Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

University of Colorado•Denver, CO

7d•$200,000 - $220,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) for Student Affairs provides strategic and visionary leadership for a comprehensive, student-centered approach to engagement, belonging, wellbeing, and success. The AVC establishes the vision, priorities, strategies, and organizational infrastructure necessary to create an exceptional student experience and ensure students have the support and resources they need to thrive. As a key leader within the Division of Strategic Enrollment and Student Success (SESS), the AVC reports to the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment and Student Success and serves as a strategic partner to senior leaders across the university. The AVC leads student services and resources that promote personal development, student engagement, wellbeing, and a safe, welcoming, and inclusive campus community. Through these efforts, Student Affairs plays a critical role in advancing student persistence, retention, completion, and overall success. The AVC will bring a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing today’s higher education institutions, particularly those affecting an increasingly diverse student population. The AVC will use data, research, assessment, and student feedback to identify emerging needs, inform decisions, evaluate effectiveness, and address structural barriers that may impede student success. The AVC will also build strong relationships across academic and administrative units and with external partners to strengthen the university’s capacity to serve students effectively. The AVC will be a forward-thinking and entrepreneurial leader who anticipates the evolving needs of students and develops innovative approaches to the student experience. The AVC will strategically prioritize people, programs, technology, and financial resources to maximize student success and institutional impact. The position provides leadership for professional and student staff, has fiscal responsibility for the Student Affairs portfolio and its operating budgets, and leads organizational strategies that promote a high-performing, collaborative, and student-centered culture. As a member of the SESS leadership team, the AVC serves as a campus-wide leader and strategic partner at the intersection of academics, enrollment, student success, wellbeing, and external engagement. The AVC will work across organizational boundaries to align resources, strengthen partnerships, remove barriers, and advance institutional priorities that enable every student to succeed.

Requirements

Earned Master’s degree in higher education, educational leadership, business administration, public administration or a closely related field
Eight (8) years of diverse and progressively responsible experience at the management level, including direct responsibility for student services and/or related services in higher education.
Progressive responsibility and experience in supervising professional and administrative staff.
Demonstrable experience in managing and working with complex budgets.

Nice To Haves

Earned doctorate
Student Affairs and student success experience at a higher education institution that is a comprehensive urban campus.
Documented experience in developing, implementing and evaluating unit budgets, goals and strategic planning.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead a comprehensive Student Affairs strategy aligned with the university’s mission, strategic plan, enrollment goals, and student success priorities. Translate institutional priorities into measurable goals, strategies, initiatives, and outcomes.
Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, including the Senior Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment and Student Success (SESS) and the SESS leadership team, on matters related to the student experience, engagement, campus climate, wellbeing, safety, and retention. Collaborate effectively with deans, Academic Affairs, and campus and external partners.
Provide visionary leadership for the student experience, creating a welcoming, inclusive, engaging, and student-centered campus environment. Strengthen programs and services that advance belonging, community, leadership development, engagement, personal growth, wellbeing, and student success.
Lead strategic planning, organizational development, and continuous improvement across the Student Affairs portfolio. Streamline functions, processes, practices, and technology to improve service delivery, operational effectiveness, student outcomes, and retention.
Use data, research, assessment, and student feedback to identify emerging needs, evaluate programs and services, inform decision-making, and ensure student experiences meaningfully shape institutional policies and priorities. Promote a culture that recognizes students as partners in shaping the university experience.
Lead a coordinated student success continuum that advances engagement, retention, wellbeing, and student success through collaboration across CU Denver, the tri-institutional community, AHEC, and external partners.
Provide strategic leadership for student wellbeing, mental health, wellness, and conduct, working collaboratively across disciplines to strengthen a proactive campus wellness culture that supports student success.
Lead and develop the Student Affairs leadership team, providing supervision, coaching, performance management, professional development, and support for six direct reports and the broader Student Affairs workforce. Foster a collaborative, supportive, high-performing workplace.
Provide executive oversight of fiscal and administrative operations, including budget planning, resource allocation, business management, housing assets, contract services, negotiations, and procurement in accordance with university policies and procedures.
Leverage internal and external resources and partnerships to strengthen the campus community, enhance the student experience, advance institutional priorities, and elevate the university’s reputation.
Travel as needed to support university, community, and professional responsibilities.