Director, Student Center Operations

University of Denver•Quinte West, ON

16h•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Denver's Student Affairs division is dedicated to supporting the student journey by fostering holistic development through its signature 4D Experience. This division offers dynamic programs and services across the Denver Campus and Kennedy Mountain Campus to promote inclusive communities, health and wellness, engagement, leadership, and a sense of belonging. Student Affairs serves a broad community including students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and the local community. The Student Engagement & Leadership Development unit, specifically Student Activities and Involvement, aims to foster vibrant campus life by creating opportunities for students to connect, lead, and engage outside the classroom. This department supports student governments, events, programming boards, student organizations, leadership development, and student center operations, all grounded in a student-centered and inclusive approach. The Director, Student Center Operations, will provide operational leadership for facilities management, guest services, and campus access services within the Driscoll Center and Community Commons. This role is the front-line operational leader for these high-use facilities, ensuring a welcoming, well-functioning, and student-centered environment that supports daily operations, large-scale events, and co-curricular engagement. The Director will oversee building operations, customer service, and operational infrastructure, supervising two professional staff units (ID Card Office and Manager of Projects & Operations) and leading student operations teams. Collaboration with Facilities, DUIT/AV, Campus Dining, Campus Safety, Conferences Event Services, and other partners is crucial for ensuring safe, efficient, and responsive operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Business Administration, Facilities Management, or a related field.
Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in student center operations, facilities operations, campus services, or a closely related area.
Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff and student employees.
Experience managing building operations, guest services, access services, or ID card programs.
Experience collaborating with facilities, IT/AV, campus safety, and event or scheduling partners.
Advanced knowledge of student center operations, facilities management, and event logistics in a higher education environment.
Demonstrated ability to supervise and develop professional and student staff, including managers and front-line service teams.
Strong understanding of access services, ID card systems, guest services, and customer service best practices.
Ability to manage complex operations, prioritize competing demands, and respond effectively to emergencies and high-pressure situations.
Excellent organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
Proven ability to collaborate across departments, build partnerships, and serve as a liaison among campus stakeholders and external vendors.
Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly to diverse audiences.
Commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and creating welcoming environments for all campus community members.
Proficiency with operational systems and software (e.g., space scheduling systems, access control platforms, Microsoft Office).

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Business Administration, Facilities Management or a related field.
Experience in a large, high-use, multi-functional student center or commons environment.
Experience overseeing access control systems and ID card operations.
Demonstrated success leading operational projects, renovations, or process improvement initiatives.
Experience with space management systems (e.g., 25Live and Momentus) and operational data analysis for planning and assessment.
Knowledge of student development theory and its application to student employment and student center work.
Experience working in a fast-paced, event-heavy environment with extended or nontraditional hours.

Responsibilities

Provide operational leadership for daily and long-term operations of the Driscoll Center and Community Commons, including facilities oversight, building systems, safety and emergency response, space readiness, and coordination with Facilities, AV/IT, Dining, Campus Safety, and external vendors.
Oversee Guest Services and the ID Card Office, ensuring high-quality customer service, efficient access and credentialing processes, reporting and management of dining/meal plan data to Campus Dining Manager, staff training, and service standards in collaboration with HRE and Dining Services, Campus Safety, and IT for systems and policies.
Directly supervise two professional staff units—the ID Card Office and the Manager of Projects & Operations—and provide indirect leadership for student operations teams; lead hiring, onboarding, performance management, training, and culture-building for professional and student staff.
Lead operational support for events and Registered Student Organization use of student center spaces, including logistics, procurement workflows, staffing, and space scheduling; oversee use of systems such as 25Live and analyze utilization data to inform service delivery.
Partner with the Director on strategic and operational planning, assessment, and continuous improvement; manage purchasing, reconciliation, and inventory systems; serve on campus committees and maintain strong relationships with building occupants and campus partners.