Associate Director, The Center for Cultural Connections and Community and First-Generation Programs

Summary

Job Summary

The Associate Director for the Center for Cultural Connections and Community and First-Generation Programs resides in the Center for Cultural Connections and Community (the Center) at the University of Colorado Boulder. The Associate Director role is multi-pronged: the role assists with management of the day-to-day department operations, promotes the unit’s strategic goals as well as provides leadership and oversight by developing transformative co-curricular programming to support first-generation students as they navigate the nuances of their higher education experience and academic rigor.

This position reports to, and works closely with, the Director of the Center for Cultural Connections and Community. As a member of the unit’s leadership team, the Associate Director will lead assessment efforts and will provide consultation and oversight on the student coordinator program. The Associate Director will directly supervise three critical professional staff including the Assistant Director for Education and Social Change, the Coordinator for First-Generation Enrichment and Programs, and the Coordinator for First-Generation Scholars.

The Associate Director will further develop the vision, direction, and actualization of an inclusive co-curricular learning environment for first-generation students across the institution. They will lead the advancement of the first-generation program apparatus in concert and collaboration with other campus partners.

Lastly, the Associate Director will work with department colleagues as well as divisional and institutional partners to address the needs of historically underrepresented and underserved student populations.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The Division of Student Life consists of 30 departments that provide student support and services dedicated to helping students become successful, curious, competent individuals during their time at CU Boulder.

The Center for Cultural Connections & Community (The Center) supports students in the exploration of all their identities. The Center is a welcoming and inclusive space on campus that supports academic and personal growth. Students can become active, informed global citizens by engaging and interacting with individuals from different cultures, and staff provide community-building programs and educational opportunities for students to learn and teach.

Responsibilities

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

First-Generation Program Leadership and Assessment:

• Lead the First-Generation Enrichment program in the Center and supervise its professional staff and student coordinators.
• Plan and implement comprehensive programs and services to enhance the academic and social success of first-generation students with a focus on activities related to engagement, retention, and graduation.
• Create and sustain a culture of identity celebration, visibility, and recognition of excellence within the first-generation community.
• Lead, with a committee, the application review, selection, and award process for the First-Generation Scholarship.
• Track university data and trends regarding first-generation students in partnership with divisional colleagues in the Center for Assessment, Insight and Research (AIR).
• Co-design and implement data collection to improve the effectiveness of first-generation.
• Create first-generation student programs that emphasize intersectionality and are in collaboration with department and campus colleagues.
• Collaborate with department colleagues to design an identity development curriculum focused on the experiences of historically underserved student populations.
• Collaborate with department colleagues to create and implement outcome-based programs that invite all students to communicate across lines of race, ethnicity, sex, religion, gender, class, sexual orientation, and other social identities.
• Collaborate with campus partners in the broad-based promotion of inclusion, social change, and campus diversity via campus-wide programming and support for first-generation and underrepresented students.
  
  

Departmental Leadership

• Assist the director of the Center to envision, conceptualize, and communicate the department’s mission of equity and inclusive practice.
• Assist the director of the Center with high-level staffing and facility operations to ensure department functions are in good working order.
• Work with the peer leadership team to develop, implement, and assess departmental goals and initiatives that contribute to divisional and institutional critical initiatives.
• Work with the director of the Center to devise and implement process improvements and align programs to ensure practices inform responsive programming to meet student needs.
• Actively participate in institutional service by participating in committees and initiatives.
• Promote a positive and supportive working environment.
• Represent the Center at internal and external student events.
• Serve as the director’s proxy in their absence.
  
  

Budget, Fiscal Operations And Supervision

• Oversee budget allocation for the First-Generation Programs and Enrichment program, ensuring the responsible planning and expenditure of fiscal resources in a manner consistent with all University policies and applicable local, state, and federal laws.
• Meet deadlines for all requests for reports, data, publications, and budgets.
• Provide timely/pertinent budgetary information to staff as necessary throughout the year.
• Supervise and support the development of staff within the reporting line structure.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

What You Should Know

This is a hybrid work opportunity requiring some weekend and evening hours.

What We Can Offer

The starting salary range for this position is $95,000-$104,000 annually. Onboarding assistance may be provided as determined by the Student Life guidelines.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be supportive. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Master’s degree in higher education administration or related field.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
• 6 years of professional job-related experience, including:
• Program planning, assessment, and budget formulation
• Experience working directly with first-generation students
• Experience with budget and financial management
• Experience hiring, evaluating, supervising, and training staff
• Experience with providing high-impact campus-wide, culturally engaging educational programs
  

What You Will Need

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and student development skills to interact effectively with an increasingly diverse array of students, parents, faculty, alumni, and constituents of the University.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals and groups from a variety of identities, cultures, and backgrounds.
• Proven ability to develop, coach, supervise, and manage professional staff.
• Proven record of creating strong working relationships, advising students and student organizations, developing programs, and coordinating and facilitating workshops.
• Creativity, ability to navigate ambiguity, resourcefulness, initiative, and a high degree of motivation.
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills.
• Availability/flexibility to work evenings and weekends.
  
  

What We Would Like You To Have

• Terminal degree in higher education administration or related field.
• 6 years of relevant full-time professional experience in post-secondary education administration, including professional experience in program planning, assessment, budget formulation, staff supervision, and decision-making.
• Leadership experience in retention program development, diversity programming/education, and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience in understanding issues and trends in higher education programs that focus on the retention needs of low-income first-generation, historically underrepresented, and underserved college students.
• 5 years of post-bachelor experience with campus-wide programming and advising first-generation and/or underrepresented students.
  
  

Special Instructions

To Apply, Please Submit The Following Materials

• A current resume.
• A cover letter that briefly describes how your background and experience align with this position.
  
  

We may request references at a later time.

Please apply by January 4, 2026 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.