Program Director of Business Operations

Elevate Your Career at UCCS: Innovate, Inspire, and Impact in the Rockies!

Who We Are

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is a premier educational institution that prides itself on academic excellence, research, and community engagement and is actively seeking a Program Director of Business Operations to join our team! UCCS is committed to academic excellence, professional development, and fostering an environment that supports innovation and student success.

At the base of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is captivated by its stunning landscapes, making it a paradise for nature lovers. This city is more than its scenery—a mosaic of history, arts, and a vibrant tech scene. We invite you to join a community that cherishes outdoor adventure as much as forward-thinking growth, an exceptional setting for both career and lifestyle.

Salary Range: $56,427.00 - $77,830.00 annually. Compensation will be commensurate upon experience and qualifications. This position Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime provisions.

Work Location: On-Site

Benefits at a Glance

At UCCS, our employees are our most valued asset. We're proud to offer:

• Generous Time Off: Enjoy 22 vacation days, 10 sick days, paid parental leave, 13 recognized holidays, and provisions for bereavement, jury duty, and FAMLI Leave.
• Robust Health Coverage: Our comprehensive medical plans cover preventative care at no cost, including a yearly mental health visit. Plus, benefit from affordable dental, vision plans, and competitive prescription drug prices.
• Financial & Retirement Benefits: Take advantage of our health savings, flexible spending accounts, and life and disability insurance. Plan for your future with our retirement options.
• Further Your Education: Avail twelve (12) waived credits per academic year for courses at any CU campus. We invest in your educational and professional growth.
• Wellness & More: From wellness programs aimed at achieving your best self to various additional benefits through CU Advantage, we prioritize well-being and holistic development.
• Want to know your total compensation? Use our calculator to get the complete picture!

Summary

The Program Director of Business Operations provides leadership and oversight of the business operations that supports a comprehensive portfolio of recreational, wellness, and student engagement programs. This role oversees human resources, finance, assessment and analytics, and project management functions to ensure efficient, compliant, and data-informed operations across campus recreation facilities, programs, and services.

The Program Director leads hiring, onboarding, training, payroll, and personnel processes for professional and student staff; purchasing, contracts, and revenue reconciliation; and directs assessment, analytics, and reporting efforts to measure participation, financial performance, staffing effectiveness, and learning outcomes. The position also guides department projects, coordinates cross-functional initiatives, and ensures alignment with institutional policies, risk management standards, and strategic priorities. 

This role provides leadership for the Business Operations unit overseeing its short- and long-term planning, budgeting, policies, procedures, risk mitigation, and program evaluation. The program director ensures high standards of performance and continuous improvement across all areas. The successful candidate will foster a welcoming environment, encourage broad student engagement, and use evidence-based decision-making to support program operations, student development and learning in alignment with departmental mission and values.
 

Work Schedule:
Typical hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, with required evening and weekend availability to support staff and participants. Vacation is not permitted during the week before and the first week of each fall and spring semester.

Essential Functions 

The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

Leadership and Program Management

• Provide leadership for the Business Operations unit within Campus Recreation, ensuring alignment with departmental, divisional, and institutional goals.
• Direct Campus Recreation human resources operations for professional and student staff, including workforce planning, hiring, onboarding, payroll coordination, performance management, and compliance with institutional policies.
• Provide leadership and oversight for Campus Recreation fiscal and resource management, including accounting, accounts receivable and payable, procurement, and comprehensive fiscal reporting for general funds, auxiliary funds, agency funds, and gift funds.
• Lead department assessment and analytic efforts by designing and implementing data collection, reporting, and evaluation processes to measure participation, learning outcomes, financial performance, and staffing effectiveness.
• Provide project management support including system implementations, policy updates, and departmental initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with the Wellness Center Office Manager and office staff to deliver shared business services for Recreation and Wellness, including human resources, finance, procurement, assessment, and administrative functions; lead and participate in cross-training initiatives and serve as a functional backup to ensure continuity of operations, consistent service delivery, and effective coverage during absences or peak operational periods.
• Build and maintain relationships with campus partners including Human Resources, Student Employment, Finance, Institutional Research, Risk Management, and Enrollment Management and Student Affairs leadership.

Fiscal and Resource Management

• Leads short- and long-term fiscal planning and budget management for Business Operations unit in alignment with department, divisional, and university policies to ensure effective use of resources.
• Complete the reconciliation of revenue for Campus Recreation programs, services, sales, and external facility rental groups.
• Coordinate cash handling procedures to ensure compliance with PCI standards, including staff training and regular evaluation of departmental policies and procedures.
• Prepare and submit departmental journal entries for auxiliary, sport club, gift, grant, and sponsored program funds.
• Oversee procurement for the department including processing payments through procurement cards, purchase orders, and payment vouchers, while ensuring compliance with university procurement policies.
• Manage department contracts, including tracking updates, deadlines, renewals, and extensions.
• Coordinate departmental travel by clarifying procedures, reviewing expense documentation, and verifying travel and procurement card reports for professional staff.
• Ensure operational practices reflect best management standards and comply with departmental and university guidelines.
• Provide oversight for sport clubs, auxiliary, gift, and grant fund budgets to ensure accurate revenue and expense tracking, allocation of resources, and compliance with funding requirements and institutional guidelines.
• Prepare and deliver department-wide budget forecasts and analysis for the Director of Campus Recreation during the annual budget planning cycle.

Human Resource Management 

• Manage departmental human resources systems, audits, and reporting, including late pay, job list, and the Human Capital Management (HCM) system.
• Verify, reconcile, and resolve payroll and leave-related issues for Campus Recreation professional staff to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Communicate payroll processes and timelines to Campus Recreation professional staff.
• Lead the implementation, training, and evaluation of human resources transactional and recordkeeping systems to ensure data integrity, records retention, and procedural compliance.
• Coordinate and support the recruitment, search, hiring, onboarding, evaluation, and separation processes for professional staff, including job postings, search documentation, candidate travel coordination, and completion of required HCM documentation.
• Direct workers’ compensation claims for Campus Recreation, including documentation, procedures, and correspondence in accordance with institutional and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee student employment processes, including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, eligibility verification, position coding, payroll entry, evaluation, and separation, ensuring compliance with student employment policies.
• Collaborate with supervisors to support performance management, feedback, and coaching processes for professional and student employees.
• Process and coordinate additional pay and personal and deliver department-wide budget forecasts and analysis for the Director of Campus Recreation during the annual budget planning cycle.

Personnel Management and Student Development 

• Provide leadership and direct supervision for 1 part-time professional staff member, including work planning, coaching, performance evaluation, and professional development.
• Manages the full lifecycle of student employment in the Business Operations unit, including recruitment, hiring, training, supervision, scheduling, and performance evaluation for student business operations employees.
• Designs and delivers outcome-based training, team meetings, and development programs to enhance student employee skills and leadership. 

Administrative Duties

• Organize and analyze Campus Recreation data, including learning outcomes, assessments (e.g., post-trip surveys), and annual reports.
• Develop and evaluate policies and procedures for Business Operations in alignment with industry, department, and university standards.
• Maintain and update business operation manuals.
• Monitor and maintain office and service desk supply inventory to ensure adequate stock levels and support efficient daily operations.
• Develop dashboards, reports, and executive summaries to inform leadership decisions and communicate impact to stakeholders.
• Serve on departmental and university committees to support Campus Recreation’s mission and values as needed.
• Participate in professional development opportunities and promote continued learning across the department to stay abreast of current industry trends and standards.
• Contribute to the planning and improvement of programs, facilities, and services.
• Role is required to periodically attend Campus Recreation programs and use facilities to ensure compliance with standards and risk management practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support Campus Recreation and the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs as needed.

Tentative Search Timeline

• Priority will be given to applications submitted by: May 27, 2026.
• Potential interview dates: June 01, 2026 - June 19, 2026.
• Potential start date: July 01, 2026.

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.

In accordance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, UCCS does not discriminate based on sex in our employment or compensation practices.