Professor of the Practice/Director, Jayhawk Student Venture Fund
Position Overview
The School of Business at the University of Kansas is searching for a non-tenure track faculty member to serve as Professor of the Practice in Entrepreneurship and as the inaugural Director, Jayhawk Student Venture Fund.
This is a part-time (0.75 FTE), benefits-eligible, academic year appointment, with 50% of duties assigned to the Professor of the Practice portion and 25% of duties assigned to the Director role. There is no additional summer salary associated with the Director duties. This position reports to the Executive Director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives and The HUB@KU. The director portion (.25FTE) of this role is serve at the pleasure of the Dean of the School of Business. The preferred start date is January 1, 2025. However, in unique situations, a delayed start of August 18, 2025, may be arranged. The initial appointment term will be 2 ½- 3 years, depending on start date. The appointment is eligible for multi-term renewal.
KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment. Any employment with the University of Kansas is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check.
The University of Kansas and Lawrence, Kansas:
The University of Kansas is one of the leading research universities in the United States and is known for its strong tradition of academic excellence. Since 1909, the University of Kansas has been a member of the Association of American Universities, the premier consortium of research institutions in North America.
The University of Kansas School of Business offers undergraduate, master’s (full-time, part-time, and online) and doctoral programs. In recent years, the School has experienced remarkable growth and currently enrolls more than 3,000 undergraduate students. The School offers a robust set of entrepreneurship degree programs at the graduate and undergraduate level and has made significant investments in entrepreneurship co-curricular programming. Growing the breadth and impact of entrepreneurship programming features prominently in KU’s strategy, Jayhawks Rising.
The School of Business sits on KU’s main campus in Lawrence. In May 2016, the School of Business moved into its new $70.5 million home, Capitol Federal Hall. Lawrence is located 35 miles west of Kansas City atop Mount Oread in the Kansas River valley. It has a population of about 100,000, with a large student population and a small-town, friendly atmosphere with many major-city lifestyle amenities. Lawrence boasts a nationally recognized live-music scene and a historic downtown full of small businesses, art galleries, microbreweries, bars, restaurants and more. Museums in town and on campus offer exhibits of classic and contemporary art, natural history and anthropology.
Kansas City, Kansas, home to the University of Kansas Medical Center, is a 40-minute drive from Lawrence. The Kansas City metropolitan area has a population of two million and offers many fine restaurants, superb shopping and an extensive choice of professional, cultural and sporting events. The Kansas City International Airport (MCI), with a newly opened terminal, offers flights to all major U.S. cities and is less than an hour drive from Lawrence.
This is a part-time (0.75 FTE), benefits-eligible, academic year appointment, with 50% of duties assigned to the Professor of the Practice portion and 25% of duties assigned to the Director role. There is no additional summer salary associated with the Director duties. This position reports to the Executive Director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives and The HUB@KU. The director portion (.25FTE) of this role is serve at the pleasure of the Dean of the School of Business. The preferred start date is January 1, 2025. However, in unique situations, a delayed start of August 18, 2025, may be arranged. The initial appointment term will be 2 ½- 3 years, depending on start date. The appointment is eligible for multi-term renewal.
KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment. Any employment with the University of Kansas is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check.
The University of Kansas and Lawrence, Kansas:
The University of Kansas is one of the leading research universities in the United States and is known for its strong tradition of academic excellence. Since 1909, the University of Kansas has been a member of the Association of American Universities, the premier consortium of research institutions in North America.
The University of Kansas School of Business offers undergraduate, master’s (full-time, part-time, and online) and doctoral programs. In recent years, the School has experienced remarkable growth and currently enrolls more than 3,000 undergraduate students. The School offers a robust set of entrepreneurship degree programs at the graduate and undergraduate level and has made significant investments in entrepreneurship co-curricular programming. Growing the breadth and impact of entrepreneurship programming features prominently in KU’s strategy, Jayhawks Rising.
The School of Business sits on KU’s main campus in Lawrence. In May 2016, the School of Business moved into its new $70.5 million home, Capitol Federal Hall. Lawrence is located 35 miles west of Kansas City atop Mount Oread in the Kansas River valley. It has a population of about 100,000, with a large student population and a small-town, friendly atmosphere with many major-city lifestyle amenities. Lawrence boasts a nationally recognized live-music scene and a historic downtown full of small businesses, art galleries, microbreweries, bars, restaurants and more. Museums in town and on campus offer exhibits of classic and contemporary art, natural history and anthropology.
Kansas City, Kansas, home to the University of Kansas Medical Center, is a 40-minute drive from Lawrence. The Kansas City metropolitan area has a population of two million and offers many fine restaurants, superb shopping and an extensive choice of professional, cultural and sporting events. The Kansas City International Airport (MCI), with a newly opened terminal, offers flights to all major U.S. cities and is less than an hour drive from Lawrence.
Job Description
55% Teaching (.40 FTE) - Teach undergraduate or graduate level on entrepreneurial finance. Duties include but are not limited to: course preparation, course delivery, and assignment of course grades. Courses may be taught at the Lawrence, Edwards, or Leavenworth campus, and online. The typical course load for this appointment is four (4) courses per academic year. Teaching assignments will be determined by the Area Director to best meet the needs of the School of Business. The School of Business reserves the right to modify instructors course loads based on current needs of the School. All faculty should abide by Area, School, and University policies and procedures.
12% Teaching Related Service (.10 FTE) - Participate as an active member of the Area and engage in instruction-related activities beyond direct instruction. Examples include curriculum development committees, course improvement initiatives, and advising student organizations. All faculty members are expected to fulfill their share of service duties needed to facilitate the efficient operation of the school.
33% Director, Jayhawk Student Venture Fund (.25 FTE) - Work with the Executive Director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives and The HUB@KU and the Management and Entrepreneurship Area Director to design, organize, and lead the Jayhawk Student Venture Fund, envisioned to provide KU graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to make early-stage investments in targeted companies. The Director will guide students in the complexities of fund management, investment strategies, and the identification and cultivation of entrepreneurial talent. Duties may include but are not limited to:
12% Teaching Related Service (.10 FTE) - Participate as an active member of the Area and engage in instruction-related activities beyond direct instruction. Examples include curriculum development committees, course improvement initiatives, and advising student organizations. All faculty members are expected to fulfill their share of service duties needed to facilitate the efficient operation of the school.
33% Director, Jayhawk Student Venture Fund (.25 FTE) - Work with the Executive Director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives and The HUB@KU and the Management and Entrepreneurship Area Director to design, organize, and lead the Jayhawk Student Venture Fund, envisioned to provide KU graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to make early-stage investments in targeted companies. The Director will guide students in the complexities of fund management, investment strategies, and the identification and cultivation of entrepreneurial talent. Duties may include but are not limited to:
- Oversee the management of the venture capital fund, including investment strategies, fund allocation, and financial reporting. Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and university policies.
- Mentor and train students in venture capital practices, including deal sourcing, due diligence, investment thesis development, and portfolio management.
- Cultivate relationships with entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and co-investors to identify investment opportunities.
- Lead the investment decision-making process, and guide students in evaluating potential investments.
- Monitor the performance of the fund’s investments and provide regular reports to stakeholders.
- Coordinating with the Area Director and KU Endowment Association as appropriate to secure initial investment capital for the fund.
- Represent the fund at university and industry events.
- Coordinate with the Director of Entrepreneurship Co-Curricular Programming to integrate co-curricular entrepreneurial finance experiential learning opportunities into academic entrepreneurship programs as may be appropriate.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in finance, business or a related field.
- Documented ability to successfully teach a range of entrepreneurship and finance courses, or in the absence of university teaching experience, compelling evidence of the potential for teaching success.
- Documented ability to conduct financial and operational due diligence in private companies.
- Documented ability to raise investment capital.
- Minimum five-years experience in private equity, venture capital, or related field.
- Minimum three-years experience directing investments in startup or early-stage companies.
- Excellent mentorship and leadership skills, with a passion for education and student development, as evident by application materials.
- Effective communicator with strong networking abilities.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience teaching successfully at both graduate and undergraduate levels.
- Experience with effective curriculum development.
- Familiarity with undergraduate business programs at KU.
Additional Candidate Instructions
To be considered, an online application must be submitted. A complete application includes (1) letter of application describing experience and accomplishments; (2) record of productivity in teaching as noted in CV; (3) teaching statement and supplemental materials (teaching portfolio, sample syllabi, teaching evaluations); and (4) contact information for three professional references. Actual letters of reference will be required later in the hiring process. First review of applications will begin on October 15th. Posting will remain open until a qualified applicant pool is obtained. #LI-HR1 |
Contact Information to Applicants
Michaela Edwards,
busmgtadmin@ku.edu (regarding application process)
Brian Anderson,
brian.anderson@ku.edu (regarding position information)
busmgtadmin@ku.edu (regarding application process)
Brian Anderson,
brian.anderson@ku.edu (regarding position information)
Advertised Salary Range
Commensurate with experience
Application Review Begins
Tuesday October 15, 2024
Anticipated Start Date
Wednesday January 1, 2025