The posting
Engineering a world of possibilities
The Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences department at Colorado School of Mines (Mines) is hiring for a Department Manager.
The Department Manager is the principal administrator for the department and provides operational leadership in support of the department and the mission of Mines. Reporting to the Department Head (DH), the Department Manager works independently and collaboratively with the DH to plan, coordinate, implement, and assess departmental priorities.
The position is responsible for key non-academic operations, including fiscal management and planning, faculty and student support, academic program administration, human resources coordination, department communications, alumni and fundraising support, and overall department operations. The Department Manager may also supervise administrative support staff and student employees.
Responsibilities
Department Management (50% - essential)
Provide leadership, oversight, and coordination of department operations and administrative functions. Collaborate with the DH on strategic planning, departmental priorities, and effective day-to-day operations. Essential functions include:
- Provide oversight and coordination of departmental business and administrative functions, including purchasing, human resources, space, facilities, technology, and other operational needs.
- Work with the DH to develop, implement, and maintain departmental policies and procedures consistent with Mines requirements.
- Serve as a primary resource for faculty and staff regarding departmental and Mines policies and processes, including hiring, faculty evaluation, promotion and tenure, leave, professional development, and other faculty and personnel matters.
- Support the DH with scheduling, faculty meetings, meeting minutes, department records, Teams content, and other administrative needs.
- Use departmental and university data and reporting systems to identify trends and support strategic planning, decision-making, and annual reporting.
- Partner with HR to coordinate faculty and staff searches, hiring, and onboarding. Coordinate adjunct and student worker appointments and student worker scheduling.
- Collaborate with faculty, the DH, Mines Communications, and other campus partners to support department communications, marketing, outreach, events, newsletters, and publicity.
- Work with departmental faculty, the DH, and the CSM Foundation to support fundraising efforts and strengthen alumni relationships.
- Assist with teaching schedule information, room changes, and related coordination with the Registrar.
- Oversee front-office operations and student employees and respond to faculty, staff, student, and visitor needs.
Fiscal Management, Strategic Planning and Analysis (40% - essential)
Provide fiscal management, strategic planning, and analysis for departmentally managed funds. Maintain and analyze financial information to provide the DH with recommendations, projections, and options for short- and long-term planning. Essential functions include:
- Develop, monitor, analyze, forecast, and report on the department's annual budget across applicable funding sources, including operating, research, auxiliary, discretionary, foundation, and other departmental funds.
- Maintain knowledge of applicable fiscal requirements, account restrictions, and allowable expenditures and advise the DH and faculty on the appropriate use of funds.
- Monitor payroll, teaching assistant and research assistant budgets, operating funds, lab fees, IDC returns, research awards, auxiliary funds, foundation funds, and technology fee projects.
- Provide the DH with financial analyses, trends, projections, and recommendations to support strategic decisions and effective use of resources.
- Exercise appropriate financial decision-making authority in consultation with the DH, including allocation of operating funds and implementation of teaching assistant and adjunct assignments based on department priorities.
- Monitor research grant finances and work with the Office of Research Administration to address potential budget, compliance, or spending concerns.
Graduate Program Management (10% - essential)
Apply an advanced understanding of academic programs and processes to provide administrative support for the graduate program and related undergraduate activities. Responsibilities include collaboration with faculty committees and shared student services regarding:
- Maintain knowledge of relevant Graduate Studies, Registrar, and departmental policies and procedures and apply those requirements to department processes.
- Serve as a primary departmental liaison with Graduate Studies, CASA, the Registrar, and other academic and student-support offices.
- Support faculty and department leadership with graduate and undergraduate processes involving curriculum, registration, assistantships, international student employment, graduation, and related requirements.
- Coordinate appropriate forms and approvals, including authorized signature responsibilities.
- Provide financial and operational support for orientations, recruiting activities, information sessions, group visit days, and other events supporting departmental academic programs.
Additional responsibilities:
- Perform other duties as assigned and as related to specific departmental needs.
- Collaborate with other departments in planning university-wide events, including the annual Young Symposium.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field from an accredited institution. Relevant specialized experience in higher education academic departments may substitute for education.
- Two years of progressively responsible administrative experience involving project or program management and operational oversight.
- Two years of experience developing, monitoring, and managing budgets, resources, and financial reporting.
- Demonstrated experience with teamwork, relationship building, and partnership development.
- Two years of experience with event or program planning.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Demonstrated leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to learn new systems, processes, policies, and areas of responsibility.
- Strong proficiency with business and management applications, databases, and administrative systems.
- Ability to understand, interpret, and apply relevant policies, procedures, institutional requirements, and regulatory requirements.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain policies and processes clearly and professionally to faculty, staff, students, and campus partners.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent attention to detail, organization, and accuracy.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a collaborative academic environment.
Preferred Qualifications
Education and Experience:
- Five years of management or progressively responsible administrative experience that includes supervisory experience.
- Significant experience with Workday, Banner, or another Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
- Experience in higher education
About Mines & Golden, CO
When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.
Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 36 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2025).
Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.
At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that’s manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 “Very High Activity” research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.
Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world’s problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a diverse and inclusive community, where our different perspectives, experiences and cultures enrich the educational and work experience?
Look to Mines.
Annual Rate
$70,000 to $75,000
Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.
In addition to the amazing benefits mentioned below, Mines continues to show its dedication to its employees by offering an 11% employee contribution through our Mines Defined Contribution Plan and an incredible 12% employer contribution with immediate 100% vesting for our University Staff positions!
Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees.
For this role, that includes:
- Flexible health and dental care options
- Generous sick/vacation time
- 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
All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state-of-the-art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should apply online as soon as possible but before Tuesday, December 1, 2026. If you submit your application after this date, it may or may not be considered. Applicants will be asked to complete an online application and upload a resume. References will not be collected or contacted until later in the selection process and the candidate will be informed before that contact is made.
Contact Dorie Gelber, Human Resources, at [email protected] with any questions about this opportunity.
Additional Information and Reasonable Accommodation Requests It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at [email protected] or 303.273.3250 for assistance.
Successful completion of a background investigation may be required for this position.
Equal Opportunity
Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.
Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce.
Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.
Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting
