Operations & Procurement Specialist (Business Services Professional)

Job Summary:

This role is a fantastic opportunity for individuals who thrive in dynamic, multi-faceted environments and enjoy making significant contributions to the smooth operation of a department. By providing comprehensive office support, you will be the backbone of our team, ensuring that everything from procurement and travel coordination to office operations runs seamlessly. This position is critical to the efficiency and communication within the department, supporting both the everyday administrative tasks and the more specialized needs of our administration, researchers, and faculty. 

You will be directly involved in high-impact projects, such as coordinating the purchase of scientific equipment, and supporting the department’s internship programs. Every day will bring new challenges and opportunities to engage with a variety of tasks, from assisting the department chair with travel arrangements to facilitating bi-monthly faculty meetings. This role is perfect for someone who wants to be at the heart of departmental operations, making a tangible difference in the day-to-day and long-term success of our academic and research missions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide general office support for all department members, including mail coordination, phone list creation, office supply management, printer services training and support, and oversight of shared spaces.

• Collect and record monthly personnel time data and produce bi-annual audit reports.

• Manage the department’s internship programs including applications, travel arrangements, intern communications, and all coordination related to the programs.

• Serve as a backup approver for university conference room scheduling and communicate scheduling information.

• Handle all procurement transactions for the department, including purchase orders, PCard purchases, travel and other reimbursements.

• Assist with new Marketplace requests, including large equipment orders and coordinate with the Director on invoice processing, receiving, and resolving discrepancies.

• Support the Chair, Director, and department committees with calendaring, travel arrangements, and expense reconciliation.

Work Location:

Hybrid – This role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 4 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings in Aurora, CO.

Why Join Us:

Our department conducts research across a wide biological scale for fundamental scientific understanding with applications to many disease contexts. The overarching goal is to reach a level of molecular insight that helps develop therapeutic approaches to disease.

As biochemists and molecular geneticists, we are amid an unprecedented time of discovery - our conception of the molecular biology of cells is going from the equivalent of grainy black-and-white to high-resolution technicolor. From deciphering the choreography of transcription complexes, chromosomes, and RNA molecules within cells to developing novel approaches to 3D molecular structure determination to understanding how viruses hijack a cell’s machinery and alter its metabolome, the researchers in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics (BMG) are at the forefronts of their fields both conceptually and technologically.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options

• Dental: Multiple plan options

• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision

• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay

• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year

• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)

• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)

• Holiday Days: 15/year

• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses

• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, business, public administration, health care, educational technology, social science, liberal arts, communications, accounting, finance, library science, or a directly related field from an accredited institution and 1 year of professional-level experience in business administration, procurement, office operations, travel coordination, financial transaction support, program coordination, or other operational support directly related to the work assignment.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in office administration or management within an academic or research setting.

• Experience with University systems, including Concur, Marketplace, HCM, EMS, etc.

• Experience with Mac OS and Zoom.

• Experience with web development tools (Sitefinity) and content management systems.

Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide work visa sponsorship or employment authorization for this position now or in the future.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.

• Outstanding customer service skills.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Demonstrated commitment and leadership ability to advance diversity and inclusion.

• Ability to independently establish work priorities, follow through, and meet established deadlines.

• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.

• Knowledge of procurement processes.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

3. Three to five professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Questions should be directed to: