Physics Department
Colorado School of Mines
Location: Golden, Colorado

Description

Colorado School of Mines is seeking a dynamic and strategic Department Manager to support the Physics Department.

As the department’s principal administrative leader, the Department Manager serves at the center of departmental operations, driving strategy, enabling innovation, and ensuring efficient administration.

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:

• Efficient management of department operations.
• Fiscal management, strategic planning, and analysis of all department funds.
• Oversight of graduate and undergraduate programs, including supporting outreach efforts.
• Supervision of administrative staff and student employees within the department.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Responsibilities

Department Management (50% – Essential)

Responsibilities include:

• Provide leadership, oversight, coordination, and execution of department operations and administrative functions.
• Collaborate with the Department Head on strategic planning and operational oversight.
• Provide departmental management and administrative support to the Department Head.
• Supervise the Program Assistant role.

Fiscal Management, Strategic Planning and Analysis (30% – Essential)

Responsibilities include:

• Fiscal management, strategic planning, and analysis of all department-managed funds.
• Analyze budget income and expense histories.
• Provide information, recommendations, and alternatives to the Department Head for high-level, multi-year budget planning.

Academic Program Management (20% – Essential)

Responsibilities include:

• Apply knowledge of undergraduate and graduate programs and curriculum.
• Support the Graduate Program Committee and graduate students.
• Supervise support for undergraduate programs, including:Oversee these activities through the Program Assistant.
  • Physics introductory sequence.
  • Physics curriculum.
  • Quantum Systems Engineering curriculum.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• 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 developing, monitoring, and managing budgets, resource management, and financial reporting.
• A successful track record of working across multiple teams, relationship building, and partnership development.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong expertise in business and management, computer applications, and databases.
• Ability to stay informed about higher education trends.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work professionally and effectively with faculty, staff, students, and other members of the University community.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred qualifications include:

• At least five years of experience in an administrative and operational support management position that includes supervision of professional staff.
• Significant experience with Banner, Workday, Tableau, or other Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and tools.
• Prior professional experience in higher education.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: $70,000–$73,500 annually.

Salary offers are based on a combination of education, training, experience, position scope and complexity, work location, market conditions, and internal equity.

Benefits include:

• Flexible health and dental care options.
• Generous sick leave and vacation time.
• Thirteen paid holidays annually, including a week-long winter break.
• Fully vested retirement plan from the first day of employment with generous employer contributions.
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees and a 50% discount for dependents).
• Free RTD Ecopass.

Employees also have access to:

• State of Colorado employee discount programs.
• Free tickets for Mines Athletics home games.
• Recreation Center facilities, including fitness classes, swimming pool, and training.
• Outdoor Recreation Center equipment rentals.
• On-campus daycare center.

Application Instructions

Complete an online application and:

• Upload a Resume or Curriculum Vitae (Required).
• Upload a Cover Letter (Required).

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This posting may be used to fill more than one vacancy based on business needs.

References will not be contacted until later in the selection process, and applicants will be informed before references are contacted.

The posting will remain open until June 22, 2026, but may close without notice or be extended as needed. Early application is encouraged.

For questions, contact:

Kathleen Feighny
Email: kfeighny@mines.edu

Additional Information

It is the intent of Colorado School of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 by providing reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within the working environment.

Applicants who require a reasonable accommodation may contact:

Human Resources

Email: hr@mines.edu

Phone: 303.273.3250

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons.

The University 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.

Mines is committed to maintaining a campus community that promotes equal opportunity, equal access, and nondiscrimination through its policies, procedures, programs, and activities.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Academicoxy