Department Manager, Physics
About The Position
Engineering a world of possibilities Lead Administrative Manager for Department Colorado School of Mines | Golden, Colorado Ready to play a pivotal leadership role at a world-class research university? The Colorado School of Mines is seeking a dynamic and strategic Department Manager to power the success of our Physics Department. As the department’s principal administrative leader, you’ll be on the team at the heart of operations—driving strategy, enabling innovation, and ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. This is more than a management role—it’s an opportunity to shape the future of a high-impact academic department known for excellence in science education. Reporting to the Department Head (DH) of Physics, the Department Manager works independently and in collaboration with the Department Head and the Associate Department Head (ADH) on planning, coordinating, implementing, and assessing strategic objectives to achieve the mission and vision of the Physics Department and the Colorado School of Mines. The Department Manager is responsible for (a) efficient management of department operations, (b) fiscal management, strategic planning, and analysis of all department funds, (c) oversight of the management of the graduate and undergraduate programs, including supporting outreach efforts, (d) supervision of other administrative staff and students in the department, (e) other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (education can be substituted with specialized experience in higher education academic departments on a year-for-year basis).
- At least two years of progressive, administrative and operational support experience related to project and program management and operational oversight.
- At least two years of experience with developing, monitoring and managing budgets, resource management, and financial reporting.
- A successful track record of working across multiple teams, relationship building, and partnership development.
- Demonstrated leadership, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Strong expertise in business and management, computer applications and databases.
- Ability to keep abreast of general higher education trends.
- Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing with faculty, staff and students on a variety of topics.
- Ability to be sensitive to the needs and concerns of faculty, staff, and students and other members of the University in a manner that is professional, objective and easily understood.
Nice To Haves
- At least five years in an administrative and operational support management position that includes supervision of professional staff
- Significant experience with Banner, Workday, Tableau, or other ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems and tools.
- Prior professional experience in higher education.
Responsibilities
- Provide leadership, oversight, coordination and execution of department operations, and administrative functions.
- Collaborate with the DH on strategic planning as well as provide operational oversight.
- Provide departmental management as well as administration support to the DH.
- Supervision of the program assistant role.
- Fiscal management, strategic planning, and analysis includes responsibility and oversight over all departmentally managed funds.
- Analyze budget income and expense histories to provide information, recommendations, and alternatives to the DH for high-level, multi-year budget planning.
- Apply understanding of undergraduate and graduate programs and curriculum to provide support to the graduate program committee and graduate students directly and supervise the support of the undergraduate programs (Physics introductory sequence, Physics curriculum and Quantum Systems Engineering curriculum) via the Program Assistant.
Benefits
- Flexible health and dental care options
- Generous sick/vacation time
- 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for the entire campus.
- Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
- Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
- Free RTD Ecopass
- Discount programs through the State of Colorado
- Free tickets for Mines Athletics home games
- Access to the state-of-the-art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more)
- Equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center
- On-campus daycare center
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
