Operations Specialist, Student Center Operations

University of Denver•Denver, CO

20h•Onsite

About The Position

At the University of Denver, Student Affairs is at the heart of the student journey—empowering every student to thrive academically, personally, and professionally. Rooted in DU’s signature 4D Experience, our division is committed to fostering holistic development through four dimensions: deepen intellect, develop wellbeing, discover character, and design careers and lives of purpose. Our work reaches far beyond the classroom. Through dynamic, high-impact programs, services, and experiences offered at both the Denver Campus and the Kennedy Mountain Campus, we foster inclusive communities, promote health and wellness, cultivate exploration, engagement, and leadership, and develop a deep sense of belonging. We are committed to creating a high-touch environment where students and participants connect meaningfully, grow confidently, and thrive personally and collectively. The Student Center Operations serves as the operational foundation of the University of Denver’s student-centered facilities, programs, and services. The department is responsible for creating and maintaining welcoming, functional, and engaging environments that support student success, community building, and campus life. As stewards of the University's student-centered spaces, Student Center Operations oversees facility operations, building access and security systems, event and meeting space support, project management, operational planning, and auxiliary services that enhance the student experience. The department works collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, campus partners, and external stakeholders to ensure University facilities remain vibrant, accessible, and responsive to the evolving needs of the DU community. Through a commitment to service excellence, innovation, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement, Student Center Operations provides the infrastructure and support necessary for meaningful student engagement, campus traditions, leadership development, and community connection through day-to-day building operations management, strategic initiatives, facility improvements, access and credentialing services, customer service functions, and cross-campus operational partnerships.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Business Administration, Facilities Management, or a related field.
Minimum of five (5) 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

Manage the daily operations of the Pioneer Card Office, ensuring efficient, accurate, and customer-focused delivery of identification, credentialing, and access-related services to students, faculty, staff, affiliates, and university guests.
Oversee the production, issuance, replacement, and distribution of Pioneer ID cards while maintaining compliance with university policies, security standards, and operational procedures.
Serve as the primary point of contact for card-related inquiries, concerns, and problem resolution, providing exceptional customer service and timely support for complex service issues.
Process and manage building access requests, account updates, credential assignments, access authorizations, and related security functions in coordination with campus partners.
Monitor, maintain, and improve office workflows, scheduling, inventory controls, supplies, equipment, and service delivery processes to support operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Recruit, train, supervise, schedule, evaluate, and develop student employees supporting Pioneer Card operations and Community Connections Hub, creating meaningful student employment experiences and ensuring consistent service standards.
Develop and maintain operational procedures, service standards, and customer service protocols that support continuous improvement and operational effectiveness.
Serve as the functional administrator for the OneCard system, overseeing user account management, configuration settings, permissions, operational functionality, and system maintenance.
Troubleshoot and resolve hardware, software, credentialing, transaction, and access-control issues related to card production systems, door access systems, point-of-sale integrations, kiosks, and peripheral equipment.
Coordinate system upgrades, patches, enhancements, implementations, and testing activities to ensure system reliability, security, and operational performance.
Monitor system interfaces, imports, exports, and automated processes to ensure data integrity and accuracy across university systems.
Conduct routine audits, reconciliations, and quality-control reviews to identify and address discrepancies or security concerns.
Collaborate with Information Technology, Campus Safety, Housing & Residential Education, Dining Services, and other campus partners to support integrated card and access services.
Serve as a liaison with external vendors and service providers, including card system vendors, hardware manufacturers, payment service providers, dining partners, and other contracted service organizations, to coordinate support, maintenance, upgrades, and issue resolution.
Manage daily cash handling, revenue collection, payment processing, balancing, and reconciliation activities in accordance with university financial policies and internal controls.
Process deposits, card replacement fees, departmental transactions, and related financial activities with a high degree of accuracy and accountability.
Maintain transaction records and supporting documentation to ensure compliance with accounting standards, university procedures, and audit requirements.
Complete monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reconciliations and reporting activities related to Pioneer Card operations and associated accounts.
Prepare financial reports, usage metrics, operational analyses, and supporting documentation for leadership review, audits, and assessment purposes.
Assist with the identification, evaluation, and implementation of opportunities to expand services, improve operational efficiencies, and support revenue-generating initiatives related to card services, credentialing programs, and auxiliary partnerships when applicable.
Lead and support operational projects designed to improve efficiency, customer service, system performance, accessibility, and overall service delivery within Student Center Operations.
Evaluate existing processes and recommend improvements through assessment, benchmarking, data analysis, and stakeholder feedback.
Maintain and update websites, service guides, customer communications, forms, and informational materials to ensure accurate and timely information for campus constituents.
Participate in the planning, testing, implementation, and documentation of new technologies, software enhancements, integrations, and service improvements.
Develop and maintain operational manuals, training documentation, business process maps, and knowledge resources to support continuity and staff development.
Collect, analyze, and report operational data and service metrics to support decision-making, strategic planning, goal setting, and continuous improvement efforts.
Perform special projects and other duties as assigned by the Director of Student Center Operations or Manager for Projects & Operations.