Director of Sorority and Fraternity Life

Director of Sorority and Fraternity Life

Position Overview

Established in 1865, the University of Kansas (KU) is a prominent public research and teaching institution. With over 29,000 students and more than 2,000 faculty members spread across five campuses—Lawrence, Kansas City, Overland Park, Wichita, and Salina—KU stands as a beacon of education, scholarly activity, and creative pursuits. It is dedicated to the mission of cultivating leaders, fostering healthy communities, and pioneering discoveries that have a global impact.

The University of Kansas, widely recognized as the public flagship, is a hub for groundbreaking research and a relentless quest for knowledge. The Jayhawks are the driving force behind the state of Kansas, shaping the future on a global scale. The University caters to a student body exceeding 29,000, with 20,696 undergraduates, predominantly under the age of 24 and hailing from within the state. Sorority and fraternity engagement encompasses roughly 20% of these undergraduates at KU.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Katie Treadwell, the Director of Sorority and Fraternity Life (Director) of KU is responsible for leading strategic initiatives to strengthen the sorority and fraternity community resulting in an inclusive, engaged, and healthy community. The Director is responsible for developing and implementing the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life strategic plan in collaboration with senior administrators, student leaders, national organizations, house corporations, advisors, and community groups. The strategic plan includes objectives focusing on community well-being, risk reduction, academic support, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development. The Director supports a team of eight full-time professionals, in addition to graduate assistants and student leaders. The Director also serves as a key member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team.

The successful candidate will be an experienced leader and collaborative bridge-builder who can think creatively about the great potential of Sorority and Fraternity Life (SFL) at KU, bringing best practices to bear for SFL from a variety of areas including strategic planning, fiscal management, incident response, and cultivation of collaborative relationships. The new leader will be student-centered, highly collaborative, politically astute, and possess a commitment to leading a dynamic, future-oriented mission and vision for the SFL office. Foundational qualities for the Director will be demonstrated aptitude for developing trusting and positive relationships with a variety of stakeholders and excellent and diplomatic communication skills. Job Description

The Director of the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life is responsible for leading strategic initiatives to strengthen the sorority and fraternity community resulting in an inclusive, engaged, and healthy community. The Director is responsible for developing and implementing the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life strategic plan in collaboration with senior administrators, student leaders, national organizations, house corporations, advisors, and community groups. The strategic plan includes objectives focusing on community well-being, risk reduction, academic support, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development.

The Director supports a team of eight full-time professionals, in addition to graduate assistants and student leaders. The Director reports to the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Affairs and serves as a key member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Management of the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life

Establish a dynamic, future-oriented mission and vision for the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life. Ensure all departmental activities and initiatives align with the unit’s mission, vision, and strategic initiatives. Oversee the hiring, onboarding, and training for an expanded Sorority and Fraternity Life staff. Ensure all hiring processes align with best practices for inclusive searches, as well as all university policies and state and federal laws. Directly supervise the Senior Associate Director for External Relations, Assistant Director for Community Development, and Assistant Director for Student Learning and Well-Being. Manage the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life budget of $400,000 and associated endowment funds of more than $500,000. Ensure timely and appropriate use of all funds associated with the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life. Track unit financial needs and spending patterns over time. Manage collection of dues from member councils. Ensure equitable resource allocation across governing councils. Provide counsel to university administrators and other critical stakeholders as requested. Develop, revise, and provide counsel on university policies pertaining to the sorority and fraternity experience. Coordinate ongoing professional development for staff within the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life. Ensure staff remain connected to and well-versed in relevant developments to support their work within the sorority and fraternity life community. External Relations

Establish and maintain working relationships and collaborations with chapter advisors, (inter)national headquarters organizations, house corporations and directors, and other stakeholders. Serve as a resource for students, families, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders on issues related to sorority and fraternity life. Support university administrators, the Alumni Advisory Council, and the Alumni Executive Council in collaboration with the Senior Associate Director for External Relations. Set a vision for the office brand and communications strategy. Oversee office communications strategy and products, in coordination with the Senior Associate Director for External Relations and the Communications Coordinator. Assessment and Strategic Planning

Foster a culture of evidence-based decisions and practices within the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life. Oversee the implementation of assessments to evaluate the effectiveness/success of sorority and fraternity programs. Track data-based trends in the sorority and fraternity life community, both within and beyond KU. Identify trends over time and projections for future community needs. Develop, monitor, and evaluate departmental learning outcomes. Ensure all Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life programming advances departmental, Student Affairs, and university learning outcomes. Develop, implement, and evaluate the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life strategic plan, in coordination with relevant stakeholders. Additional Administrative Duties

Serve on university-wide and Student Affairs committees, as needed. Respond to emergency situations within the sorority and fraternity community

Position Requirements

Evening and weekend work hours are required, as well as availability to respond 24 hours a day to sorority or fraternity emergency situations. The Director must have a telephone and live and maintain a domicile within 30 minutes of the closest point of the main campus under normal driving conditions. Required Qualifications

Master’s degree in higher education, college student personnel, educational leadership, counseling, social work, psychology, or a related field; or a juris doctorate degree. Five years of full-time professional work experience in higher education. Five years of experience advising and/or working directly with social fraternities/sororities on a college campus. Applied knowledge of best practices and national trends impacting sorority and fraternity life as demonstrated through work history. Five years of experience supervising professional and student staff. Experience developing and managing complex organizational budgets. Preferred Qualifications

Established ability to create and foster relationships across multiple constituencies. Highly attentive to detail and consistent communication. Experience managing complex budgets and assessment strategies. Visionary thinking and long-term planning. Commitment to staff growth and development. Additional Candidate Instructions

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile.

WittKieffer is assisting the University of Kansas in this search.

For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by May 24, 2024.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal . Christy Pratt and Roxana Woudstra KUDirectorSFL@Wittkieffer.com Department:

Sorority and Fraternity Life Primary Campus:

University of Kansas Lawrence Campus Assignment:

On-Site Reg/Temp:

Regular Employee Class:

U-Unclassified Professional Staff

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