Assistant Director of Research Operations and External Engagement

University of Colorado System; Allenspark (CO); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Colorado Boulder’s Department of Physics seeks an Assistant Director of Research Operations and External Engagement to lead research administration and develop industry partnerships. The role supervises five staff and coordinates six more, supporting ~$32.7M in expenditures and $14M in other funds in FY25.

Reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations, the holder will advance research priorities, foster a collaborative work culture, and coordinate with campus partners to

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in research administration or sponsored projects.
• 2+ years of direct supervisory experience.
• Strong data analysis and financial reporting skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for sponsored research administration.
• Supervise and develop the research administration team.
• Collaborate with faculty and campus partners on external engagement.
• Ensure compliance with sponsor regulations and university policies.
• Develop industry partnerships and workforce initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Research administration

Financial management

Compliance

Strategic planning

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Excel

Teams

SharePoint

Job description

Job Summary

The Department of Physics is seeking an Assistant Director ofResearch Operations and External Engagement to lead researchadministration and help develop industry research partnerships andother external engagement efforts. The role combines strategicleadership with day-to-day management of research operations andsupport for faculty research.

The Assistant Director directly supervises five staff members andprovides functional leadership and coordination for six additionalresearch administration professionals who report to othersupervisors. In FY25, the department had $32.7 million in researchexpenditures and more than $14 million in other funds.

The position reports to the Director of Finance and Operations andworks closely with the Department Chair and Physics faculty toadvance research priorities and opportunities for industrycollaboration.

The Assistant Director plays a key role in fostering a positive,collaborative, and supportive work environment where staff feelvalued, empowered, and encouraged to grow. We are looking for aleader that will build a team culture centered on trust, opencommunication, shared accountability, and continuousimprovement.

Reporting and Decision Making

This role serves as the department’s senior leader for researchoperations and the external engagement activities assigned to thisrole, with independent responsibility for planning and managingthese functions, supervising staff, and implementing approvedpolicies and procedures within Department priorities, Universitypolicies, and established financial controls.

Within the position’s areas of responsibility, the AssistantDirector works directly with the Department Chair and Physicsfaculty and serves as a senior advisor on research operations andexternal partnerships. This position also collaborates with otherdepartment staff and functional leads and represents the departmentin relevant campus and external forums. The role requires soundjudgment and confidentiality when handling sensitiveinformation.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

Who We Are

The Department of Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder isrenowned for outstanding teaching, research and service. Home toaward-winning research labs, educators and Nobel Laureates, the CUDepartment of Physics is at the forefront of the physics field,with an accomplished faculty devoted to undergraduate and graduateresearch and education.

The Department includes 54 tenured and tenure-track facultyperforming cutting-edge research. Its graduate physics programdraws ~1200 applications per year and is ranked by the NationalResearch Council to be among the top 15 overall, including #1 amongpublic universities in atomic, molecular, and optical physics. TheDepartment appears as high as 12th worldwide in internationalrankings of university physics departments and maintains strongpartnerships with leading research institutes and nationallaboratories, including JILA, NIST, and NLR, offering world-classfacilities and opportunities for research collaboration.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Research Operations and Financial Administration

• Provide strategic direction and day-to-day leadership forsponsored research administration, including research financialmanagement, compliance, ongoing process improvement, and pre-awardsupport as needed.
• Supervise and develop the research administration team andcoordinate work across reporting lines. Manage workloads andworkflows, evaluate and improve team processes, manage performance,and support professional development.
• Build a cohesive, supportive team where people share knowledgeand feel comfortable asking one another for help.
• Continually improve research administration practices, systems,and internal controls to support faculty research, meet Universityand sponsor requirements, and keep operations accountable.
• Oversee the finances of sponsored research and other assignedfunds, including analysis, forecasting, reporting, awardmanagement, and approvals. Resolve complex issues and recommendactions to department leadership.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on research administration andfinancial matters. Advise department leadership and faculty,provide guidance and training on University and sponsorrequirements, and help resolve complex research administrationissues.
• Work with the Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG), Researchand Innovation Office (RIO), Campus Controller’s Office (CCO), andother campus partners on complex proposals and awards, operationalpriorities, and compliance challenges.

Industry Partnerships and Workforce Development

• Identify and help develop industry research partnerships thatmatch Physics faculty expertise and department priorities, workingwith Industry Research Partnerships (IRP) and other campuspartners.
• Work with the CUbit Quantum Initiative, JILA, RIO, IRP, andother campus partners to coordinate partnership opportunitiesinvolving Physics faculty.
• Identify and support workforce opportunities connected toindustry, including internships, graduate career pathways, andtraining partnerships, working with campus and externalpartners.
• Represent the department in relevant external forums.Coordinate with department leadership and other appropriatepartners when initiatives involve employment, workforcedevelopment, communications, or external engagementpriorities.

Organizational Leadership and Strategy

• Contribute to department strategic planning and initiatives inresearch operations and external research engagement.
• Work with department leadership, managers and other functionalleaders on initiatives that span finance, human resources,communications, and other administrative functions.
• Represent the department in campus forums, committees, workinggroups, and collaborative initiatives. Build and maintain effectiveworking relationships with University and external partners.
• Analyze emerging issues in your areas of responsibility,recommend responses, and lead efforts to address them. Take onrelated special projects as assigned.

What You Should Know

• Work hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5:00 pm.
• This position is based in Boulder, Colorado, and will workprimarily on campus during the initial onboarding and trainingperiod. Following onboarding, the position will be eligible for ahybrid work arrangement with 3 days of in-person work and 2 days ofremote work per week, subject to departmental and operationalneeds.
• This is a full-time, exempt University Staff position,reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations and workingclosely with the Department Chair, faculty, department leadership,and campus partners.

What We Can Offer

• The annual hiring range for this position is $110,000-$121,000.Onboarding assistance is available for eligible candidates.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we arecommitted to supporting the holistic health and well-being of ouremployees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuitionassistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for localtransit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulderoffers an inspiring academic community and access to world-classoutdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one ofForbes' America's BestLarge Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Coloradoand #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks andprograms through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, or anequivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in researchadministration, sponsored projects management, or a closely relatedfield at a research-intensive university, federal laboratory, orcomparable organization.
• 2+ years of direct supervisory experience.
• Strong technology skills, including proficiency with Microsoftapplications such as Outlook, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint, and theability to use technology to analyze data and improve workprocesses. You will also need to learn new software and complexUniversity systems quickly.

What You Will Need

• Demonstrated ability to lead a team that works well togetherand delivers high-quality work, using a collaborative, supportiveapproach and continually improving how the team works.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the abilityto build lasting working relationships with faculty, staff, campuspartners, and external contacts at different levels ofseniority.
• Sound judgment and the ability to work independently withinestablished priorities, policies, and procedures, including whensituations are unclear or priorities compete.
• Familiarity with federal sponsor regulations and a strongunderstanding of finance and accounting principles andstandards.
• The ability to analyze complex information and developrecommendations for senior leaders and others with different rolesand perspectives.
• The ability to meet timelines and consistently deliverhigh-quality work.
• A willingness to keep learning, adapt to change, try newapproaches, and improve processes and practices.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills, including theability to develop and maintain clear standard operating proceduresthat keep research and financial operations consistent and helpwork continue smoothly through transitions.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain a positive,inclusive, and collaborative team environment that fosters trust,open communication, professional growth, and sharedaccountability.

What We Would Like You to Have

• A master’s degree in public administration, public policy,higher education administration, science, business, or anotherrelevant field.
• Experience leading complex research administration or researchoperations in higher education or a comparably complex researchorganization.
• Familiarity with research funding programs and requirements atthe Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, NASA, andDepartment of Commerce.
• Experience coordinating or supporting complex researchproposals, mentoring research administration professionals, andproviding guidance on research administration.
• Experience with workforce development programs or programs thatconnect academic training with industry careers.
• Experience developing, managing, or advancing externalcollaborations with industry, government, community, academic, orother organizations.