The Kenyon Review seeks a strategic, collaborative, and mission-driven Director of The Writers Workshop and Programs to lead the administration, planning, and continuous development of residential and online adult Writers Workshops. Reporting to the Editor of The Kenyon Review, this full-time role is central to ensuring the ongoing excellence, growth, and impact of KR’s adult workshop and programs.
The ideal candidate will be an experienced program leader who brings strong operational oversight, a data-informed approach to decision-making, and a deep appreciation for the role of the literary arts in public life. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day execution of our programs, this role will contribute to broader organizational efforts in strategic planning, communications, and resource development. Importantly, this position will work closely with campus partners across Kenyon College to support and align with the College’s strategic plan. All programming and outreach efforts should build on the longstanding excellence and national reputation of The Kenyon Review in ways that are synergistic and mutually beneficial, helping both the Review and the College advance shared institutional goals.
Key Responsibilities
Program Administration and Execution
- Lead all aspects of The Kenyon Review’s adult Writers Workshops, including residential summer programming and online offerings throughout the year.
- Collaborate with the Editor to recruit, hire, and support faculty and Peter Taylor Fellows.
- Manage logistics for all aspects of program delivery in coordination with internal teams and external vendors.
- Supervise and support the Programs Assistant, Adult Summer Programs Assistant, and seasonal interns.
- Track contracts with faculty, staff and vendors and ensure timely processing of payments, reimbursements
- Identify scholarship needs and allocations
Collaboration with Kenyon College Partners
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant departments at Kenyon College—including Events, Facilities, Campus Safety, Dining, Transportation, Alumni Relations, the Office of Strategic Communications.
- Ensure that KR programs are designed and executed in ways that complement and support Kenyon College’s strategic goals, such as enhancing national visibility, enriching the campus environment, and engaging alumni and prospective students.
- Seek collaborative opportunities that strengthen both the College and The Kenyon Review—for example, shared events, co-branded initiatives, or data-sharing that informs organizational planning.
- Represent The Kenyon Review in College-wide initiatives where appropriate, contributing insight, support, and leadership in service of mutual goals
Data Management and Budget Modeling and support
- Design and maintain systems to collect and analyze data related to participation, engagement, outcomes, and financial sustainability.
- Use data to support budgeting, long-term planning, development efforts, and board reporting.
- Track workshop metrics and financial transactions in collaboration with KR and College business offices;
Strategic Development and Market Research
- Conduct research on peer literary organizations and national trends to inform the ongoing growth and innovation of KR’s adult programs.
- Contribute to the strategic planning process for adult programs, identifying opportunities for expansion, adaptation, or increased impact.
- Develop and evaluate new programming or business models that support financial sustainability while staying aligned with KR’s mission to serve writers at every stage of their careers.
- Design and create budget models for innovative residential, online, hybrid and regional offsite event and programs Communications and Community Engagement.
- Collaborate with the KR team to craft outreach that represent organizational priorities.
- Maintain regular, professional contact with program alumni, faculty, fellows, and other stakeholders to foster year-round engagement.
- Coordinate messaging related to adult programs across newsletters, social media, and other platforms in alignment with both KR branding.
Customer Service and Supervision
- Serve as a primary point of contact for program participants and faculty, providing timely, compassionate, and knowledgeable support.
- Supervise the Special Projects Administrator
- Hire, train and supervise the Adult Summer Programs Assistant, Summer Programs Intern Team, offering ongoing feedback and support for their success.
- Model inclusive, respectful communication in all interactions.
Qualifications
Required:
- At least 4 years of experience in program management, administration, or project coordination, preferably within higher education, nonprofit, or arts organizations.
- Demonstrated success in collaborating across departments or institutions to achieve shared goals.
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
- Experience supervising staff, managing complex timelines, and overseeing budgets.
- Familiarity with data systems and tools used for tracking, analysis, and reporting.
- Proficiency in digital tools such as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Adobe, Zoom, Monday.com, and FileMaker Pro.
- Bachelor’s degree required.
Preferred:
- Advanced degree in creative writing, literature, education, nonprofit management, or a related field.
- Experience in arts administration or literary programming.
- Understanding of the role of the literary arts in higher education and community settings
Core Competencies
- Strategic Alignment: Ability to design and implement programs that support both The Kenyon Review’s mission and Kenyon College’s strategic vision.
- Collaborative Leadership: Skilled at fostering positive, productive relationships with colleagues, campus partners, and external stakeholders.
- Organizational Management: Detail-oriented and able to manage multiple projects and deadlines with accuracy and accountability.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Comfortable collecting, analyzing, and using data to drive planning and improvement.
- Customer Service and Inclusion: Committed to compassionate, inclusive service for a diverse range of writers, artists, and community members.
About The Kenyon Review
The Kenyon Review is a nationally recognized literary arts organization that was established in 1939. With a mission to discover and support talented writers at every stage of their career, The Kenyon Review publishes award-winning literature and runs educational programs that reach hundreds of adult, high school, and early-career writers each year.
Housed on the Kenyon College campus, The Kenyon Review plays a unique role in extending the College’s values—excellence in teaching, intellectual inquiry, and creative expression—into the broader literary world. We are committed to ensuring that our work continues to reflect and advance shared goals through collaboration, innovation, and integrity.
Kenyon College is a nationally prominent, private liberal arts college where academic excellence goes hand in hand with a strong sense of community and close relationships among students and professors.
Compensation and Benefits
Salaries at Kenyon are competitive and commensurate with experience. In addition to an attractive salary, Kenyon offers benefits for employees and their family members. Children of employees are eligible for 100% tuition waivers at Kenyon, and through the Great Lakes Colleges Association, children of employees are eligible for 90% tuition waivers at nineteen other of the nation's finest liberal arts colleges.
We also offer health, dental and vision insurance, TIAA retirement, and many other benefits, including provisions for a spouse, families, and domestic partners. Details about benefits as well as conditions of employment are described more fully in our Staff Handbook.
Kenyon is a unique place to live and work. To discover why it should be your next home, click here.
Kenyon College is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome applications from all qualified individuals. It is the College's policy to evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical and/or mental disability, age, religion, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by institutional policy or state, local, or federal law. Kenyon College has a strong commitment to an inclusive environment that welcomes all voices and perspectives.