CSU Spur (Denver) Campus Special Assistant

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: over 2 years ago
Location: Denver, COLORADO
Deadline: 25 Oct 2021

Posting Details
Working Title CSU Spur (Denver) Campus Special Assistant
Position Location Denver, CO
Research Professional Position No
Posting Number 202101142AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Technical/Support II
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $65,000 - $70,000
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
Desired Start Date
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 10/25/2021
Description of Work Unit
The Colorado State University System office is located in Denver, Colorado. The CSU System is comprised of CSU in Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo, and CSU Global. The System office is home to initiatives representing more than one campus within the System including the CSU Todos Santos Center and forthcoming CSU Spur campus. 
About the Spur Campus: The CSU System, along with its partners, will stand up three buildings focused on water, food and agriculture, animal health, and sustainability at Spur at the National Western Center (NWC). Within the Spur buildings, CSU will conduct research and convene experts from around the globe; students of all ages will engage with science and technology, and have opportunities for exploratory learning, transforming their thinking about food, water, and health and the careers available in these fields. Partners will participate in programming the space and bring evolving content to the year-round campus. These facilities include laboratory space, classrooms, public education spaces, outdoor spaces, a flexible theater, a rooftop greenhouse and more! All three facilities are targeting LEED Gold and office procedures should reflect the importance of healthy building operations. Construction on the CSU buildings is underway, with anticipated opening of one building in January of 2022, one in the spring of 2022, and the third in November of 2022. 
Position Summary
The CSU Spur campus is seeking a Special Assistant to support the creation our new Denver campus. The Special Assistant will join a creative team to manage all administrative functions of the Spur campus, which is comprised of three buildings within the larger National Western Center redevelopment project in north Denver. This is a unique opportunity to develop office management procedures and culture, and the Spur team is seeking a positive, self-starting professional with experience working in a fast-paced, creative environment.  
The position will include the creation and start-up of various administrative structures, policies, and procedures, reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor of the Spur Campus & Special Projects. The Special Assistant will use creativity and organizational skills to create and implement office management procedures for a new office of over 80 people, including CSU faculty, staff, students, partners, and tenants. The Special Assistant will provide support to the Assistant Vice Chancellor of the Spur Campus, the General Manager, the Education Director, and the Spur Program Associate.  
This position is a great opportunity to start a new office, influence office culture and organization, be creative, and be part of a start-up environment, while also benefitting from the history and infrastructure of a large university. 
Required Job Qualifications
  • Associate’s degree plus at least 5 years of professional experience in a fast-paced environment; or bachelor’s degree plus at least 3 years of professional experience in a fast-paced environment. Other combinations of experience and education may be substituted. 
  • Effective oral and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrated professional experience planning meetings and events and maintaining an executive calendar.
  • Demonstrated strong organizational skills and proven ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while demonstrating attention to detail. 
  • Ability to work independently to meet deadlines in a highly dynamic environment.
  • Excellent computer skills, specifically with Microsoft Office 365 (mainly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and the ability to learn additional software. 
  • Personal or professional commitment to diversity and inclusion as demonstrated by persistent effort, active planning, allocation of resources and/or accountability for diversity outcomes.
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Strong interpersonal communication skills.
  • Strong critical thinking skills in areas of process development and problem solving. 
  • Experience with travel arrangement, HR systems, and payment platforms.
  • Proficiency with Salesforce, Adobe Acrobat Professional and Office 365/SharePoint. 
Diversity Statement
•Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Essential Duties


Job Duty Category Spur Office Management
Duty/Responsibility
  • Oversee day-to-day office operations and long-term projects (office relocation, strategic planning, etc.)
  • Develop, recommend, and maintain office policies, procedures, and systems to ensure smooth office operations. 
  • Coordinate and participate in staff meetings, key project meetings, and planning meetings with the CSU Spur Leadership Team.
  • Serve as executive staff support to the Assistant Vice Chancellor, General Manager, and Education Director. 
  • Maintain team engagement and communication to create the most effective work and positive atmosphere. 
  • Track requests and priorities and supports the CSU Spur leadership in assuring appropriate follow-through.
  • Provide comprehensive project leadership, interacting with internal and external constituents on behalf of the CSU Spur Campus team. 
  • Manage team workflow to ensure projects meet deadlines and are completed to the highest professional standards.
  • Manage logistics start to finish for meetings and small events. Assist with larger events as needed.
  • As appropriate, provide administrative support for advisory committees, support for research and professional activities, problem resolution, and special projects as assigned. 
  •  Manage all coordination of meetings, selecting vendors through a competitive bid process, negotiating contracts for vendors, selecting menus, arranging travel and transportation, coordinating speaker arrangements, coordinating support staff involvement, and ensuring potential technology support. 
  • Analyze and negotiate certain contracts on behalf of the CSU Spur team.
  •  Joins Spur team to accomplish goals and successfully for “all hands-on deck” situations. 
  • Other duties as assigned.
Percentage Of Time 70
Job Duty Category Spur Office Start-up
Duty/Responsibility
  • Work with Spur team to create protocols and procedures for new office at Spur such as record management, trainings, and onboarding.
  •  Assist in planning and executing move of Spur team to new office spaces. 
  • Assist the Spur team in planning and implementing launches of each Spur facility, starting with the January ribbon cutting for the Vida building through the opening of the Hydro building in November of 2022. 
  • Work to create staffing plan, roles, and responsibilities for new office support staff. 
  • Assist with general office communications, both internal and external.
  • Route and respond to communications via phone, mail, email, and in-person from partners in a timely manner.
  • Manage front desk staff and additional Spur office support staff hired over time. 
Percentage Of Time 15, more during move to new campus
Job Duty Category Strategic Planning, Programming, and Budgeting Support
Duty/Responsibility
  • Support Spur team in developing and implementing Spur strategy. 
  • Assist in interfacing with CSU Fort Collins, Global, and Pueblo campuses for program, event, and budget management. 
  • Work with Spur accounting team to ensure required tracking and reports are generated.
  • Assist with data collection and program evaluation processes. 
  •  Assist with efforts to advance Spur’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access through policy, training, and organizational culture
Percentage Of Time 15

Special Instructions to Applicants
Interested applicants must submit a cover letter which addresses how professional experiences align with identified required and preferred qualifications of the position, a current resume, and the names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of three (3) professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates. If you have questions, please contact Sarah Miley at [email protected].
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact [email protected]
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] .
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

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