Director

Position Overview

As a member of leadership in the International Affairs (IA) division, reporting to the Associate Vice Provost for Student Support and Academic Services (AVP SSAS), the Director of the Applied English Center (AEC) is responsible for delivering vision, innovation, advocacy, and guidance related to the services provided to KU’s community by the AEC. The AEC is accredited through CEA and is a member of the prestigious UCIEP consortium. The other offices of the division include the International Support Services, Study Abroad and Global Engagement, International Short Programs, five Area Studies Centers, and the central administrative office for International Affairs.

The Director provides leadership and vision for all operations of the AEC, collaborates frequently with campus partners within the division and across the university, and with external agencies. The Director manages the daily operations of the center; represents the center on campus, nationally and internationally; engages in strategic planning and entrepreneurial development projects; is a core member of the International Affairs leadership team; and provides leadership related to the University’s policies and programs related to English proficiency. This position also serves on KUIA’s Administrative Leadership Council. We are interested in candidates with experience in the administration of programs in Intensive English, special short-term language and culture programs, and academic support for English-language learners.

The University of Kansas is a major educational and research institution with approximately 29,000 students on five campuses, and 10,000 employees. The main campus is in Lawrence, a vibrant, thriving community of more than 90,000 that is just 40 miles west of Greater Kansas City and 20 miles from the state capital.

Job Description

Unit Leadership & Management (40%)

• Provide vision, leadership, guidance, and oversight for a forward-looking, service-oriented academic unit which provides a comprehensive program of support for English-language learners.
• Develop innovative strategies to deliver courses and programming that strengthen retention and enhance the academic and overall experience for KU’s community.
• Supervise and mentor staff and instructors; provide clear performance expectations, effective training and feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Direct AEC compliance and appropriate reporting according to Commission on English Language Accreditation (CEA) standards; oversee curriculum development, instruction and evaluation.
• Monitor AEC processes and procedures for language testing and placement in AEC courses and ensures policies are up-to-date.
• Develop clear metrics to measure, assess, and report on outcomes and impact associated with AEC services and activities.
• Ensure excellence in AEC student services through liaison with university departments and other units such as International Admissions, Jayhawk Academic Advising, The Center for Orientation & Transition, Student Affairs, Academic Success, International Student Services, and the Office of the University Registrar.
• Work with AEC faculty and staff to identify and address student academic and non-academic issues with clear action plans; counsel students who are up for dismissal from the AEC for academic performance or non-academic misconduct.
• Manage the AEC budget, participate in the annual International Affairs budget processes and provide financial and activity reports to the Associate Vice Provost.
  
  
  

Development, Capacity Building, and Outreach (40%)

• Collaborate with academic and administrative units across the university and program leadership within International Affairs and the AEC to develop programs that meet KU’s objectives and further strengthen the university’s mission, international reach, and reputation for excellence.
• Continually monitor field trends and needs to ensure policies and process remain updated, new policies and processes are developed and implemented, and innovations in the field are adopted.
• Identify opportunities for curriculum development and reform and leverage the center’s expertise to realize new curricular opportunities.
• Monitor competitive externally funded program opportunities and assemble appropriate teams to develop proposals and submit successful bids.
• Develop partnerships and maintain regular contact with outside agencies, universities, non-profit organizations, federal program offices, and other non-governmental programs for the development of English programs tailored to the needs of their constituencies.
• Engage in exploratory travel within the U.S. and abroad to promote and build awareness of AEC capacities and engage in the development of partnerships that result in new student enrollment.
  
  
  

Campus Leadership, Engagement, & Service to the Profession (20%)

• Serve as a primary source of information and expertise to deans, administrators, faculty members, and staff professionals to address issues and concerns related to English proficiency.
• Represent the AEC and International Affairs on university committees.
• Ensure ISS remains a strong and active part of the campus network, connecting the AEC community with the broad range of supports and resources for addressing personal, social, academic, cultural, financial, and other service needs.
• Serve on boards and committees of professional associations.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  
  

Position Requirements

Ability and willingness to travel in the U.S. and abroad.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree: Teaching English as a Second Language, Applied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, or related applied language acquisition field and three years of progressive management and leadership experience in a university or college-affiliated intensive English program or a university/college academic department or school specializing in Teaching English as a Second Language, Applied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, or related field;
• Three years of teaching experience in Teaching English as a Second Language, Applied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, or related field;
• Three or more years of university or college supervisory experience overseeing instructional faculty and professional staff;
• Three years of experience with budget planning and management, as evidenced by the cover letter;
• Demonstrated scholarly contributions, as evidenced by publications, presentations, and career progression;
• Excellent communication and writing skills and strong command of the English language, as evidenced by the cover letter and other application materials
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. preferred: Teaching English as a Second Language, Applied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, or related applied language acquisition field;
• Experience working with governmental and non-governmental educational sponsoring agencies that support student enrollment in English language programs;
• Experience representing and recruiting students to an English language program;
• Grant writing and grant management experience;
• Experience living and/or teaching outside the U.S.A.;
• Leadership experience in regional and/or national professional organizations, related to the field.
  
  
  

Additional Candidate Instructions

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

• Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
• Resume/CV.
• List of three (3) professional references.
  
  
  

Only complete applications will be considered.

Review of applications will begin Monday, April 28th and continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.

Contact Information to Applicants

J. R. Speake, jrspeake@ku.edu, 785-864-6161

Advertised Salary Range

$100,013 - $112,000

Application Review Begins

Monday April 28, 2025

Anticipated Start Date

Monday June 9, 2025