Graduate Fellowships and Awards Coordinator

The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (GPA) seeks a Graduate Fellowships and Awards Coordinator to lead the administration of internal (GPA-funded) award and fellowship processes, support graduate students holding external non-employment based fellowships, and provide budgetary oversight for GPA accounts. This position manages all pre- and post-award processes, ensures compliance with university and agency requirements, and applies data-driven approaches to improve award and fellowship programs. The Coordinator also maintains online application systems and website content, collaborates with campus partners on financial and HR processes, and provides strategic recommendations for future funding allocations. Reporting to the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (VPGPA), this role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on graduate student success and institutional excellence. The position is based primarily on the KU Lawrence campus with flexibility for some remote work within the state of Kansas.

35% - Fellowship Coordination

• Independently coordinate internal fellowship (e.g., UGF, CDF) competitions for the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs.
  • Maintain and update all relevant website content for internal fellowships.
  • Maintain all relevant web-based application forms for award submissions, nominations, and program applications.
  • Prepare and distribute calls for fellowship applications/nominations; respond to inquiries from students, faculty, and staff.
  • Receive applications, review for eligibility, and coordinate the work of review committees or other selection processes.
  • Prepare and distribute fellowship notifications.
  • Maintain records of awardees for both internal and reporting purposes.
• Work closely with Human Resource Management, the SSC, Schools/CLAS, and the Provost's Office to ensure the hiring of internal fellowships administered by GPA.
• Use empirical (data-based) approaches to evaluate quality of fellowship applications and processes, and make recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Provide administrative support for graduate students who hold non-employment-based external fellowships (including the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program [GRFP]) and related fellowships including:
  • Liaise with KUCR post-award staff serving as contact for federal agencies, meeting annual reporting for non-budgetary requirements for NSF GRFP.
  • Provide expertise on development of fellowship onboarding documents.
• Develop and manage communication plans in collaboration with the Director of Professional Development & Communications to alert current students about upcoming deadlines and competitions for internal fellowships.
• Provide regular and timely updates to the VPGPA regarding fellowship cycles and progress.

30% - Awards Coordination

• Independently manage award competitions for the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, including faculty, graduate student, postdoctoral researcher, and staff awards.
  • Maintain and updates all relevant website content for internal awards.
  • Maintain all relevant web-based application forms for award submissions, nominations, and program applications.
  • Prepare and distribute award calls; respond to inquiries from students, faculty, and staff.
  • Receive applications, review for eligibility, and coordinate the work of review committees or other selection processes.
  • Prepare and distribute award notifications.
  • Maintains records of awardees.
• Use empirical (data-based) approaches to evaluate quality of award applications and processes and make recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Communicate with agencies and organizations about external awards and nominations that require internal selection processes.
• Monitor and manage email traffic in the Graduate Awards email account.
• Develop and manage communication plans in collaboration with the Director of Professional Development & Communications to alert current students about upcoming deadlines and competitions for awards.
• Provide regular and timely updates to the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs regarding award cycles and progress.

1. Bachelor's degree with 3 years of related experience or Master's degree with 1 year of related experience.
2. Demonstrated ability to effectively manage budgets, including expertise with forecasting, tracking, and reporting on financial resources, as evidenced by application materials.
3. Strong verbal and written communication skills, as evidenced by work experience and application materials.
4. Strong organization and time management skills, as evidenced by work experience and application materials.
5. Experience with basic office computer systems including experience with MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel as evidenced in application materials.
6. Previous experience handling sensitive and confidential information as evidenced in application materials.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations.

A complete application includes:

• Resume.
• Cover letter addressing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
• Contact information for three professional references (including at least one previous or current supervisor).
• Completion of the online application.

Only complete applications will be considered.

To ensure consideration apply before the application review starts on Tuesday, 2/3/2026. A review of applications will continue and is ongoing until a pool of qualified candidates is identified.

Ric Steele, VP for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs
rsteele@ku.edu
785-864-0550

Starts at $57,500

Tuesday February 3, 2026

Tuesday February 3, 2026