Student Program Specialist Sr

Student Program Specialist Sr

Working Title Senior Specialist for Leadership & Service

Requisition Number RE52564

Department 1B430:
Student Organizations and Activities

Location Lexington, KY

Grade Level 45

Salary Range $47,/year

Type of Position Staff

Position Time Status Full-Time

Required Education MA

Required Related Experience 4 yrs

Physical Requirements Sitting at workstation for extended periods of time; repetitive motions typical of desk work (sitting/bending/twisting/pulling/typing); prolonged screen time; lifting/carrying/pulling objects up to 30lbs.

Shift 40 hours per week;
Mostly Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm but there will be some evenings and weekends.

The University of Kentucky is seeking a dynamic and student-centered professional to join the Dean of Students area as a Student Program Specialist, Senior for Leadership & Service. This position plays a pivotal role in developing, coordinating, executing, and assessing high-impact leadership development and civic engagement initiatives that foster student belonging, self-awareness, and community connection.

The Student Program Specialist Senior provides vision and daily management for signature leadership and service programs including Alternative Service Breaks (ASB), the Leadership & Service Living Learning Program (LLP), UK 101 LLP course connections, MLK Day of Service, FUSION, Circle of Love, and related leadership and civic engagement programs and experiences. The position develops curriculum and training materials, supports student learning and reflection, creates and executes programming, and ensures all programs align with the mission and goals of the Dean of Students and the Office for Student Success.

This role serves as the primary staff support for the ASB student leaders, LLP peer mentors, and related Leadership and Service student staff. Responsibilities include recruitment, hiring, training, coaching, and performance management to support student leadership growth and high-quality program execution.

The Student Program Specialist Senior also coordinates assessment, data tracking, and reporting for leadership and service programs, including serving as the primary manager of Give Pulse for the Student Engagement area. The role develops trainings and communication strategies to strengthen understanding and usage of the platform across campus, and uses assessment data to guide continuous improvement of leadership and service initiatives.

The position collaborates closely with campus partners, academic units, housing and residence life, and community agencies to support meaningful service experiences and smooth program operations. Additional responsibilities include supporting major Dean of Students and Student Success initiatives, assisting with campus-wide programs, and participating on committees as assigned.

The ideal candidate will be a strong communicator and collaborator who thrives in a student-focused environment, demonstrates a commitment to leadership education and community engagement, and is skilled in curriculum development, supervision, assessment, and program coordination. Student Success will, from the time of early college outreach to graduation and beyond, support students in living a life of meaning and purpose. From a student-centered framework, our practice will be grounded in peer-reviewed literature, national best practices, and data-informed decision-making.

Collaborating with the campus and community, Student Success will work through a holistic lens to support a community of learners in achieving success.

• Provide vision and daily management for signature leadership and service programs.
• Develop curriculum and training materials, support student learning and reflection, create and execute programming.
• Ensure all programs align with the mission and goals of the Dean of Students and the Office for Student Success.
• Serve as primary staff support for ASB student leaders, LLP peer mentors, and related Leadership and Service student staff.
• Recruit, hire, train, coach, and manage performance of student leaders to support program execution.
• Coordinate assessment, data tracking, reporting, and primary management of Give Pulse; develop trainings and communication strategies to strengthen platform usage.
• Collaborate with campus partners, academic units, housing and residence life, and community agencies to support meaningful service experiences.
• Support major Dean of Students and Student Success initiatives, assist with campus-wide programs, and participate on committees.

• Strong communicator and collaborator with a student‑focused mindset.
• Commitment to leadership education and community engagement.
• Skills in curriculum development, supervision, assessment, and program coordination.

• Student development and advising
• Leadership development
• Budgeting and fiscal management
• Program and project management
• Assessment and data reporting
• Curriculum design
• Event planning and…