Executive Assistant to the Dean

This position serves a vital role in the communications and operations of the Dean’s Office and works in collaboration with others to execute the goals of the Dean and the School. The assistant is the principal support staff for executive level activities for the Dean of the Law School and serves as the point of access to the Dean and the Dean’s Office. The assistant has access to a variety of information and is expected to exercise good judgment, maintain confidentiality, work independently, and demonstrate excellent communication and organization skills. Professional communication with state officials, media, alumni, Deans, faculty, university officials, and the public is an essential part of this position.

Responsibilities

• Communication (20%):
  • Function as the Dean’s communication liaison with KU offices, including the Provost Office, other Dean’s offices, Directors, faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, as well as the public including the Board of Governors and other external constituencies.
  • Engage in front-line troubleshooting and expedite problem-solving for the Dean’s office.
  • Answer telephone, screen calls, respond to calendar invitations, and provide routine information regarding the Dean’s schedule and law school activities.
  • Assist visitors and alumni, resolve administrative problems and inquiries, or refer to the appropriate personnel or office.
• Scheduling (30%):
  • Maintain the Dean’s calendar, manage travel schedule, and schedule all appointments, including regular meetings with administrators, faculty, University administration, students, and alumni.
  • Use discretion and good judgment in setting appointments and prioritizing meeting requests.
  • Schedule and coordinate miscellaneous meetings and activities as directed by the Dean, including faculty interviews, lunches, meetings, workshops, faculty reviews, corporate and law firm events, and one-on-one meetings with alumni.
  • Coordinate catering, travel, lodging, email communications, invitations, venue scheduling, room setup, reservations, and gift arrangements for events.
• Executive and Administrative Support (30%):
  • Screen, review, and distribute incoming and outgoing mail, including contributions from alumni and donors.
  • Provide word processing and perform administrative support functions.
  • Record minutes at faculty meetings and attend other meetings as required to take notes or maintain records.
  • Prepare and distribute materials for faculty votes, including faculty candidate voting.
  • Compose, prepare, and ensure timely mailing of correspondence from the Dean, including scholarship letters, thank-you notes, and follow-up with donors, alumni, and friends of the law school.
  • Prepare background/prep information for the Dean’s meetings, including itineraries, schedules, directions, and bios.
  • Coordinate alumni mailings and manage the sign-up and distribution process for KU basketball tickets given to alumni.
• Data Collection and Reporting (10%):
  • Work independently and with the Dean and other school administrators to compile, maintain, format, and provide information for internal and external entities, including the University, Board of Regents, ABA, AALS, and other organizations.
  • Compile confidential faculty candidate binders and prepare recruitment forms or other documentation for faculty hiring.
  • Prepare and gather documents for promotion and tenure files, post-tenure reviews, sabbatical requests, distinguished professor nominations, and other award nominations.
  • Compile reports such as Board of Governors reports, faculty/staff handbooks, donor reports, and maintain confidential files and records.
• Alumni Records (5%):
  • Maintain the accuracy and integrity of alumni information and records in collaboration with law school administrators and staff.
  • Enter alumni updates into the KUAA database and expand email records for newsletters, event invitations, and other communications.
  • Collect, compile, and serve as a repository for alumni notes and deceased alumni records for use in publications and database updates.
  • Respond to requests for alumni information from the Dean, administrators, Board of Governors, and other individuals or groups.
• Other Duties (5%):
  • Assist other administrative offices as needed, including providing support for travel arrangements and event coordination.
  • Perform all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Position is on-site at the School of Law, Green Hall.
• Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree and seven years of office experience, or
  • High School diploma or GED equivalency and 10 years of office experience.
  • Experience with computer/information systems, basic word processing software, and electronic calendars.
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Familiarity with KU and state structures, policies, and procedures.
  • Demonstrated leadership experience in a higher education setting.
  • Highly self-directed and detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
  • Experience with planning and implementing luncheons, lectures, workshops, programs, or similar events.

Benefits

KU offers excellent benefits to employees, including generous retirement contributions, paid vacation and sick leave, insurance, and other programs. More information is available at https://humanresources.ku.edu/benefits.

Pay

Advertised salary range: $54,700–$62,000.

The successful candidate must have appropriate work authorization to work in the U.S. before employment begins. Anticipated start date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026.