EMBA Senior Operations Specialist

Position Details
University of Colorado | Denver
Official Title: Academic Services Senior Professional
Working Title: EMBA Senior Operations Specialist
FTE: Full Time 1.0 (100%) FTE | Hybrid
Salary Range: $53,000 - 65,000
Position #00800667- Requisition #37509
Join the University of Colorado Denver

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Job Description

* Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers *

The Executive MBA (EMBA) program at the University of Colorado was established in the early 1980s, becoming an independent degree in the CU Denver Business School in 2020. The EMBA team at CU Denver aims to become the regional leader in providing executive-level business education. We attract and educate highly motivated and accomplished students due to an innovative and flexible program - creating an exceptional experience and promoting excellence across the curriculum. Our purpose is to educate thoughtful leaders who enable change.

The EMBA Senior Operations Specialist serves as a critical member of the EMBA team, delivering seamless, high-touch administrative and operational support to senior business professionals enrolled in the program. This role requires a high level of professionalism, attention to detail, personal initiative, customer service, and cross-functional collaboration. Responsibilities include academic logistics, class and event support, purchasing and reconciliation, facilities management, and interfacing with a wide range of stakeholders (students, staff, faculty, alumni, and vendors). As the concierge-level point of contact for students, faculty, and staff, the Senior Operations Specialist is an active steward of the EMBA program, helping to deliver an exceptional educational experience from admission to graduation.

In all interactions and tasks, the Senior Operations Specialist should embody and model the EMBA program's purpose, to educate thoughtful leaders who enable change. The ideal candidate is highly organized, ambitious, tech-savvy, service-oriented, anticipates and solves problems, and thrives in the dynamic, detail-intensive environment characteristic of a high-performing team.

This role will likely include some cross-functional duties for all EMBA programs and support of the developing EMBA in Aviation degree that will launch in 2026, such as course coordination and administrative support.
The Senior Operations Specialist reports to the Executive MBA Assistant Director of Operations. This position will require some evening and weekend work and includes the opportunity for professional development which may involve occasional out-of-state travel.

EMBA Senior Operations Specialist
What you will do:

Course & Curriculum Operations

• Lead the configuration and administration of Canvas cohort accounts for incoming students, including pre-program setup, Orientation modules, and ongoing term communications.
• Independently build and manage Canvas course shells in alignment with academic timelines.
• Oversee accuracy and maintenance of course listings in CU-SIS; proactively identify and resolve catalog discrepancies.
• Facilitate faculty registration and serve as CU-SIS subject matter expert for academic scheduling.
• Administer student enrollment processes each term, ensuring compliance with academic policies.
• Provide onboarding/offboarding support for instructors, serving as the primary logistics liaison.
• Coordinate instructional resources including faculty travel, course materials, and textbook procurement.
• Develop and distribute Faculty Course Questionnaires (FCQs); analyze results and report key insights to Program Directors.
• Produce and update the academic calendar in collaboration with academic leadership.
• Communicate critical updates and program milestones to students and faculty through multi-channel messaging.

Class & Event Execution

• Independently manage space utilization including classroom reservations, breakout space coordination, and event staging.
• Lead full-cycle catering operations, handling vendor communication, ordering, set-up, and teardown for instructional sessions and special events.
• Provide on-site classroom technology support; act as liaison with IT Services to troubleshoot and enhance faculty teaching experience.
• Coordinate and send timely communications detailing pre-class logistics, materials, and resources to students.
• Prepare print and digital collateral for events, including agendas, signage, and customized materials.
• Maintain centralized event data and participant tracking for high-impact programming such as Orientation, International Course, and Graduation.
• Design and implement post-event feedback strategies; support continuous improvement through team debriefs.
• Contribute to execution of flagship events, including:
  • Orientation and onboarding
  • Domestic and international residencies
  • Graduation ceremonies
  • Recruiting and alumni engagement seminars

Administrative Leadership & Strategic Support

• Act as primary liaison between program participants and institutional departments, resolving operational needs independently.
• Manage access controls, student ID badging, and building permissions in coordination with university services.
• Administer purchasing workflows and vendor payments; oversee P-Card transactions in adherence with fiscal policies.
• Drive cross-functional improvement initiatives, supporting strategic projects and operational excellence goals.
• Maintain databases and directories for faculty, staff, and alumni; ensure timely updates and data integrity.
• Author and revise Standard Operating Procedures and guides, including those supporting academic operations and student services.
• Curate faculty-facing digital resources in Microsoft Teams and initiate key pre-term communications on instructional operations, grading tools, and timelines.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications you already possess (Minimum Qualifications*)

• Bachelor's degree in education, Psychology, Business, Public Administration, Health Care, Educational Technology, social science, liberal arts, communications, accounting, finance, library science, or a directly related field from an accredited institution.
• Two (2) years in education, psychology, business, public administration, health care, educational technology, social science, liberal arts, communications, accounting, finance, library science, or a directly related field.
  *Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualification to possess (Preferred Qualifications)

• Master's degree or progress toward advanced degree preferred.
• Three (3) years in education, psychology, business, public administration, health care, educational technology, social science, liberal arts, communications, accounting, finance, library science, or a directly related field.
• Experience with event planning and support in a professional or academic setting.
• Experience overseeing a program office, including direct responsibility for student and/or academic services functions, or relevant customer service functions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, written and verbal communication skills.

• Anticipate needs and demonstrate strong problem-solving skills.
• Self-motivated to initiate and thoroughly accomplish goals with a minimum level of supervision and manage an office with a high degree of professionalism.
• Must be collaborative and thrive on a small team in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage complex activities and events to exacting standards.
• Delivers white-glove service and effectively engage with high performing business leaders (students, alumni, community partners).
• Passionate about student success, committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive experience for all students and stakeholders.
• Embodies the EMBA program's commitment to developing thoughtful leaders who enable change.
• Proficiency in MS Office 365, including Teams, Work, Excel, One Note, and Form Survey.
• Proficiency with Adobe Acrobat or other PDF editing and formatting software.
• Proficiency in web-based databases to interpret data and trends.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with accuracy and discretion Experience working at an institution of higher education or post-secondary related organization.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

Conditions of Employment

• Occasional work during the evening and/or weekends is required.
• This position follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely two days per week and based on demands of specific tasks or events occurring with the program. Working from the office is critical when working on tasks that require a high degree of collaboration or on-site support for in-person classes and events.
• Occasional out-of-state travel for conferences and professional development will be offered.

Mental, Physical, and/or Environmental Requirements

• General office work conditions typically include spending most of the day seated at a desk, working on a computer, in a climate-controlled environment with adequate lighting. This can potentially result in concerns around ergonomics, indoor air quality/temperature, and potential hazards like slips, trips, and/or falls due to clutter, on-campus/site facilities work projects, or other environmental obstacles.
• Additional stressors can include workload and deadline demands, in high impact areas or during high volume request times.

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.
The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at workplaceengagement@ucdenver.edu.

Employment Sponsorship
Please be advised that this position is not eligible now or in the future for visa sponsorship.

Compensation and Benefits
The salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established at $53,000 - $65,000.
The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.
The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
This position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado Denver provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.
Benefits: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits
Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Application Deadline
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Preference will be given to complete applications received by Aug 25, 2025, 11:59:00 PM. Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered.

Required Application Materials:
To apply, please visit: http://www.cu.edu/cu-careers and attach:

• A cover letter which specifically addresses the job requirements and outlines qualifications
• A current CV/resume
• List of three references (we will notify you prior to contacting both on and off-list references)

Questions should be directed to Diane Yee, Executive MBA Assistant Director of Operations, at Diane.Yee@Ucdenver.edu.

Background Check Policy
The University of Colorado Denver strives to maintain a safe and productive educational, clinical, research and employment environment. All prospective employees and current employees must, therefore, consent to and pass background checks prior to any final appointment/employment.