Student AB Managing Director
Position Overview
The Student Managing Director works in partnership with the Executive Director, these directors are commonly referred to as the ‘Co-Directors.’ These two officers are responsible for the Alternative Breaks program. As directors, they are responsible for unifying the resources, strategies, goals, and practices of the service programs: Alternative Winter Breaks and Alternative Spring Breaks (with the opportunity to expand to include Alternative Weekend Breaks, Alternative Fall Breaks, and Alternative Summer Breaks) to maintain consistency between the programs and ensure that education and reflection are integrated into all seasons.
The Student Managing Director will be short-term focused and aid in the trip coordination and the development and execution of the education component; overseeing the Trip Director, Trip Coordinators, and Education Coordinator, and co-overseeing the Research Coordinators.
The Co-Directors must make themselves available to one another and their Alternative Breaks CORE team during the upcoming summer and throughout the duration of their position, including during Alternative Break travel periods, and for turnover the following year.
Hiring, weekly hour maximum, and hourly rate of pay are contingent on KU Student Senate funding.
Per the State of Kansas, student employees may hold concurrent appointments not to exceed maximum appointment and hours worked levels. However, concurrent student appointments must be of matching FLSA designation (exempt/salaried or non-exempt/hourly).
The Student Managing Director will be short-term focused and aid in the trip coordination and the development and execution of the education component; overseeing the Trip Director, Trip Coordinators, and Education Coordinator, and co-overseeing the Research Coordinators.
The Co-Directors must make themselves available to one another and their Alternative Breaks CORE team during the upcoming summer and throughout the duration of their position, including during Alternative Break travel periods, and for turnover the following year.
Hiring, weekly hour maximum, and hourly rate of pay are contingent on KU Student Senate funding.
Per the State of Kansas, student employees may hold concurrent appointments not to exceed maximum appointment and hours worked levels. However, concurrent student appointments must be of matching FLSA designation (exempt/salaried or non-exempt/hourly).
Job Description
Internal & External Collaboration, Development, and Management – 50%
- Serve as a point of contact for Alternative Break (AB) executive CORE members, Advisors, AB partnerships, and current and potential partners across campus (CSL, Departmental Deans, Student Senate, etc.).
- Oversee AB programming, answer questions, offer support, and meet regularly with Coordinators/Directors, Advisors, and campus partners.
- Act as a leader and a role model in guiding AB CORE (directors and coordinators) in their service to the organization, and participants at service sites.
- Facilitate CORE training, meetings, and support in partnership with the Executive Director; lead these components for the roles within their direct oversight.
- Support incoming/outgoing Directors in facilitating volunteer CORE interviews, selection, new coordinator hiring, and turnover tasks.
- Meet bi-weekly with the AB’s Advisors and Executive Director to discuss internal management, and AB programming.
- Co-organize and lead in partnership with the Executive Director at least bi-weekly meetings with other Directors (Finance, Public Relations, Trip) to discuss internal management and AB programming.
- Maintain availability during all academic breaks to manage Alternative Break experiences in partnership with the Executive Director; especially as it relates to participant experiences.
- Work with the Trip Director and the volunteer Trip Coordinators to ensure ethical and engaging site selection occurs; maintain prior site relationships, oversee coordination with sites, oversee participant-related engagement, and lead the preparation of AB site packets.
- Serve as a point of contact for Trip Coordinators (volunteer), and an effective point of contact for potential community partners. Organize and lead bi-weekly meetings regularly with volunteer Trip Coordinators in partnership with the Trip Director.
- Attend and co-host the education classes as part of the AB pre-trip education component; working closely with the Education Coordinator and AB’s Advisors to develop an engaging and thorough experiential service-learning program for participants.
- Develop and follow a standard annual timeline and process for trip planning and educational classes to ensure a timely, engaging, and thorough coordination experience can occur for all future Alternative Breaks.
- Document processes related to internal and external communication as related to Alternative Break community volunteer partnerships to create a manual/guide for future AB leaders and to ensure communication is prompt and relevant.
Required Qualifications
- Evidenced commitment to community outreach and service as shown in application materials.
- Ability to lead and work collaboratively with a team as shown in application materials.
- Strong organization and time management skills as shown in application materials.
- Strong self-starter with a proactive approach to problem-solving as shown in application materials.
- During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: 1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or 2) be pre-enrolled in upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or 3) be enrolled in summer session or 4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous experience as a CORE Member of KU Alternative Breaks or participant of an Alternative Break.
- Prior experience working with and collaborating with a wide range of populations.
- Prior experience facilitating educational classes or service-learning experiences.
- Prior experience organizing student-led trips or experiences.
Additional Candidate Instructions
Your application must consist of each of the following:
The selected applicant for this position will be expected to participate in executive team interviews from April 2-6 and attend a leadership/turnover retreat in mid-April. More details will be provided if selected for an interview.
To ensure consideration apply before 3/30/2025.
- Completion of the online application form
- Cover Letter
- Current Resume
- Cover Letter: career.ku.edu/cover-letters
- Resume: career.ku.edu/resumes
The selected applicant for this position will be expected to participate in executive team interviews from April 2-6 and attend a leadership/turnover retreat in mid-April. More details will be provided if selected for an interview.
To ensure consideration apply before 3/30/2025.
Contact Information to Applicants
Kate Kemper or Steph Ruppen: csl@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$11.00 per hour
Work Schedule
15 hours per week.
Anticipated Start Date
Sunday June 22, 2025