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

This is a Preview Listing…

Finalise to make live.

Find Your Best Opportunity

Tell them AcademicJobs.com sent you!

Executive Assistant