Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Senior Director- College Access and Completion
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City, Missouri, United States, 64101
Senior Director – College Access & Completion
Join to apply for the Senior Director – College Access & Completion role at Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
Overview At the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, we first listen to the communities we serve, tap into our learnings and relationships, and bring everyone together to build and support programs that improve education, boost entrepreneurship, and help Kansas City thrive.
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that provides access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity – regardless of race, gender, or geography. The Foundation uses its grantmaking, research, programs, affiliates, and initiatives to support the start and growth of new businesses, a more prepared workforce, and stronger communities. Our work is grounded in the principles of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion and is consistent with the aspirations of our founder, Ewing Marion Kauffman.
Reporting to the Chief Impact and Strategy Officer (CISO), the Senior Director serves as the Foundation’s programmatic and operational strategist for the College Access & Completion priority area. As a leadership team member of the Strategy and Impact team, the Senior Director translates the CISO’s grantmaking vision into the development of an intentional and robust college access and completion grantmaking portfolio, partnerships, and learning opportunities that advance equitable economic mobility.
Key Responsibilities
Execute and continuously refine a cohesive College Access & Completion strategy under the direction of the CISO.
Lead the development of grantee‑centric, equity‑focused grantmaking frameworks that advance individual and community outcomes.
Serve as Impact Officer for high‑stakes, strategy‑aligned grants and ensure rigorous assessment of grantee performance.
Collaborate with Impact & Strategy leadership to build coherence across the Foundation’s three priority areas: College Access & Completion, Workforce & Career, and Entrepreneurship.
Team Leadership & Management
Manage, coach, and develop a team of Impact Officers, ensuring clarity of roles, professional growth and strong execution.
Model a collaborative, learning‑oriented team culture that values innovation, equity, communication and accountability.
Serve as the Capacity Building grant pathway lead for the Impact & Strategy team.
Operational Excellence
Ensure grantmaking systems and operations are efficient, coordinated and aligned with Foundation values.
Allocate team resources effectively, manage workload and uphold deadlines.
Monitor grantee operational and financial performance and address gaps when needed.
Partnerships & Field Leadership
Build and maintain trusted relationships with grantees, community partners and national thought leaders in college access and completion.
Represent the Foundation at conferences, convenings and external events to elevate learning and visibility.
Convene stakeholders and facilitate communities of practice that strengthen the regional ecosystem for economic mobility.
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
Minimum 10 years of leadership experience in higher education, college access/completion or related fields.
Experience in philanthropy, higher education or nonprofit leadership strongly preferred.
Demonstrated success leading teams and implementing programs at scale.
Travel: This position requires occasional business travel.
Qualifications
Has a passion for advancing equitable and transformative solutions for communities served by the Foundation.
Possesses a strong understanding of best practices and areas for opportunity in the college access and completion landscape regionally and nationally.
Has a network of best‑in‑class experts and practitioners in the College Access & Completion field who could be tapped to inform the Foundation and enhance impact in the region.
Is experienced with managing staff or teams, using strong coaching and mentoring skills.
Leads with a commitment to equity, innovation and impact.
Has excellent collaboration and communication skills, including well‑developed interpersonal, written, listening and presentation skills.
Is comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty, and with the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations.
Prioritizes and multi‑tasks effectively using excellent organizational skills with keen attention to detail.
Possesses strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
Has the ability to function well in a high‑paced and at times, stressful environment.
Possesses a passion for “doing what is right,” with unquestioned integrity, positive ethics and values reflective of the Kauffman Foundation.
Has strong computer literacy skills, including word processing, spreadsheets and business applications. All of the statements in this position description are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. This document describes the position currently available. The organization reserves the right to modify job duties or job descriptions at any time.
NON‑DISCRIMINATION The EMKF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected category under applicable law.
TO APPLY Interested applicants can apply for this position by submitting a cover letter and resume. Job posting will be removed at 5:00 p.m. CT on January 9, 2026. Please note that this role is Kansas City, MO based and associates must reside in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Salary: $150,000.00–$170,000.00
Location: Kansas City Metropolitan Area
Job Details Seniority level: Director | Employment type: Full‑time | Job function: Other.
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Overview At the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, we first listen to the communities we serve, tap into our learnings and relationships, and bring everyone together to build and support programs that improve education, boost entrepreneurship, and help Kansas City thrive.
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that provides access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity – regardless of race, gender, or geography. The Foundation uses its grantmaking, research, programs, affiliates, and initiatives to support the start and growth of new businesses, a more prepared workforce, and stronger communities. Our work is grounded in the principles of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion and is consistent with the aspirations of our founder, Ewing Marion Kauffman.
Reporting to the Chief Impact and Strategy Officer (CISO), the Senior Director serves as the Foundation’s programmatic and operational strategist for the College Access & Completion priority area. As a leadership team member of the Strategy and Impact team, the Senior Director translates the CISO’s grantmaking vision into the development of an intentional and robust college access and completion grantmaking portfolio, partnerships, and learning opportunities that advance equitable economic mobility.
Key Responsibilities
Execute and continuously refine a cohesive College Access & Completion strategy under the direction of the CISO.
Lead the development of grantee‑centric, equity‑focused grantmaking frameworks that advance individual and community outcomes.
Serve as Impact Officer for high‑stakes, strategy‑aligned grants and ensure rigorous assessment of grantee performance.
Collaborate with Impact & Strategy leadership to build coherence across the Foundation’s three priority areas: College Access & Completion, Workforce & Career, and Entrepreneurship.
Team Leadership & Management
Manage, coach, and develop a team of Impact Officers, ensuring clarity of roles, professional growth and strong execution.
Model a collaborative, learning‑oriented team culture that values innovation, equity, communication and accountability.
Serve as the Capacity Building grant pathway lead for the Impact & Strategy team.
Operational Excellence
Ensure grantmaking systems and operations are efficient, coordinated and aligned with Foundation values.
Allocate team resources effectively, manage workload and uphold deadlines.
Monitor grantee operational and financial performance and address gaps when needed.
Partnerships & Field Leadership
Build and maintain trusted relationships with grantees, community partners and national thought leaders in college access and completion.
Represent the Foundation at conferences, convenings and external events to elevate learning and visibility.
Convene stakeholders and facilitate communities of practice that strengthen the regional ecosystem for economic mobility.
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
Minimum 10 years of leadership experience in higher education, college access/completion or related fields.
Experience in philanthropy, higher education or nonprofit leadership strongly preferred.
Demonstrated success leading teams and implementing programs at scale.
Travel: This position requires occasional business travel.
Qualifications
Has a passion for advancing equitable and transformative solutions for communities served by the Foundation.
Possesses a strong understanding of best practices and areas for opportunity in the college access and completion landscape regionally and nationally.
Has a network of best‑in‑class experts and practitioners in the College Access & Completion field who could be tapped to inform the Foundation and enhance impact in the region.
Is experienced with managing staff or teams, using strong coaching and mentoring skills.
Leads with a commitment to equity, innovation and impact.
Has excellent collaboration and communication skills, including well‑developed interpersonal, written, listening and presentation skills.
Is comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty, and with the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations.
Prioritizes and multi‑tasks effectively using excellent organizational skills with keen attention to detail.
Possesses strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
Has the ability to function well in a high‑paced and at times, stressful environment.
Possesses a passion for “doing what is right,” with unquestioned integrity, positive ethics and values reflective of the Kauffman Foundation.
Has strong computer literacy skills, including word processing, spreadsheets and business applications. All of the statements in this position description are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. This document describes the position currently available. The organization reserves the right to modify job duties or job descriptions at any time.
NON‑DISCRIMINATION The EMKF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected category under applicable law.
TO APPLY Interested applicants can apply for this position by submitting a cover letter and resume. Job posting will be removed at 5:00 p.m. CT on January 9, 2026. Please note that this role is Kansas City, MO based and associates must reside in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Salary: $150,000.00–$170,000.00
Location: Kansas City Metropolitan Area
Job Details Seniority level: Director | Employment type: Full‑time | Job function: Other.
#J-18808-Ljbffr