Job Summary
Vice Chancellor for Student Life (VCSL) encourages
applications for an Executive Assistant! Reporting directly to the
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life, the Executive Assistant
and Operations Manager serves as a strategic administrative support
partner to the Vice Chancellor and a key team member within the
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Life.
This position goes beyond traditional executive support. The
Executive Assistant and Operations Manager translates priorities
into action by anticipating needs, connecting people and resources,
managing complex initiatives, improving organizational processes,
and ensuring accountability and follow-through. The position serves
as a trusted thought partner and problem solver who can move
seamlessly between executive-level priorities and the operational
details required to bring those priorities to life.
Working with a high degree of independence, the position handles
complex and contending priorities and exercises significant
judgment, discretion, confidentiality, and political acuity. The
position regularly works across Student Life and the broader
University of Colorado Boulder community to build alignment, remove
barriers, facilitate collaboration, and advance institutional
priorities.
The Executive Assistant and Operations Manager will play a critical
role in strengthening the infrastructure and capacity of the Office
of the Vice Chancellor for Student Life during a period of
continued organizational growth and transformation.
This includes developing and improving systems and processes,
managing strategic projects, and creating an environment in which
the Vice Chancellor and Student Life leadership can focus their
time and energy on the University's highest priorities.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all
applicable federal, state, and local laws governing
nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a
workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and
dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to
apply, including protected veterans and individuals with
disabilities.
Who We Are
The
Division of Student Life consists of 30 departments that
provide student support and services dedicated to helping students
become successful, curious, competent individuals during their time
at CU Boulder.
Vice Chancellor for Student Life (VCSL)
The first priority of the Division of Student Life is students'
development as successful, intellectually curious learners and as
healthy, competent, active citizens of the world. Student Life
encompasses all the basic support services that enhance the
classroom experience: where students eat, sleep, build community,
make friends, and where students can go when they need help.
Student Life is committed to enhancing the factors that lead to
academic success while mitigating the obstacles that may impede
progress. In collaboration with other members of the campus
community, the division provides educational opportunities,
resources, and support to help each individual student reach their
academic and personal goals. The Division supports student success
by creating inclusive environments that address the social,
emotional, physical, spiritual, professional, and academic needs of
all students in order to increase retention, academic progress, and
graduation rates.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
EXECUTIVE SUPPORT
- Serves as a strategic operational partner to the Vice
Chancellor and Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life,
anticipating needs, managing contending priorities, and ensuring
their time and attention are strategically aligned with Student
Life priorities.
Coordinates and maintains the Vice Chancellor's and Associate
Vice Chancellor’s calendars, including complex scheduling,
leadership-level meetings, conference rooms, travel, and meeting
logistics, while exercising independent judgment to establish
priorities and resolve conflicts.
Serves as a key point of contact and gatekeeper for senior
Student Life leaders, responding to inquiries, providing
information, appropriately directing matters, and minimizing
interruptions while maintaining a high level of discretion and
confidentiality.
Anticipates the needs of the senior Student Life Leaders,
including time management, meeting preparation, logistical response
to unanticipated events, and emerging priorities, and takes
initiative to identify and complete effective solutions.
Researches, gathers, organizes, and summarizes information and
prepares briefings, meeting materials, presentations,
correspondence, and other documents to support the Vice
Chancellor's decision-making and leadership.
Ensures meetings and events involving the senior Student Life
leaders are implemented at the highest level, including preparation
of agendas and materials, logistical coordination, dissemination of
minutes and action items, and follow-up to ensure appropriate
resolution.
Coordinates and supports Board of Regents, Chancellor,
President, and other senior leadership activities, executive
searches, leadership transitions, and onboarding, as
requested.
Drafts, reviews, edits, and coordinates communications on
behalf of senior Student Life leaders, including routine and urgent
communications related to Student Life priorities and student
crises when directed.
Coordinates travel arrangements and reimbursements for the Vice
Chancellor and Associate Vice Chancellor and provides appropriate
administrative support for executive personnel processes.
Works closely with executive assistants and senior
administrative partners across the university to coordinate
calendars, routine and urgent meetings, and cross-campus
priorities.
Some evening and weekend work may be required to support the
Vice Chancellor and respond to routine or urgent needs.
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT
- Oversees the administrative and operational functions of the
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Life, proactively
developing systems, structures, and workflows that strengthen
organizational effectiveness and executive capacity.
- Creates, reviews, and revises administrative policies,
procedures, and processes and leads continuous improvement efforts
designed to increase efficiency, consistency, accountability, and
quality of service.
- Serves as an internal change agent, helping the Office of the
Vice Chancellor translate emerging priorities and organizational
changes into effective implementation.
- Provides guidance regarding university and Student Life
policies and procedures, including travel, reimbursement,
purchasing, contracts, official functions, personnel processes, and
other administrative activities.
- Maintains systems for tracking regularly scheduled activities,
target dates, rosters, commitments, and executive priorities and
proactively identifies needs, risks, and opportunities requiring
attention.
- Coordinates office space planning, technology, equipment, and
other operational needs and resources necessary for the effective
functioning of the Office of the Vice Chancellor.
- Serves as a lead resource for administrative professionals
supporting Student Life leadership, developing training, shared
practices, and resources that strengthen administrative capacity
across Student Life.
- Ensures administrative activities and expenditures adhere to
University of Colorado policies and procedures.
DIVISION PROJECTS AND EVENTS
- Leads and coordinates priority Student Life initiatives and
special projects on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, including
division-wide events and committees, high-impact initiatives, data
requests, conferences, and other complex projects.
- Translates strategic priorities into actionable plans,
timelines, responsibilities, and mechanisms for accountability and
follow-through, identifying barriers and developing solutions to
maintain momentum.
- Provides administrative and logistical leadership for regularly
occurring Student Life events and meetings, including town halls,
leadership meetings, retreats, staff recognition, professional
development, conferences, and other major activities.
- Coordinates leadership-level job searches, including candidate
interviews, travel and reimbursements, campus participation,
collection and synthesis of feedback, and related logistics.
- Tracks requests for the Vice Chancellor and Student Life
executive leadership to serve on committees, give presentations,
provide input or recommendations on policies or legislation, or
participate in other university activities; works with leadership
to appropriately delegate and respond and ensures
follow-through.
- Builds and maintains productive working relationships with
academic and administrative leaders and their staff and serves as a
connector across Student Life and the broader university to
facilitate collaboration and remove barriers to progress.
SUPERVISION
- Provides supervision supporting the Office of the Vice
Chancellor for Student Life, including hiring, training,
evaluation, scheduling, and performance management.
- Ensures appropriate coverage and continuity of operations
within the Office of the Vice Chancellor and establishes clear
expectations, workflows, and standards for high-quality
service.
- Provides mentorship and professional development opportunities
for student employees and administrative staff while building their
capacity to contribute effectively to the work of the Office.
- Leads and supports training and professional development for
administrative professionals across Student Life, promoting
consistent practices and strengthening the overall administrative
capacity of the Division.
- Promotes and models a positive, welcoming, collaborative,
accountable, and customer-focused culture within the Office of the
Vice Chancellor.
OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED
- Assists with emerging priorities, special initiatives, and
time-sensitive needs of the Vice Chancellor and Student Life.
- Responds flexibly to evolving organizational needs and assumes
additional responsibilities that support the mission, strategic
priorities, and effective operation of Student Life.
What You Should Know
This is a hybrid position with some remote work hours available.
The work schedule can vary due to work priorities and demands of
meetings and special events.
What We Can Offer
- The salary range for this position is $80,000-$98,000.
- Additional Compensation Details: Onboarding assistance may be
available per Student Life guidelines.
Benefits
At the
University of Colorado Boulder , we are
committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our
employees. Our comprehensive
benefits package includes medical,
dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition
assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local
transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder
offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class
outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of
Forbes' America's Best
Large Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado
and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and
programs through the
CU Advantage program.
Be Statements
Be collaborative. Be inclusive. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; a combination of
education may substitute.
- 5 years of job-related experience.
- Experience with independent problem-solving.
What You Will Need
- High level of discretion, judgment, and confidentiality
exercised in the role.
- Ability to work effectively in a demanding environment,
balancing multiple priorities and meeting set due dates.
- Ability to work independently and take initiative to anticipate
and address potential problems.
- Ability to quickly assess a situation and initiate an
appropriate action or response.
- High level of attention to detail and organizational
skills.
- Strong professional written and verbal communication skills,
including ability to appropriately tailor communication methods
based on audience.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate verbally and in
writing.
- Demonstrated skill in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Ability to support individuals with various working
styles.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Graduate coursework or a master's degree in higher education,
student affairs, public administration, or a related field.
- 1 year of experience working in a similar role.
- Experience working in Student Affairs.
- Experience supporting senior-level leaders or teams.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- A current resume.
- A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background
and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and
responsibilities of the position.
We may request references at a later time.
Please apply by
October 14, 2026 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For
consideration, please apply through
CU Boulder Jobs .
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in
any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying
information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school
attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting
or removing this information.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu
