Position Summary

The Senior Vice Provost for Strategy and Operations (SVPSO) at the University of Denver reports directly to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and is a member of the Provost’s leadership team. Serving as a strategic partner to the Provost, the SVPSO works collaboratively with others in the Provost’s office (e.g., senior vice provost, vice provosts, project managers, the Provost’s Executive Assistant, etc.) to provide counsel and project management support to the Provost, primarily at the intersection of the Provost’s initiatives, such as DU Forward, and academic administrative operations. This position is tasked with advancing strategic planning into operational reality. The SVPSO leads the Institutional Research team to support University-wide data-driven decision-making through effective data governance, modeling, reporting and analytics as well as quality assurance and accreditation processes ensuring appropriate stakeholder communication and also leads the Provost’s Office Project Management function to achieve excellence in process design, program/portfolio management, stakeholder engagement, status reporting and issue resolution.

Essential Functions

• Facilitates the resolution of matters requiring the Provost’s attention, providing advice, counsel and operational expertise. Assists the Provost in implementing initiatives to advance the Provost’s initiatives and major projects; monitors and ensures progress in responding to the Provost’s directives and requests.
• Leads DU Forward initiatives throughout the Division of Academic Affairs; develops project plans; creates, curates and reports on key performance indicators; and assists in coordinating University-wide projects.
• Serves as an administrative liaison between the Office of the Provost and other campus wide units/entities/counterparts such as College/School, budget/finance, human resources, facilities, advancement, university relations and information technology.
• Leads a data-driven team focused on the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data about the University’s characteristics and performance to support decision-making and policy formulation. This data encompasses a wide range, from student demographics and academic performance to faculty demographics and workload.
• Oversees a team responsible for driving project management into key components of the Office of the Provost’s Strategy and Operations.
• Serves as the contract lead for the Provost’s Office, including seeking guidance from campus partners to ensure adequate legal and financial protection, as well as risk management.
• Participates as necessary in key constituent meeting and ensuring appropriate and responsive follow-up regarding projects and initiatives. Facilitates the conduct of special studies and task forces; serves as liaison on budgetary and personnel issues; may serve on campus advisory committees, work groups and task forces.
• Provides research and curates background materials for the Provost’s communications: drafts sensitive or high-level correspondence, reports, oral speaking engagements and documents distributed to the campus and to the academic units. Includes support for external speaking engagements and academic conferences.
• Supports Provost’s direct reports by providing broad policy oversight of administrative support services for the Office of the Provost including budget/finance and human resources needs as well as the annual budgeting process involving the academic units.
• Maintains operations and promotes best practices in areas such as contract management, compliance, review and approvals.
• Responsible for the Provost’s Office project management, status reporting, process design, change management and issue resolution.
• Develop policies to enhance internal processes and controls in accordance with, and in response to, federal, state, and local laws to ensure compliance and organizational optimization.
• Serves as a change agent in supporting continuous process improvement and business process reengineering eliminating waste and maximizing University resources.
• Ensure the University's commitment to inclusion, belonging and pluralism as evidenced by: creative and effective initiatives to attract and retain talented students, faculty, and staff; programming that models inclusiveness for all; policy and procedure; and community involvement within and outside of the University.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Strategic Leadership

• Exceptional leadership skills with a successful track record of developing and communicating a strategic vision that inspires and motivates key collaborators.
• Excellent analytical, strategic conceptual thinking, strategic planning, and execution skills.

Communications and Administration

• Outstanding interpersonal skills and a professional demeanor.
• Demonstrated ability to manage stressful situations with tact and diplomacy and to use sound judgment and initiative, particularly as it relates to handling sensitive and/or confidential information.
• Strong executive and internal communications and project management skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking, coaching, and persuasive communication techniques and approaches.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in educational administration and leadership.
• A record of successful leadership while directing the efforts of professional staff in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Experience with policy development, coordination, and implementation.
• Experience with data governance, reporting and analytics.
• Demonstrated strategic planning experience for large and complex organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree.
• Experience in higher education in an administrative capacity.
• Experience with physical planning, capital projects, and facilities development— including construction and contracting guidelines.
• Experience working with donors on strategic priorities or initiatives.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

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

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) September 5, 2025.

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 UG.

Salary Range:
The salary rate for this position is $280,000 - $300,000.

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.