About the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus

The University of Denver’s vision is to be a “great private university dedicated to the public good.” Founded in 1864, DU is actively implementing its dynamic strategic plan, DU IMPACT 2025. Among the plan’s most significant goals is a strengthening of the 4Dimensional (4D) Experience for all students, including advancing intellectual growth, pursuing careers and lives of purpose, exploring character and promoting well-being. The James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus, announced in early October, will fully integrate the 4D Experience for DU students in a wilderness setting, with a particular emphasis on character and leadership exploration and enhancing well-being along social, spiritual, and physical pathways.

The new property, which is adjacent to Roosevelt National Park, includes approximately 724 acres of rolling terrain with rock outcroppings and beautiful views of the Laramie Mountains to the west. Buildings include a dining hall/office, six large all-season cabins, four seasonal cabins, a dining hall, a health center with nurse’s apartment, recreation center, equestrian center with classroom, many miles of trails, and a high and low ropes course. All the infrastructure is in place including fire suppression, wastewater, internet and water storage.

Position Summary

The Director for James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus Events, Operations and Outreach reports to the Executive Director, James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus and is a member of the division’s senior leadership team. The Director leads a department comprised of multiple units, including Kennedy Mountain Campus Facilities Management & Planning, Kennedy Mountain Campus Operations, and Kennedy Mountain Campus Events.

The position plays a vital role in maintaining and enhancing the natural beauty of the property and enhancing the quality of the property, facilities, and equipment; building operational excellence through the KMC facilities management and planning and KMC events and operations teams; and developing the auxiliary revenue streams for the KMC through retreat, event, conference, camp, getaway programs, and other business to over $2.0MM by FY2029.

Responsible for operations for the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus (KMC) with specific emphasis upon revenue generation; property, facility, equipment, and staff management to enhance the natural beauty of the setting while providing an outstanding guest experience; university curricular and co-curricular programs and events, and external community programs and events, property and facility projects and construction, and key partnerships and relationships.

The primary responsibilities of the position include generation of revenue and development of public support and good will for KMC, its various events, programs and experiences and future facility projects and opportunities.

The person in this position must possess a personal and professional commitment to providing excellent student and customer experiences while creating inclusive environments. This is a leadership position requiring vision, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work autonomously, and respond to customer service and emergency situations.

Essential Functions

• Along with the Interim Vice Chancellor, Executive Director, and the KMCWR leadership team, create a vision and direction that will deliver and drive results by collaborating cross functionally to meet the divisions goals and objectives; and to help shape a positive public image for KMC, its events, programs, services, staff, students, and guests.
• Collaborate regularly with university departments/units to ensure that institutional and department values are maintained in KMC programs over which it has supervisory responsibility. This position must develop and manage an operating budget for all units for which it has responsibility. It is expected that the individual in this role will use their knowledge and expertise to work collaboratively to maximize KMC revenues, manage KMC resources efficiently, and provide exemplary services to University and KMC guests.
• Hire, manage, evaluate, and supervise direct reports. Serve as a member of the KMCWR leadership team. Work closely with campus constituents, including the Office of the Chancellor, Office of the Provost, DU Business and Financial Affairs, DU Advancement, the DU Alumni Association, DU Office of Admissions, DU Facilities Management, DU Student Life and Inclusive Excellence, DU Shared Services, and the DU HCC administrative staff. Foster and build positive working relationships with other campus units.
• Recommend and establish policies, programs, events and services that advance the mission and build external support for KMC through oversight of the revenue generation program ($2mm+) for KMC. This includes the planning, supervision, and sales of registration fees, annual giving, facility rentals, event agreements, lodging fees, retail fees, food and beverage fees, with focus on growth and stewardship for KMC.
• Direct and supervise the day-to-day administrative operations for assigned responsibilities. Work with other senior administrators to advise, develop and implement divisional policies, including annual and quarterly plans and priorities. Assess and evaluate operations and personnel performance in the KMC facilities management and planning and the KMC Events and Operations business units.
• Monitor financial and budgetary activities, authorize all proposed expenditures. Represent the KMC business units when recommending the annual or multi-year budget development and forecast.
• Liaison between curricular and co-curricular programs and the KMC business units, the division, the university and the community. In collaboration with the Interim Vice Chancellor, Executive Director and the KMCWR leadership team, develop and implement policies and procedures related to the events and operations of the KMC and its business units. Provide oversight and direction for the assigned KMC business units. Responsible for driving collaboration across KMCWR and campus units to achieve the goals and objectives of the university.
• Direct, supervise and evaluate direct reports. Indirectly supervise and evaluate the support staff for these business units. Responsible for recruiting, hiring, evaluations, salary recommendations, dismissal of personnel and disciplinary action if necessary. Provide staff development. Orient new personnel to department policy and procedures. Work with individual direct reports and support staff to solve problems and resolve issues.
• Direct, supervise and evaluate KMC events, programs, experiences, and services that provide transportation, lodging, facility, and outdoor services for students, faculty/staff, alumni, donors, fans, and the community. Provide collaborative oversight of all transportation and food and beverage operations at the KMC with the Mountain Berry Culinary (MBC) owner and selected transportation partners. Administration of the Contractual Agreement between KMC and MBC. Develop and implement policies and procedures related to health and welfare of all who participate in events, programs experiences and services.
• Represent KMC as directed in contractual, litigation and grievance matters involving staff and participants, working with the DU General Counsels Office, Risk Management, and Human Resources. Represent KMC as directed on National, Conference and Community committees or working groups. Attend key events, programs, services, and university and KMC functions. Interact with students, customers, supporters and donors. Speak to community groups regarding the KMC. Serve on university and division committees. Perform related duties as assigned by the Interim Vice Chancellor and/or Executive Director.
• Compliance with the rules and regulations of the university, the State of Colorado, Larimer County, Tri-State Health, and any other governing body is of paramount importance to the University. The overall responsibility of this position is for the successful operation of the program in full compliance with all such rules and regulations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in kinesiology, sports management, health education, recreation, student affairs, or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Five (5) + years working in higher education, emphasizing outdoor programming and facility and event operations
• Wilderness First Responder certification
• Ability to regularly travel and stay overnight at KMC, when necessary
• Experience in strategic planning, budgeting, and financial management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Outdoor Recreation, Recreation Management, Student or Leadership Development or Related Field.
• Eight plus (8+) years of experience in outdoor or adventure programming, climbing, and recreation.
• Certifications in the following: American Canoe Association (ACA) Swift Water Rescue Instructor, ACA Paddle Raft Guide Instructor.
• Demonstrated experience, knowledge, and ability to instruct/assist in the following courses: Whitewater Rescue, Paddle Raft Guide School, Winter Backpacking travel, Mountaineering, Ice Climbing, Backcountry Leadership.
• Leave No Trace Master Educator or ability to obtain within three months of hire.

Working Environment

• Outdoors in all weather conditions and varying terrain.
• Requires regular travel.
• Works regularly on nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to demonstrate and teach various outdoor activities.
• Required to move about the office/campus/outdoors with the capability of transporting objects up to 100 lbs. with assistance.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) October 18, 2024.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 13.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $95,000-$110,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.