Job Description Summary: UCAR is excited to announce the job opening for the UCAR Community Programs (UCP) Director of Business Operations role. This position serves as the primary leader of business and administrative services in UCP. As a member of the UCP Executive Committee, they will partner with the UCP Director, as well as Center and Program leaders, to provide oversight and support to the operational and administrative functions within the UCP Directorate, Centers, and Programs. The UCP Director of Business Operations will provide leadership to UCP in activities associated with proposal development, staffing activities, financial analysis, budgeting, reporting, and planning, as well as other business and administrative activities to meet entity and Center driven requirements.

This position is directly responsible for managing UCP’s Business Shared Services (BSS), a team of staff that provide business and administrative support to leaders and staff throughout UCP. Additionally, they will be responsible for providing broad oversight of BSS to ensure UCP Centers receive quality, timely, and effective business and administrative support.

Working closely with UCAR Operations, the UCP Director of Business Operations will ensure that UCP processes align with UCAR policies and procedures. Lastly, this position will partner with UCAR Operations to convey UCP requirements related to the functional areas of proposals, contracts, facilities, human resources, information technology, and all other UCAR Operations disciplines as appropriate.

Position Details:

Visa Sponsored Job:

No

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

Yes

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type & Term:

Full time, Regular

Compensation Range:

$144,671 - $180,839 Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.

Application Notes

Application Deadline: This position will be posted until Sunday, 11:59pm MT, October 27 . Applications will not be accepted past this date.

Required application materials (preferably in PDF Format) :

• Resume

• Cover Letter - Instead of a traditional cover letter, we are asking for your responses to the following three questions, in order; this is a required part of your initial application. Responses should be no more than one page per question, combined in a single document for a total of no more than 3 pages. Please be kind to our eyes and stick to Times New Roman, Arial, Verdana, Garamond, or Helvetica, no smaller than 11pt font. Applications that do not include this document will not be considered. You’ll see a place to upload this document in the system as you’re applying.

• Describe a time when you successfully led a major organizational change. How did you align the initiative with the broader strategic goals, manage cross-functional teams, and ensure smooth implementation? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

• Managing complex financial operations is crucial to this role. Share an example of how you have handled budget planning, cost analysis, and forecasting in previous positions? Be sure to include how you ensure financial decisions are aligned with organizational goals, as well as how you have managed resource allocation across multiple programs or departments with varying needs?

• Describe your experience in supervising both direct and indirect reports, specifically focusing on how you’ve created and maintained a sense of trust, psychological safety, and an inclusive, welcoming work environment? What specifically did you do to foster collaboration, address conflicts, and ensure that team members felt supported in their roles?

• Inclusion Statement - An Inclusion Statement should address past efforts, as well as future vision/plans to advocate for and advance DEI in our organization. Specific instructions for writing an inclusion statement can be found here. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ks8IaUqN1fZcNlNYrGZTLCoHo9rW_6DX/view?usp=sharing)

Background checks are conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more. (https://www.ucar.edu/opportunities/careers/faqs)

Work Location: This position is open to candidates seeking in-person and hybrid (combination of in-person and remote) opportunities. Regardless of flexible work arrangements, UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

What You Will Do

Here is a summary of what one would expect to be generally responsible for in this role.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Management

In both strategy formulation and operational execution across multiple organizational layers, this position will require a high level of leadership.

• Lead at an executive level to align UCP with broader organizational (UCAR) priorities, set long-term goals, and drive strategic initiatives.

• Develop and oversee strategies that enhance administrative and operational functions, focusing on business development, efficiency, and process improvement.

• Manage complex financial responsibilities, including budget planning, cost analysis, forecasting, and ensuring alignment with broader organizational financial strategies.

• Partner with various departments (e.g., UCAR Operations, Budget and Planning) to address complex organizational challenges, ensuring smooth operations across functional areas.

• Ensure that administrative processes follow established policies and lead the implementation of new initiatives, processes, and guidelines.

• Act as a key advocate for UCP within broader organizational councils and ensure that administrative needs are met through active engagement with senior leadership and functional teams.

Business Development & Team Supervision

Highlighting the importance of leadership in a multi-faceted organization, both operational excellence and team development will be key drivers of success.

• Lead within a complex matrix structure, ensuring BSS staff are allocated efficiently across different programs, centers, and directorates to meet varying organizational needs.

• Drive the development and continuous improvement of BSS, ensuring high-quality support across the organization, while fostering collaboration among the Senior Administrators.

• Supervise, train, and develop Senior Administrators, while ensuring a collaborative, inclusive team culture that promotes staff development and ensures effective supervision.

• Manage financial operations, including budget development, monitor spending, forecasting, and resolve financial issues across various organizational units.

• Oversee hiring activities in alignment with UCP and HR requirements, while promoting inclusive practices, ensuring that all recruitment activities follow best practices.

• Adapt resource management and business services to meet the unique demands and specific needs of different centers and programs effectively.

  Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

  Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in business, accounting, or related field;

• 10 years of relevant experience;

• Including 3 years of supervisory experience;

• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired, but not required

• Experience in a federally funded, non-profit science environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Leadership and Change Management

• Proven experience in change management, leading teams from conceptual strategic vision to successful implementation.

• Proven success in leading and managing organizational and structural change.

• Advanced project leadership skills, including the ability to lead multiple project teams, allocate resources effectively, negotiate cross-project solutions, and manage relationships with funding agencies.

• Ability to create a positive, psychologically safe, and inclusive working environment.

Program and Project Management

• Advanced experience in program and project management, including the development of project plans, monitoring schedules, and managing budgets.

• Experience in the administrative management and oversight of proposal development, budget management, staffing, and general business operations.

• Experience leading a shared services department or function.

• Advanced knowledge and skill in personnel management.

Interpersonal, Communication, and Business Systems

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including demonstrated ability to work with a diverse team of managers, scientific, technical, education staff, and customers.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Working knowledge of business systems, preferred knowledge in Workday, IFAS, CPM, Concur, UProcure, Kuali.

• Ability to work independently and respond quickly.

  Benefits Overview

  UCAR affirms its commitment to employees through competitive benefits (https://www.ucar.edu/opportunities/careers/benefits) . In addition to medical, dental, vision, retirement, and life insurance, UCAR offers a variety of programs focused on work-life balance and professional, and personal development. These include:

• Tuition Assistance, time off allowance to attend classes, and other professional development opportunities

• UCAR contributes 10% of your eligible pay into your retirement account; 100% fully vested on day one

• Starting minimum accrual of 20 days of personal time off each year (prorated for less than full-time positions)

• 10 paid holidays

• 10 days of sick leave each year

• 12 weeks of paid parental leave

• Short-term medical leave paid at 100% of your regular salary

• EcoPass for local Colorado residents to use the Denver and Boulder-area transit system at no cost

  Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

  Our organization is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment and fostering a culture where everyone feels welcome and supported. To learn more about these efforts, visit the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategic Plan (https://www.ucar.edu/sites/default/files/documents/related-links/2020-12/ODEI_StrategicPlan_Final.pdf) and our Diversity & Inclusion: A Welcoming Workplace (https://www.ucar.edu/who-we-are/diversity-inclusion) site.

  Research shows that women and people of color are less likely to apply for a position if they do not meet almost 100% of the desired skills and experience . Please note this is not necessary! If you meet the minimum requirements and have a passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply. We can provide on-the-job training for the rest!

  Commitment to Job Application Fairness

  Applicants are not required to provide age or age-related information and may redact information related to age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution from any submissions during the initial application process.

  Some Final Considerations

  At UCAR|NCAR|UCP, you will work alongside a dedicated team of professionals conducting critical research and community outreach to solve complex Earth system science problems including climate change, air pollution, extreme weather, floods, drought, wildfires, and space weather, all with the goal of improving human life and reducing economic loss. Each of us, from scientists to the professionals who support their work, serves the public and a collaborative community of scientists in our mission to understand the complex processes that make up the Earth system, from the ocean floor to the Sun’s core.

Flexible Work

At UCAR, we are committed to supporting our mission by giving staff the flexibility to find the schedule and location that works best to maintain their own work-life circumstances and reach their full potential as professionals. Many positions within our organization are eligible for fully on-site, hybrid, fully-remote and/or flexible work schedules.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy. Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at UCAR.

Export Control

All positions are required to comply with U.S. export compliance regulations work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems.

Visa Wait Times

Please consider the length of visa procurement when applying for this posting, understanding that you will not be able to begin employment until you are able to get a visa and enter the U.S.