Director of Operations, Venture Partners

Job Summary

We are looking for a driven leader and team member with an interest in systems thinking to join CU Boulder’s thriving innovation engine: Venture Partners at CU Boulder. The Director of Operations is a key part of the Venture Partners leadership team and leads our high-performing organization's operational processes. Venture Partners at CU Boulder is a 25-person team with a mission to support university innovators and translate their research breakthroughs into impactful new businesses and partnerships.

The Director Of Operations Includes Responsibilities Delegated From And Previously Held By The Head Of Venture Partners. Accordingly, This Role Includes Senior-level Responsibilities. The Principal Objectives For The Director Of Operations Are To:

• Streamline and standardize operations across key functions, including intellectual property management, finance, and entrepreneurship programs
• Lead a sub-team of four operations staff
• Collaborate across the team to build and refine standard operating procedures
• Direct the use, evaluation, and adoption of digital tools including artificial intelligence to optimize efficiencies
• Track and report Venture Partners’ annual budget
• Serve as a key liaison with other university units
  
  

The Director of Operations reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Partnerships.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

As one of 34 U.S. public research institutions belonging to the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), our goal at CU Boulder is to directly benefit the world through collaborative research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Our faculty, staff and students work with the broader community to establish unique connections that have lasting outcomes—both across Colorado and around the world. CU Boulder seeks to be the top university for innovation.

Venture Partners at CU Boulder is a key catalyst for innovation. Our work is exciting, fast-paced, and multidisciplinary, bringing together the domains of business, science, and law. We work with university researchers and external business partners to commercialize new products and form new startup companies.

CU Boulder is situated in one of the most innovative communities in the country. Boulder has been ranked by Forbes as the best city in America in which to start a business, and as the top city in America by Bloomberg’s Brain Concentration Index.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Leadership

• Develop close working relationships across the 20 person Venture Partners team.
• Participate in the core leadership team at Venture Partners, comprising the Director of Operations, AVC for Innovation & Partnerships, Senior Director, and Directors of Venture Development.
• Together with the core leadership in Venture Partners, set and drive strategy across the team.
• Lead a sub-team of four team members in administrative and finance roles.
• Represent Venture Partners in select university committees and meetings, such as the Conflict of Interest and Commitment, and the Campus Misconduct Advisory Group.
  
  

Operations

• Optimize workflows across a variety of functions, including IP management and licensing, industry outreach, and mentor/entrepreneur/investor recruitment.
• Collaborate with Venture Partners program directors to improve program operations.
• Establish and maintain standard operating procedures for specific team roles and responsibilities.
• Reporting and financial tracking of multiple federal and state grants.
• Serve as key liaison with operations-associate units on campus, such as human resources, finance, IT, and facilities.
  
  

Metrics and Tools

• Track an array of key performance indicators; prepare and deliver regular update reports for university leadership.
• In collaboration with sister campus CU Anschutz and CU Boulder’s Office of Information Technology, lead and manage CU Boulder’s use of the Sophia IP software product.
• Identify and implement tools for streamlined data capture and management (e.g. CRM, startup portfolio).
• Evaluate emerging tools for their capability to enhance Venture Partners' performance, including artificial intelligence and custom university commercialization products.
  
  

Finance

• Provide oversight and leadership to finance staff, with direction from the AVC for Innovation & Partnerships.
• Track overall annual budget, integrating separate budgets from a variety of programs, grants, revenue sources, and sponsorships.
• Develop and standardize financial reports to reflect core Venture Partners functions and priorities.
• Ensure best-practice financial management and compliance with all university policies.
  
  

What You Should Know

• This position offers a hybrid work modality with three days in the office and two days of remote per week.
  
  

What We Can Offer

The hiring range for this position is $121,000 - $150,000. Onboarding assistance is available for eligible candidates.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder .

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and 5 years of professional experience in university or industry innovation, operations, tech transfer, and/or startups including lead or supervisory experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
  
  

What You Will Need

• Demonstrated operations leadership and performance in a team setting.
• Collaborative and relational style that builds strong professional relationships.
• Outstanding attention to detail.
• Tenacity and creativity.
• Excellence in workflow processes, documentation, and improvement.
• Strong financial skills including continuous improvement through benchmarking, experimentation, and independent initiative.
• Proven capacity for senior-level communications; poise, tact, and responsiveness with VIP faculty, university leadership, startup founders, investors, and sponsors.
• Dedication to creating and supporting a campus environment where everyone matters and all can thrive.
  
  

What We Would Like You To Have

• Master's degree or higher in science, engineering, business, or law.
• 5 years of professional experience in university or industry innovation, operations, tech transfer, and/or startups.
• 3 years of supervisory experience with multiple direct reports.
• Financial oversight and management experience for a significant annual budget.
• Experience working in or partnering with university innovation, entrepreneurship, or tech transfer.
  
  

Special Instructions

To Apply, Please Submit The Following Materials:

• A current resume.
• A cover letter that specifically addresses how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications and responsibilities of the position.
  
  

You will not be asked to upload references at this time.

Please apply by 2/13/25 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs .

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.