 and providing academic administration and final grades, coordinating with the graduate program director on registration and degree progress, supporting students through completion and extension applications, assisting students with Institutional Review Board approval, and serving as a library liaison for interlibrary loan and database assistance. The position is based at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. In-person work on campus is preferred; qualified candidates who need to work remotely may be considered. The listed salary range is $35,000–$40,000. Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references through the university’s official employment site.

Requirements

Doctor of Ministry degree.
Extensive experience with Christian Spiritual Formation.
An 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 who need to work remotely may also receive consideration.

Responsibilities

Work with the lead mentor/director of the Doctor of Ministry Program on Spiritual Formation and Soul Care to support an effective research experience.
Host bi-monthly D.Min. Research Huddles during the first and third weeks of each month, providing instruction and time for questions and responses.
Record research huddles and make the recordings available to future students.
Teach topics including research methods and methodology, writing skills, D.Min. style guides, the spirituality of writing, and practical research and writing tasks.
Meet with students individually by Zoom or phone to discuss research and writing needs as requested.
Provide or curate resources for doctoral research and writing.
In the fourth year of each cohort, coordinate and manage the supervisors overseeing student projects; the coordinator is not the students’ project supervisor.
Collect evidence of satisfactory academic progress for each student.
Serve as instructor of record for CFSC 850 and 860, providing academic administration and final grades.
Coordinate with the graduate program director to support accurate registration and degree progress, follow students through program completion, and address extension applications.
Interact with the Friends University Institutional Review Board to assist students in obtaining research-project approval.
Serve as a library liaison and help students with interlibrary loan and database assistance.