Director of Business Operations

City and County of Denver; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Metropolitan State University of Denver seeks a Director of Business Operations to lead and scale enterprise assets and services, including hotel operations, lease portfolio, event management, and risk management. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will build a university-wide event framework, policies, and resources to drive performance and compliance.

You will collaborate with administrative and academic units to optimize facilities, financials, and campus impact, while expanding

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in operations/administration.
• Experience in operational oversight, project management, or organizational planning in a complex institution.
• Proven success managing cross-functional initiatives and enterprise-level projects.

Responsibilities

• Hotel Operations: align with university mission, financial and operational goals.
• Lease Operations: manage full lifecycle of leases and rent terms.
• Event Management: design and launch a campus-wide event framework and system.
• Insurance Management: oversee transactional insurance and claims processing.
• Campus Dining & Overflow Housing Partnerships: manage vendor partnerships and program evaluations.
• Fleet Management/Driver Authorization: establish driver policies and safety training.
• Special Projects: lead and coordinate strategic initiatives.
• Position Competencies: drive leadership, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration.

Skills

Operational oversight

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Risk management

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Management/Business

Job description

Department Chief Operating Officer

About the University Metropolitan State University of Denver is Colorado’s student-centered public university, offering affordable, high-quality, career-focused education in the heart of downtown Denver – the center of the state’s economic and cultural life. Serving 18,000+ students across 100+ undergraduate and graduate programs, certificates, and credentials, MSU Denver offers small classes taught by expert faculty and provides unparalleled access to internships, career and faculty mentors, and career opportunities with top employers. MSU Denver is designed for today’s learners: 53% are the first generation in their families to attend college; 57% are students of color; and their average age is 24. With flexible pathways, rolling admissions, and consistent wraparound support, we meet students where they are and walk alongside them on the path to success. As Colorado’s top transfer destination and a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, MSU Denver is a national leader in advancing equity and spurring social mobility: 75% of our 115,000+ alumni remain in Colorado, impacting communities and fueling industries and innovation. Employers know Roadrunners are ready to contribute on day one. For six decades, MSU Denver has been redefining who has access to excellent education, delivering an unmatched return on investment for students, families and Colorado’s economy. Be a changemaker at MSU Denver!

About The Department

The University Operations Department at MSU Denver delivers integrated, enterprise-wide services that ensure a safe, efficient, and high-performing campus environment in support of the University’s academic mission and student success. The department provides strategic and day-to-day oversight of the institution’s physical assets, enterprise assets, service operations, and risk posture, while partnering closely with the Auraria Campus to coordinate across shared campus spaces and campus services. Collectively, the University Operations Department integrates facilities stewardship, capital planning, and enterprise risk management into a cohesive framework that advances institutional effectiveness, enhances the campus experience, and positions MSU Denver for sustainable, long-term success.

Position Summary

The Director of Business Operations provides strategic and functional leadership across the university’s portfolio of enterprise assets and operational services including but not limited to hotel operations, event operations, lease operations, facility use management and insurance management. A central priority for this position will be establishing and scaling a new university-wide event management framework, building out the necessary policies, procedures and resources to ensure long-term success. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role drives operational excellence, financial performance, and risk mitigation while serving as a key partner across administrative and academic units. Positioned at the intersection of enterprise management and risk management, the Director will bridge strategy with operational execution to maximize performance, align stakeholder interests, and oversee campus and asset use. This is a director-level individual contributor role that works collaboratively within the Administration Branch and across the University. As the Event Management framework is established and launched, the role will expand to include oversight of the event management resources.

Hotel Operations

Ensure the property supports both institutional and financial objectives.

Key responsibilities include:

• Strategic Alignment: Ensure hotel operations advance the university’s mission, enhance campus and community engagement, and meet financial and operational goals.
• Financial Oversight: Review budgets, forecasts, and performance reports; monitor revenue and expenses; and ensure responsible use of university resources.
• Operational Performance: Work with the asset manager to evaluate service quality, brand standards, and guest satisfaction, maintaining the hotel’s role as a reflection of the university’s reputation.
• Contract Management: Oversee the management agreement and vendor contracts to ensure compliance with terms, performance expectations, and institutional policies; collaborate with and guide the asset manager in contract negotiations and renewals.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Serve as liaison among the university, asset manager, and hotel operator, providing regular updates to Chief Operating Officer, senior leadership and Board of Trustees.
• Risk and Compliance: Ensure adherence to university policies, regulatory requirements, and risk management standards.
• Educational Integration: Support opportunities for student learning, internships, and academic collaboration within hotel operations.
• Reporting and Analysis: Prepare regular reports for executive leadership outlining hotel performance and strategic opportunities.

Lease Operations

Oversee all aspects of the university’s real estate leasing portfolio—including Dazbog and Summit 1st floor retail operations—to ensure alignment with institutional priorities, financial objectives, and compliance standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Strategic Oversight: Develop, recommend and implement leasing strategies that support the university’s mission, campus plan, and financial sustainability.
• Lease Administration: Manage the full lifecycle of university leases—including negotiation, execution, renewals, terminations, and rent escalations as necessary.
• Financial Management: Monitor lease revenue and expenses. In coordination with Controller’s Office, ensure timely invoicing and payment of all lease terms including utilities, maintenance and other pass-through costs, and maintain accurate financial tracking and reporting.
• Contract Compliance: Ensure adherence to lease terms, university policies, and applicable laws and regulations; coordinate resolution of lease disputes or compliance issues.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Serve as the central liaison among internal departments (e.g., Finance, Facilities, Legal, and Academic Affairs) and external tenants, landlords, and partners.
• Space Optimization: Evaluate lease performance and space utilization to maximize efficiency and support institutional growth.
• Risk and Policy Management: Identify and mitigate operational and financial risks; maintain accurate records and ensure documentation aligns with audit and policy requirements.
• Reporting and Analysis: Prepare regular reports for leadership outlining lease performance and strategic opportunities.

Event Management

Under broad strategic direction, build, launch and scale a university-wide framework for event management in university spaces for events that are not supported by the Office or University Events or the Auraria Campus Special Events organization.

Key responsibilities include:

• Framework Design & Launch: Build, implement, and lead a centralized, campus-wide event management framework, establishing standardized workflows, intake portals, and operational standards from the ground up.
• Policy & Governance: Formulate and enforce university-wide event policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• System & Tech Implementation: Evaluate, select, and deploy an enterprise event scheduling and management system to centralize space requests, ticketing, invoicing, and logistics.
• Resource Planning: Assess operational needs to design the long-term organizational structure for event support; recruit, onboard, and manage a high-performing team of direct reports--as needed--and vendor partners as the function grows.
• Interdepartmental Workflows: Establish operational handoffs with key support units, including Facilities, Auraria Campus, IT/AV, etc., to ensure seamless execution.
• Policy Modernization & Facility Use: Overhaul and administer Facility User Agreements (FUAs) to align with the new event framework, ensuring appropriate terms, liability coverage, and user compliance for internal and external facility use.
• Risk & Compliance Integration: Partner with ERM, Legal, and Public Safety to integrate mandatory review protocols for alcohol permits, minor protection, ADA accessibility, and high-risk activity waivers.
• Cost Recovery & Fee Structures: Develop and maintain a transparent financial model for campus events, including space rates, labor chargebacks, equipment fees, damage chargebacks, and cancellation policies.
• Training & Campus Adoption: Serve as the primary change agent for centralized event management, delivering campus-wide training, user guides, and ongoing support to administrative and academic units.
• Performance & Continuous Improvement: Define key operational metrics to continuously refine processes and report performance to executive leadership.

Insurance Management

In collaboration with our broker management provider, manage the university’s insurance program, claims processing, and broker relationships, working closely with Enterprise Risk Management to establish clear policies and address institutional risk exposures.

Key responsibilities include:

• Transactional Insurance Oversight: Manage the day-to-day transactional insurance program for the university, serving as the primary operational liaison to third-party broker management administrator.
• Claims Administration: Direct the end-to-end processing of property, casualty, and liability claims—coordinating incident documentation, liaising with insurance broker provider to ensure maximum recovery for the institution.
• Property Valuation & Asset Tracking: Lead university-wide property valuation efforts in coordination with facilities and finance teams to ensure accurate asset reporting, proper coverage limits, and compliance with policy terms.
• Certificate & Contract Management: Oversee the review, issuance, and tracking of Certificates of Insurance (COIs) for university operations, vendor contracts, third-party facility rentals, and special events.
• Coverage Gap Analysis: In close collaboration with the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), analyze existing operational practices, identify coverage or policy gaps, and draft protocols to mitigate institutional exposure.
• Policy Renewals & Data Coordination: Lead the annual insurance renewal process by coordinating with broker management provider in collecting, auditing, and submitting complex institutional data across departments (e.g., exposure surveys, fleet inventories, building values).

Campus Dining & Overflow Housing Partnerships

In collaboration with residential life, manage the contractual partnership between MSU, campus partners and third parties along with the operational aspects of administering the agreements to safeguard MSU’s operational and financial interests. Act as the primary institutional liaison for all campus dining and overflow housing vendor partnerships, ensuring alignment with university goals, values, and strategic priorities. In coordination with our finance, budget and residential life offices, evaluate the performance and outcomes of the programs and give twice-yearly executive briefings to evaluate student success, service quality, partner compliance, and financial outcomes. Oversee execution, renegotiations, amendments, and renewals of agreements. Formulate proactive contingency strategies and transition frameworks to maintain uninterrupted service delivery and minimize institutional liability in the event of contract renegotiation, non-performance, or premature termination.

Fleet Management/Driver Authorization

Create and manage a centralized framework to govern the use of and manage the university’s fleet of motorized vehicles. Establish and manage the university’s driver authorization framework, ensuring all faculty, staff, and student drivers clear required Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) checks and meet institutional eligibility standards prior to driving for university business. Oversee mandatory driver safety education, ensuring prospective drivers complete appropriate safety courses—including general, specialized, or utility vehicle modules—before operating vehicles for university-related activities. Direct post-accident reporting and follow-up protocols in coordination with Enterprise Risk Management, including tracking incident reports and enforcing required driver re-certification steps. Serve as the functional point of contact for safe vehicle usage guidelines, clarifying insurance mechanics, rental vehicle risk protocols, and personal vehicle use policies across campus departments.

Special Projects

Project Management: Lead, coordinate, monitor and evaluate special projects and initiatives as assigned by the COO.

Position Competencies

Champions CADRE values-based leadership and creates a positive workplace culture, by setting expectations, eliciting feedback and coaching across departments, ensuring accountability and excelling in conflict management. Aligns operations across teams by optimizing resources, maintaining compliance, and empowering leaders to deliver consistent, measurable outcomes. Translates University strategy into coordinated action by guiding decision-making, prioritizing initiatives, and adjusting plans to drive long-term progress. Builds cross-functional partnerships, sharing information widely and facilitating dialogue to break down silos and advance University goals. Creates a positive workplace culture of belonging by embedding equitable leadership and talent processes, fostering feedback and holding leaders accountable. Drives innovation by aligning initiatives to University priorities, anticipating change, and empowering leaders to implement sustainable improvements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree: In Management, Business or related operations field or the equivalent of combined education and work experience.
• Minimum of 5 (five) years of progressively responsible experience in operations, administration or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in operational oversight, project management, or organizational planning within a complex institution or comparable organization.
• Proven success managing cross-functional initiatives, major institutional initiatives, or enterprise-level projects.
• Important Note: Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meet ALL required qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in higher education operations or administration.
• Minimum of 7 (seven) years of progressively responsible experience in operations, administration or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, coordinate and complete multiple projects and activities with varied deadlines under limited direction.
• Progressive leadership experience overseeing large-scale campus or enterprise event operations, facility user agreements, and venue logistics, with a proven track record of managing cross-functional initiatives and integrating risk management, safety, and compliance protocols.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing managing budgets, with a strong understanding of financial principles and resource allocation.
• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships across both administrative and academic units, balancing institutional priorities with operational needs.
• Knowledge of risk assessment and mitigation strategies, including familiarity with risk management frameworks.
• Strong ability to think strategically and execute operationally.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with a wide range of stakeholders.

Schedule Information

• Full-time, 40 hours per week
• Exempt Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Evenings and Weekend Work: Occasionally as needed
• Schedule: Hybrid schedule requiring in person work 3 days a week with the flexibility of some remote work opportunities (subject to supervisor approval)
• In office preferred and minimally three days per week.
• Travel: Some local travel may be needed occasionally.

Salary for Announcement

Under Colorado law, MSU Denver is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account a variety of factors including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The anticipated hiring range is $125,000 - $140,000. This position is paid monthly and is eligible for MSU Denver benefits.

Benefits

The University’s benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as access to a long-term disability (LTD) plan. Visit MSU Denver’s benefits website to learn more. For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf.

Background Checks

Metropolitan State University of Denver is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks on all finalists for positions at the University prior to employment.

Diversity Statement

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver. We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.

Closing Date

Open Until Filled