Engineering a world of possibilities
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a senior executive leader responsible for overseeing the university’s administrative, operational, and compliance functions. Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President, the COO ensures that the institution’s infrastructure, technology, workforce, and compliance systems are robust, efficient, and future-ready and operate strategically, and in alignment with the university’s mission and long-term goals.
The COO catalyzes Mines strategy by proactively shaping and executing operational plans that advance the university’s mission and long-term objectives. In this capacity, the COO provides strategic leadership to the Chief Information Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Associate Vice President for Infrastructure and Operations, and Executive Director of Compliance, ensuring their initiatives are synergistically aligned to support university priorities. Additionally, the COO oversees the outsourced internal audit program, leveraging insights to strengthen enterprise risk management, drive operational excellence, and foster a culture of continuous improvement across all administrative functions.
Key Responsibilities
Executive Leadership
Act as the chief architect of university operations, championing excellence and innovation in administrative, operational and support services to advance university objectives.
Design and propose forward-thinking operational strategies that proactively align with the university’s mission and long-term goals.
Cultivate relationships with the State legislature, State agencies, local municipalities, peer institutions, and others as appropriate to advance the university operations initiatives.
Technology & Information Strategy
Provide visionary oversight to ensure IT initiatives are innovative, future-ready, and centered on delivering exceptional customer experiences to campus.
Strategically guide technology planning to support and elevate academic, research, and administrative excellence, anticipating emerging needs and opportunities.
Work with the university CISO to ensure that a comprehensive, risk-based approach combining technology, governance, and user training to proactively manage risks.
Workforce for today and the future
Along with the CHRO, strategically lead the design of a dynamic, future-ready workforce strategy that not only anticipates and adapts to emerging trends and university needs.
Ensure that a comprehensive talent strategy is in place that proactively positions Mines to attract, hire, and retain top-tier talent, aligning with the university’s mission, long-term objectives, and evolving workforce needs.
Compliance & Risk Management
Physical asset development and optimization
Financial Acumen & Fiscal Responsibility
Apply strategic financial acumen to evaluate budgets, resource allocation, and operational efficiency, ensuring that all functions are managed with a focus on long-term institutional priorities and fiscal sustainability.
Demonstrate deep expertise in university-wide financial oversight, integrating financial stewardship into strategic decision-making processes.
Operational excellence
Strategic Planning & Collaboration
Build strategic collaborations with deans, faculty, and student leaders to ensure that operational support is tailored to amplify teaching, research, and student life, aligning with institutional goals.
Foster a campus-wide culture of partnership, ensuring that the university community is served efficiently and effectively through high-impact initiatives.
Minimum Qualifications
At least 15 years of progressive leadership experience, including executive leadership in higher education or similarly complex organizations leading multi-functional groups with differing operational frameworks.
At minimum, a master's degree in business administration, higher education administration, public administration, or a related field.
Additional related experience may be substituted for the advanced degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
Documented experience at an executive level in organizational and operational leadership, in at least one of the following areas: risk management and compliance, human resources, finance and/or technology leadership.
Significant experience or expertise in university (or other complex organization), financial oversight and management.
Proven ability to lead multi-functional teams and foster collaboration across the organizational structure.
Demonstrated track record leading large-scale strategic planning and organizational change efforts
Preferred Qualifications
Prior experience in research organizations, R1 research setting preferred
Experience working in grant-based funding models
Previous experience collaborating with state, local and Federal partners highly desired
Competencies
Visionary leadership with the ability to drive institutional change
Deep understanding of higher education operations and governance
Strong financial, analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
Ability to balance strategic priorities with day-to-day operational demands
Demonstrated experience effectively communicating mission, vision and strategy at all organizational levels
Total Rewards
Salary: Rate of $270,000.00 - $325,000 annually
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.
Benefits: 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: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for the entire campus.
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 Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status)
Upload a resume or CV (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.
Please note: References will not be contacted until later in the selection process, and you will be informed before that contact is made.
This posting will remain open June 14, 2026, but may close without notice or be extended as needed. For best consideration, apply soon.
Successful completion of a Background Investigation is required for this position.
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 hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance.
Successful completion of a background investigation is 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