Job Details

Graduate Program Senior Professional

Position Number: 7209039
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Admissions/Enrollment

Graduate Program Senior Professional

Requisition Number: 72460
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 14-Jun-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Department of Geological Sciences is encouraging applications for the Graduate Program Senior Professional! This position provides high-level coordination, analysis, and oversight of the graduate programs within the Department of Geological Sciences (Department of Earth Science beginning Fall 2026) and serves as a strategic partner to the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies. While final authority for academic and programmatic decisions rests with the Chair, this position plays a critical role in managing the operational and procedural functions of the graduate program and in implementing initiatives that enhance student success, retention, and degree completion. The role exercises substantial independent judgment in navigating complex and sensitive issues related to graduate admissions, student support, and policy compliance and is a key resource to faculty, staff, and students.

The Graduate Program Senior Professional is responsible for the full life cycle of graduate student engagement-from application and recruitment to degree completion-ensuring all academic and procedural achievements are met in coordination with the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies. The position develops and manages communication strategies, recruitment events, application tracking, and admissions logistics, and also supports ongoing student advising, progress tracking, and graduation clearance. This role interprets and applies university, college, and departmental policies and proactively identifies areas for improvement in internal processes and student services. Additionally, this position may guide or train less senior staff and is often relied upon to provide expert-level insight into graduate program operations and campus systems, helping to align departmental practices with broader institutional goals.

This position may require occasional evening or weekend hours to support departmental events including but not limited to commencement, graduate student recruiting, and graduate student onboarding.
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.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Graduate Program Management and Administration

Independently manages the day-to-day operations of the graduate program, coordinating procedural, academic, and policy matters between the department, the Graduate School, the College of Arts & Sciences, and other campus partners to ensure program effectiveness and compliance.
Serves as a primary resource for graduate students throughout their academic lifecycle, providing expert guidance on admissions, degree achievements, academic policies, funding, and university regulations.
Maintains and analyzes student records and academic progress; prepares reports and data summaries for departmental leadership, college administration, and the Graduate School to support planning, compliance, and student success initiatives.
Proactively identifies award and fellowship opportunities; collaborates with faculty to match students to awards, communicates application procedures, and ensures all submission materials meet eligibility and institutional requirements.
Partners with the Department Chair and Associate Chair to inform annual teaching assignment planning, advising on appointment logistics, enrollment needs, and funding considerations.
Oversees the hiring process for graduate student appointments (e.g., TAs, RAs, GPTIs), ensuring timely, accurate submission of materials, communicating policies to students, and resolving complex or non-standard HR/payroll issues in coordination with campus offices.
Develop and collaborate with the Department Chair and Associate Chairs on academic year teaching assignments. Draft and route semesterly offer letters for Teaching Assistants, Graduate Research Assistants and Graduate Program Teaching Instructors, etc., for signatures.
Implement all hiring processes, inform students about processes and procedures, and work closely with the Campus HR Payroll Office to ensure a smooth hiring process and resolve questions.
Collaborate with the Manager of Finance and Business Operations to nominate faculty and outside authorities for Graduate Faculty Appointments, which enables them to teach graduate-level courses, sponsor Independent Study at the graduate level, and be committee members of defenses and examinations of individual students in the department. Proactively correct errors that are identified on the register with the HRSC. Revise/implement payroll procedures as new requirements are mandated.
Tracks and reconciles student funding across sources (e.g., work-study, hourly, fellowships); manages time reporting approvals; and supports Graduate Faculty Appointment processes to maintain compliance with Graduate School instructional eligibility standards.
Leads planning and implementation of key program events, including new graduate student orientation and TA training; ensures timely and accurate communication of academic, professional development, and funding opportunities to students and faculty.
Works closely with the Office Manager and Associate Chair to monitor and manage graduate program budgets, including operating funds, gift accounts, fellowships, and recruitment awards; prepares transactions related to travel, stipends, and reimbursements in compliance with university policy.
Provides comprehensive support to students nearing degree completion, coordinating dissertation/thesis defense logistics, Graduate School requirements, and clearance for graduation; may also assist with department-specific recognition or commencement events.
Works closely with the Undergraduate Program Administrator (UPA), Associate Chairs of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies, and Academic Advisors to facilitate the Bachelor's Accelerated Masters (BAM) program.

Graduate Recruiting & Admissions

Manages the full lifecycle of graduate student recruitment and admissions, coordinating with the faculty admissions committee, Associate Chair, and departmental staff to ensure a cohesive, strategic process aligned with program goals.
Advises the admissions committee chair and Graduate Program Director on procedural or policy challenges during the admissions cycle and proposes actionable improvements to enhance recruitment effectiveness, candidate experience, and compliance.
Develops, implements, and evaluates systems for reviewing, tracking, and reporting on application data to support comprehensive faculty evaluation and inform admissions strategy; interprets trends and prepares summaries for departmental leadership.
Oversees the electronic workflow of graduate applications through all review and decision stages, ensuring integrity, accuracy, and confidentiality of applicant materials and records.
Designs and manages the planning of prospective student campus visits, ensuring schedules meet departmental objectives, align with budget constraints, and align with university travel and hosting policies.
Coordinates and communicates visit itineraries with faculty, current graduate students, and administrative partners; anticipates logistical challenges and adapts plans accordingly to ensure a professional and welcoming experience for candidates.
Ensures timely and accurate submission of official admissions documentation and maintains consistent, professional correspondence with applicants regarding requirements, decisions, and next steps; serves as the primary departmental contact for prospective students navigating the admissions process.

Advising

Serves as administrative advisor to graduate students from initial inquiry through graduation, offering ongoing support across academic, procedural, and administrative areas to ensure a positive and successful student experience while supporting the Associate Chair in broader program oversight.
Monitors graduate student enrollment each semester and provides detailed reports and analysis for the College of Arts & Sciences' Student Request Analysis process and other enrollment-related needs.
Provides expert-level advising to students and faculty on university, Graduate School, and departmental rules, regulations, timelines, and academic policies, often resolving nuanced or non-standard scenarios that require sound professional judgment.
Independently analyzes complex student issues-such as financial aid concerns, enrollment anomalies, ineligible appointments, and graduation clearance-and implements strategies to resolve them; collaborates with campus offices and, when appropriate, petitions on behalf of students to address exceptional circumstances.
Acts as a lead resource on academic processes such as special action forms, grade changes, course drops/adds, and degree audits; ensures accuracy and compliance in all documentation and advises faculty and students on appropriate procedures.
Engages regularly with students and faculty-both individually and in groups-to interpret and communicate academic and administrative policies from the Graduate School, college, Financial Aid, and ISSS, ensuring consistency and clarity across all touch points.
Collaborates with campus partners including ISSS, Counseling Services, and Student Affairs to connect students to appropriate support resources and provides timely, individualized follow-up to confirm that guidance is clear, accessible, and actionable.

Assessment and Information Management

Generates, analyzes, and interprets data reports related to graduate enrollment, student progress, and program assessment to support strategic decision-making by the Associate Chair and department leadership.
Uses tools such as CU-SIS , Microsoft Excel, Google Suite, and Microsoft Forms to manage longitudinal tracking, prepare data for University Fellowship applications , and contribute to institutional reporting and accreditation efforts.
Proactively identifies data trends or anomalies, offering insight and recommendations to guide program improvements, resource planning, and graduate student support strategies.
Maintain department graduate program email address which fields all graduate program related questions. Send routine communications to the graduate student listserv with job opportunities, funding opportunities, or upcoming events. Direct incoming requests to the correct staff or faculty member to respond to questions and concerns. Liaises with University offices on behalf of the Geological Sciences department graduate program.

Process Improvement

Position works to expand information about program resources by collecting, interpreting and reporting data to evaluate admissions, recruiting, and funding processes and awards. Recommends modifications or improvements, based on analysis of operations, demographics, and other research information. This requires continuous development of new perspectives and skills to improve processes.
The position will undertake a review of the webpages, compare with other departments on campus and across peer institutions, and evaluate for features such as scope of content, ease of use by domestic and international students, etc. Will require evaluative skills as well as ability to work closely with department personnel to better define objectives and goals.

Other Admin Support/Projects

Organizes and oversees graduate student week-long onboarding event which includes general orientation, Teaching Assistant (TA) training, and CPR/First Aid training.
Oversees grad student functions, including department graduation ceremony, Grad Talks, Colloquiums, Department Barbeques, and Coffee Socials.
Prepares the annual University Fellowship applications for the Graduate School.
Provides backup for administrative roles in the department, including (but not limited to) transportation, room and course scheduling, procurement.
Other duties as assigned that support the department's graduate program operations and expansion.
Contribute to other departmental projects or initiatives as assigned to advance departmental goals and student success.

What You Should Know

Hybrid Schedule: At least 3 days a week on campus per campus and college policies and guidelines.
This can be subject to change based on the business needs of the department.
Standard Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Monday - Friday
Employee may be expected to be on campus Monday-Friday during onboarding, training, and/or professional development events/meetings.

What We Can Offer

The annual salary range for this position is $62,400-$65,000.
Onboarding assistance may be available per the Geological Sciences guidelines.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
3+ years of experience in administration, business, education program administration, or related field.

What You Will Need

Demonstrated problem solving and decision-making skills.
Strong Organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex policies and procedures.
High degree of professionalism and ability to maintain confidentiality and work with sensitive information.
Demonstrated ability to proactively analyze issues so as to foresee possible problems or concerns that may arise and to develop proactive solutions and initiate related action.
Ability to establish/maintain positive and cooperative working relationships within the department and with outside units.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook).
Experience working with educational policies and procedures in higher education.
Ability to work independently and with responsibility for initiating and completing tasks.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and assume responsibility for initiating and completing critical functions in the management of educational programs.
Demonstrated leadership ability.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team and within other collaborative work situations.
Potential to assume a leadership role.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

A current resume.
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 June 14, 2026 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Graduate-Program-Senior-Professional/72460