Senior Program Manager, UMKC Division of Student Success

Academic Support & Mentoring

The Senior Program Manager provides strategic leadership for the Men of Character Academy (MoCA), UMKC's comprehensive student success initiative designed to foster academic excellence, persistence, leadership development, career readiness, and belonging among 75 undergraduate scholars participating in the MoCA program. The Senior Program Manager is responsible for the vision, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of MoCA while leading a team of Success Coaches, graduate assistants, student leaders, faculty fellows, and campus and community partners.

The Senior Program Manager develops and implements a comprehensive four-year student development model that integrates academic support, personal identity development, mentoring, leadership education, career and professional development, undergraduate research, and community engagement. The position builds collaborative partnerships with various groups including Student Success, Student Affairs, Athletics, faculty, alumni, employers, and community organizations to create high-impact experiences that promote student persistence, graduation, and post-graduate success.

Through evidence-based programming, holistic coaching, and strategic assessment, the Senior Program Manager advances institutional goals related to student success and workforce development while serving as a campus leader in best practices for success initiatives.

This position reports to the Associate Director of Academic Support & Mentoring.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all aspects of MoCA, including vision, planning, implementation, growth, assessment, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive, four-year developmental curriculum focused on academic excellence, personal identity development, leadership, wellness, career readiness, financial literacy, and personal growth.
• Establish program goals, measurable outcomes, and assessment strategies that evaluate student learning, persistence, retention, graduation, and post-graduate success.
• Monitor and analyze program data to drive continuous improvement and demonstrate program effectiveness.
• Benchmark national best practices in success initiatives, student development, and retention programming.

Student Success & Coaching

• Provide holistic support to MoCA scholars through proactive outreach, coaching, mentoring, and individualized success planning.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate Success Coaches, graduate assistants, peer mentors, and student leaders.
• Coordinate interventions that address academic, personal, financial, and career-related barriers to student success.
• Support students experiencing academic or personal challenges and connect them with appropriate campus resources.

Partnerships & Collaboration

• Build and sustain collaborative partnerships across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Athletics, Career Services, Residential Life, Honors, Undergraduate Research, faculty, alumni, employers, and community organizations.
• Collaborate with faculty and campus partners to create meaningful academic, leadership, research, and experiential learning opportunities.
• Develop relationships with external organizations that expand mentoring, internship, scholarship, and career opportunities for MoCA scholars.

Programming & Student Engagement

• Design and oversee high-impact programming that fosters belonging, leadership, community engagement, personal identity development, professional growth, and career preparation.
• Coordinate workshops, networking events, speaker series, service opportunities, and leadership experiences aligned with MoCA learning outcomes.
• Support initiatives that strengthen pathways from high school through college completion and beyond.
• Promote civic engagement and meaningful community partnerships that enhance student learning and leadership.

Communication & Program Administration

• Develop and implement communication strategies that clearly communicate program expectations, opportunities, and resources to students and stakeholders.
• Oversee program marketing, website content, social media, annual reports, and other communications that highlight student success and program impact.
• Manage program budgets, scholarships, reporting requirements, and operational processes.
• Represent MoCA and Student Success on university committees and at local, regional, and national conferences and events.

Other Responsibilities

• Serve as a campus leader and advocate for student success initiatives.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 4 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Educational Leadership, Social Work, or a related field.
• Five or more years of experience designing, implementing, and leading student success, retention, mentoring, or leadership development initiatives in higher education.
• Experience using assessment data to evaluate program outcomes and guide strategic decision-making.
• Experience supervising professional staff or student employees.
• Demonstrated success building collaborative partnerships with community organizations, employers, or alumni.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, project management, and leadership skills.
• Experience presenting at regional or national conferences and representing institutional initiatives externally.

The anticipated hiring range for this position has been established as $60,944 - $74,000 annually.

Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the individual's particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Grade: Salary Plan # 011
University Title: Senior Program Manager Student Support Services
To review the University of Missouri's Staff Compensation Structure you can view the Job Code detail page. Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

For best consideration submit application materials by July 17, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed until filled.

Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Kansas City offers the best of both worlds-a vibrant, urban community with Midwestern appeal. The city's rich history and its modern-day, innovative thinking come together to create an eclectic group of neighborhoods that offer a little something for everyone. From thriving arts districts, an energetic downtown nightlife, casual to upscale shopping and champion sports teams, you will have no problem making yourself at home. Of course, one of Kansas City's biggest claims to fame is its food, especially its world-famous barbecue. Foodies will delight in the culinary scene found throughout the city. Ranging from award-winning chefs to cozy pizza joints, Kansas City definitely is not lacking any flavor.

UMKC's campuses are conveniently nestled in the middle of all the action. Volker Campus is just minutes from the legendary Country Club Plaza, perfect for shopping or restaurants for lunch or after-work happy hours. Surrounded by hip neighborhoods and eateries, the Health Sciences Campus is located downtown near University Health Truman Medical Center and Children's Mercy Hospital.

UMKC is proud to be "Kansas City's university," and the campus and its people celebrate all the characteristics of the surrounding community. To learn more about life in Kansas City and find more resources, visit VisitKC.com.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.