Director of Special Projects

Job Summary

Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Director of Special Projects (Director) will deliver project management, strategic planning, and implementation support to further the financial objectives of the university and key Finance and Business Strategy initiatives. This position will have significant exposure to senior leadership, and will be authorized to engage and lead partners in support of these efforts. Under the direction of the CFO, and in collaboration with FBS and campus partners, the Director will plan, implement, and execute the strategic objectives. They will build strategies, facilitate planning sessions, develop and refine communication, and lead change activities. This includes identifying ownership, accountability, and partners; coordinating cross-functional university teams; leading project tasks and results through projected achievements and timelines to completion.

The Director will work closely with the Deputy CFO and their team, and with the Executive Vice Provost for Academic Resource Management to ensure clarity of financially-based objectives, identification of appropriate partners, and coordination of efforts that span the entire university. They will work closely with the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Communication to ensure thoughtful and transparent communication, and with other members of the FBS leadership team, as relevant to specific projects.

The Director will require excellent facilitation, influence, and critical assessment skills. They must work well in a collaborative, relationship-oriented team environment, and have a proven track record to influence and inspire change while paying particular attention to all details, small and large, that may affect the success of projects and have broader effects on the overall university. The Director must exercise judgment and independent initiative in dealing with issues, especially those which require discretion and confidentiality.
The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

Finance and Business Strategy provides creative, outside-of-the-box ways to ensure the University of Colorado Boulder has a strategic, systematic, and comprehensive approach to all areas of resource planning and management.

Through collaboration, we connect ideas, resources and decisions that drive CU Boulder’s success. We do this through community engagement, stewardship of financial resources, and data‐supported decision making.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Project Management:

• Direct and manage special projects and initiatives, as assigned by the CFO, from idea through implementation. The Director will need to work with the CFO’s staff independently, to ensure appropriate execution of initiatives and decisions, holding them accountable for managing timelines and results.
• Work with the CFO to craft the project objectives and implementation plan, aligned with the University’s strategic objectives; direct effective implementation through coordination and allocation of responsibilities to senior staff, including AVCs and Directors, and coordination with members of the CFO’s senior leadership team to ensure alignment with portfolio responsibilities.
• Lead and direct project-based groups which will include senior membership across functional teams and identify, establish and agree on vital resources
• Maintain tracking and reporting of projects being executed across the Chief Financial Officer’s objectives. This will include effective communication and monitoring of progress, leading the project group(s) to determine project landmarks, and advising the CFO on issues or barriers arising, and making recommendation on ways forward.
• Synthesize project activities, progress, obstacles, and achievements into high-level reports for the CFO, and provide regular briefings on the project portfolio.

Change Management:

• Utilize organizational change methodologies to develop strategies, plans, and approaches ensuring successful implementation of projects.
• Collaborate with campus partners to provide appropriate organizational and change management mentorship.
• Conduct change readiness assessments, identify, analyze and prepare risk mitigation tactics and identify and manage anticipated resistance.
• Conduct impact analyses according to leadership-defined metrics to assess the change impact.
• Ensure that issues raised during the implementation are supervised, addressed, and resolved.

Communication:

• Provide and ensure communication with and between project and constituent management at critical points in the implementation of the project plan. Support FBS, campus leadership and key partners to gain an understanding of the projects and the changes required to effectively implement and communicate key aspects to the campus community.
• Work with FBS leadership and the Strategic Relations and Communications team to develop and implement comprehensive communications strategies.
• Act as a conduit between the CFO and FBS, campus leadership, and departmental and committee-based groups that are implementing campus-wide changes.
• Support effective relationships between the CFO and FBS, campus leadership and change agents performing implementation on the individual and group levels.

What We Can Offer

• The hiring pay range for this position is $90,000 to $100,000. Relocation is available.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder .

Be Statements
Be Courageous. Be Inspired. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Organizational Leadership, Business Management, Communications, or a similar, related field.
• Four years of experience in planning, project management, and/or change management, which includes utilizing tools and techniques to transition individuals, teams, and organizations to a desired future state.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

What You Will Need

• Demonstrated ability to manage a broad scope of projects, to coordinate the activities of various groups of professionals, and to collaborate with a wide range of people both within and outside a university setting.
• Skilled in the interaction with and synthesis of widely divergent and sometimes conflicting viewpoints and interests.
• Advanced organizational skills including skill in consistently and effectively meeting budget and time deadlines. Impeccable time management.
• Strong team orientation and collaborative style; position requires an inclusive approach to engaging partners across the campus in ways that lead to good business decisions and consensus.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct sophisticated analyses to provide crucial information vital for operational decision-making. An important success factor is the ability to build a fact-based case for change while dealing with ambiguity and/or imperfect information
• Proven ability to communicate effectively through verbal, written and graphic means.
• Ability to manage large sophisticated projects with multiple partners.
• Ability to exercise mature judgment, initiative, diplomacy and tact.

What We Would Like You To Have

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Organizational Leadership, Business Management, Communications, or a similar, related field.
• Prior experience managing change and supporting leadership initiatives within a higher education environment.
• Certified Project Management Professional (CMP)
• Three years leadership / management experience in developing and implementing solutions with a focus on strategy and operations.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. A current resume.

2. 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 August 8, 2021, for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu