Drake University Careers: A Spectrum of Opportunities

Drake University offers a diverse range of career opportunities, from supporting early childhood education to leading strategic financial planning and fostering global academic partnerships. The university seeks individuals who are dedicated, resourceful, and culturally competent, with a passion for serving the community and contributing to Drake's mission.

Supporting Education and Development

Early Head Start Programs

Drake University is seeking individuals to support lead teachers and children in daily classroom activities within its Early Head Start programs. These full-time, benefit-eligible positions involve working with assigned families, providing parent education, and conducting in-home early childhood instruction and assessments. Candidates must be prepared to travel to multiple homes and demonstrate flexibility in adjusting to different home settings. The ideal candidate will be excited to join an agency of dedicated and supportive staff who take pride in serving the families of the community.

Teacher Associate Substitute

Drake University Head Start is also looking for a dedicated Teacher Associate Substitute. This position requires travel to all Drake University Head Start locations. The ideal candidate will be passionate about encouraging children ages 0-5 to develop a positive self-concept through supportive and cheerful interaction.

School of Education - Department of Teaching and Learning

The Drake University School of Education - Department of Teaching and Learning invites applications for an Adjunct Instructor. This candidate will be responsible for teaching classes related to Assessment, Diagnosis & Evaluation in Special Education. Candidates must have a successful track record in administering and evaluating the results of standard and research-based assessment practices in K-12 settings. Experience as an AEA and/or State Department of Education in assessment is an additional advantage The successful candidate will teach one section in the Spring of 2026 to group of undergraduate and graduate students seeking Special Education Certification. The course objectives have already been established. The instructor is responsible for facilitating course activities and projects designed to meet the course objectives as well as grading all related coursework.

Leadership and Administration

Director of Financial Aid

The Director of Financial Aid plays a crucial leadership role in Drake’s enrollment and revenue management. This position involves directing and evaluating financial aid strategy to promote access to a Drake education, aligning with the university’s mission and strategic plan. The Director collaborates with the Office of Admissions and financial aid optimization consultants to develop and execute awarding plans for first-year and transfer students. They also coordinate financial aid strategy for graduate and professional programs and oversee compliance with all financial aid programs, including Federal, State, and institutional programs. The Director leads a staff of eight and reports to the University’s CFO, serving as a member of the Finance leadership team.

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Assistant to the Dean, Zimpleman College of Business

The Zimpleman College of Business seeks a detail-oriented Assistant to the Dean to provide administrative support to the Dean and the college. This full-time position serves as the front line of communications among offices within the college, the university, and external constituents. The Assistant also supports college committees, including the Promotion & Tenure Committee. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, possess strong communication skills, and have a customer service orientation.

Administrative Assistant, Drake Law School

Drake Law School is seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Administrative Assistant to support faculty, staff, and programs, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and providing high-level administrative support.

Director of External Relations, Drake Law School

Drake University Law School is seeking a dynamic, relationship-oriented, and highly strategic leader for the position of Director of External Relations, a senior leadership role that reports directly to the Dean and serves as a member of the Law School’s leadership team. The Director is the chief administrative officer responsible for strategic oversight and management of the Law School’s communications, marketing, alumni relations, events, media relations, and social media.

Global Affairs Specialist - Asia Programs

Drake University is seeking a dynamic and accomplished international education administrator to serve as the Global Affairs Specialist - Asia Programs. This role provides administrative management and functional support for the institution’s degree programs embedded within Asia, contributing to Drake University’s growth in transnational education. The GA Specialist will be a team member within the Division of Global Affairs and will report to the Chief Global Affairs Officer and Dean of Global Programs. The GA Specialist will play a key role in managing day-to-day administration of the project. In addition, the Specialist will be the primary point of contact for partners in Asia and provide key project management support to ensure intended outcomes are met.

Technology Training Coordinator

The Technology Training Coordinator is responsible for defining and executing training strategies that drive successful adoption of enterprise software and other technologies across the organization. They support the implementation and effective use of software applications and software-defined business processes, ensuring employees have the necessary skills for current and emerging technologies.

Faculty Positions

Adjunct Instructor in Statistics

Drake University's College of Business & Public Administration invites applications for an Adjunct Instructor in Statistics to teach Statistics 1 (STAT 071) for Spring 2026. The focus of this course is on descriptive and inferential statistics including frequency distributions, confidence intervals, and probability. This course help students build skills in information evaluation, fact-gathering methods and journalism writing style, with extensive practice.

Department of Music

Teach MUS 148 (Band), which includes directing the Drake University Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and Bulldog Brass Pep Band. Teach/lead applied studio of your primary instrument as well as chamber music coaching (candidates with a background in percussion, horn, or clarinet are encouraged to apply). Teach methods courses in your area of specialty for Music Education majors. If qualified, the candidate may also teach MUS 134 (Marching Band Techniques), and/or MUS 159 (Instrumental Performance in the Junior and Senior High School).

Department of Theatre Arts

The Drake University Department of Theatre Arts seeks applicants to fill a tenure-track position in our Musical Theatre program. Responsibilities include (but are not limited to): teaching courses in the musical theatre curriculum including applied voice lessons and music theory; directing one musical per year as part of our Main Stage season; music directing two productions annually, advising and mentoring student performances and assisting in recruiting and committee work. The successful candidate will have a terminal degree in musical theatre, experience teaching and directing at the university level and professional performance experience.

Music Theory and Composition

Primary responsibilities include teaching the required courses in the undergraduate theory sequence, particularly advanced tonal and post-tonal theory and composition. Additional responsibilities include overseeing the music theory curriculum, advising senior theses for the B.A. (Music) degree in the areas of theory and/or composition, and teaching specialized seminars or courses currently offered by the department (e.g., orchestration, structure and design, composition lessons) and/or within the candidate’s area of expertise. Secondary areas of specialization may include music technology, pedagogy of theory, and/or music industry and administration. The successful candidate will be expected to work closely with colleagues, and to assume an active role in the advisement and retention of music students. The candidate must demonstrate both commitment to and a record of successful teaching at the University level.

Research and Innovation

Post-Doctoral Drug Development Fellow

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is seeking a two-year Post-Doctoral Drug Development Fellow who will focus on clinical pharmacology drug development. The drug development fellow will work with many different industry partners to provide groundbreaking patient care globally. The fellowship will provide interactions with drug companies, the Food and Drug Administration, research laboratories, and didactic training in numerous aspects of research. This two-year fellowship program will provide post-doctoral education and training in all aspects of drug development with specific focuses in clinical pharmacology and pharmacometrics.

Facilities and Maintenance

Facility Maintainers

Under direct or Indirect supervision of the Custodial Manager and/or Custodial Supervisor, Facility Maintainers perform a variety of custodial tasks and activities designed to maintain the campus in an orderly, sanitary, safe, and attractive condition. Principal Working Relationships: Greets all students and staff in a friendly, timely manner and assists as necessary, e.g., holding doors.

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