Associate Director, Special Programs

Leads the special programs for undergraduate students at the Leeds School of Business, providing a blend of extracurricular programming and credit-bearing coursework for several student cohorts. This role oversees program strategy, student advising, systematic growth, and hands-on involvement in the student experience. The Associate Director is a key member of the Leeds Undergraduate staff and serves as a resource to the Senior Director, Career Development and Experiential Learning.

About the role

The Associate Director supervises two Assistant Directors who manage the day-to-day operations of the special programs. Existing Leeds Special Programs include:

• Leeds Scholars: The most selective, most intensive program for students who excel in academics and leadership at Leeds.
• BEWiT (Business+Engineering Women in Technology): Supports business and engineering students who want to explore careers in technology, where they are underrepresented in the industry.
• Business+Computer Science Integration: A degree offering that encourages technical-minded Leeds students to engage with the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
• Business of Sports Program: A two-month intensive for students and recent graduates interested in pursuing careers in the sports and recreation industry.
• Student Organizations and clubs: Provide students with opportunities to find their community, build leadership skills, and explore interests outside the classroom.

These programs give students a special experience at Leeds shared with a community of peers. This position may grow to include new programs, or the set of programs may change.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Program Oversight

• Develop and implement the strategic direction of the programs in partnership with the Senior Director, including defining the student profile for each program and creating learning and program objectives aligned with larger Leeds’ initiatives.
• Manage relationships with relevant faculty and campus partners, and continuously improve each program over time.
• Act as a visible leader within the programs to reinforce trust, continuity, and credibility.
• Participate and be responsible for key program events, workshops, and discussions as a facilitator or thought partner.
• Support the culture of each program by modeling empathy, warmth, and student-centered leadership.
• Assess programmatic strengths and areas for improvement regularly by obtaining data, student outcomes, and partner feedback.
• Use data to demonstrate creative problem-solving skills to meet challenges in financial, logistics, recruiting, program development, and student experience.
• Create and implement a strategic plan for the special programs focusing on addressing needs and enhancing strengths.
• Ensure all goals within special programs are met.
• Serve as a leader in specialized programs by identifying and integrating standard methodologies, emerging trends, and innovative approaches into programming and advising models.
• Supervise multiple staff who run the daily operations of the programs, finding alignment and efficiencies in managing the suite of programs.
• Provide student access to a highly experienced, trusted advisor.
• Reinforce a personalized, connection-focused student experience.
• Strengthen advising quality while modeling standard methodologies in empathetic leadership.

Student Advising and Mentorship

• Hold regular office hours for one-on-one and small-group student meetings.
• Provide career and professional guidance informed by substantial industry and leadership experience.
• Offer values-based mentorship focused on leadership development, ethical decision-making, and personal growth.
• Serve as a trusted, approachable resource for students navigating academic, professional, or personal challenges.

Collaboration With Leeds And Other CU Constituents

• Serve as a key collaborator and strategic partner across the Leeds School of Business and the broader University of Colorado community.
• Work closely with members of the Undergraduate Programs Leadership Team to align program goals, enhance the student experience, and support college-wide priorities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with a broad group of partners, influence without direct authority, and effectively navigate complex organizational structures.
• Partner extensively with Academic Advising, Leeds First-Year Experience, Recruitment and Scholarships, Advancement, Career Development, Experiential Learning, Mentoring Programs, Engineering, Student Organizations, and Leeds Student Government to ensure coordinated delivery of programs and services.
• Engage with faculty, staff, campus partners, alumni, employers, and external partners to strengthen program outcomes, foster student engagement, and advance the strategic objectives of the Leeds School of Business.

Teaching

• Teach and/or co-teach courses (Designing Your Leeds and First-Year Global Experience).
• Support the learning objectives of the programs through teaching.
• Supervise and advise on curriculum associated with the special programs that are taught by colleagues.

Supervision

• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with direct reports and team meetings to ensure cohesion and alignment.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team, including performance management, professional development, and succession planning.
• Foster a high-performing, inclusive team culture grounded in accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear performance expectations, monitor outcomes, and address performance concerns in a timely, constructive, and equitable manner.
• Model strong leadership practices by promoting transparency, collaboration, sound decision-making, and effective communication across the team.
• Oversee staff workload management, prioritization, and resource allocation to support operational effectiveness.
• Create and sustain a culture of feedback, recognition, and continuous learning that supports employee engagement, retention, and professional growth.
• Ensure adherence to university policies, ethical standards, and standard methodologies in advising, supervision, and student support services.
• Support organizational change initiatives by guiding staff through organizational, technological, and procedural transitions with clarity and accountability.

Budget

• Accountable for the budget of the special programs.
• Create and finalize the budget, in partnership with the Assistant Directors and Senior Director, to ensure financial sustainability and alignment with institutional policies and goals.
• Ensure accurate management of the budgets to guarantee that the annual budgets will come in as agreed.

Schedule

• Work hours are Monday-Friday, 8am – 5pm.
• Hybrid work modality: 3 days per week in the office and 2 days per week remote.
• Some evening and weekend hours will be required (5-10 evenings/weekend days per semester).
• Occasional travel required (approximately 2-3 times per year, including international travel).

Pay

The annual hiring range for this position is $80,000-$90,000. Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Medical, dental, and retirement plans.
• Generous paid time off.
• Tuition assistance for you and your dependents.
• An ECO Pass for local transit.
• Access to world-class outdoor recreation and additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• 3+ years of relevant professional experience such as program management, student engagement, or industry partnership development.
• Supervisory experience.
• Experience with fiscal responsibility.
• Experience liaising with corporate or industry partners.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills and a reputation for approachability and thoughtful guidance.
• Alignment with special program values of excellence, integrity, and care for students.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor students and emerging professionals with warmth, credibility, and emotional intelligence.
• Strong critical thinking and program leadership skills.
• Ability to build structure and systems to support complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
• High level of organization and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience using data to inform decisions and improve program outcomes.
• Understanding of student development and experiential learning standard methodologies.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with time-sensitive tasks.
• Proven success and passion for growing and developing employees.
• Proven success creating and managing budgets.
• Promotes creating an inclusive and supportive environment to reflect our values and vision at Leeds.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in industry, leadership, or executive roles.
• Experience advising or coaching in higher education, corporate settings, nonprofit, and leadership development contexts.