Job Details

Operations & Events Coordinator, Sustainability Research Initiative (SRI)

Position Number: 7188712
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Conference and Events Administration

Operations & Events Coordinator, Sustainability Research Initiative (SRI)

Requisition Number: 72276
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 01-Jun-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Sustainability Research Initiative (SRI) is looking for an Operations & Events Coordinator to serve as the central operations and events lead for our initiative. This role is for a motivated person who can manage and pivot between back-end financial administration and front-facing event production. We need someone to track projects and organize SRI events, while simultaneously building the logistical and communicative bridges that connect our researchers to each other, the Boulder community, and beyond. This role offers the opportunity to be the operational lead for a growing initiative that values epistemic humility, systems thinking, and genuine community impact.
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 SRI at the University of Colorado Boulder was established in 2025 to harness the collective expertise of the university's diverse academic community and address pressing sustainability issues in Colorado and across the nation. CU Boulder is uniquely positioned to be a sustainability research leader, with relevant expertise across many disciplines and a strong innovation pipeline.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Event Production & Logistics

End-to-End Planning: Lead planning for SRI programming, including the "Sustainability on Tap" series, SRI Fellowship meetings, and the inaugural Sustainability Research Summit slated for fall 2026.

Workshop & Webinar Management: Coordinate and schedule events (e.g., workshops, seminars, grant planning meetings), manage venues, virtual platforms, catering, and guest speaker travel/honorariums.
Retreat Facilitation: Plan and implement off-site retreats for staff, advisors, and fellows, managing everything from location scouting to internal communication and agenda support.

Community Engagement & Communications

Outreach & Partnerships: Act as the primary contact for external communications, including with event venues and community partners. Provide logistical support for campus and community members interested in collaborating with SRI.
Strategic Communications: Build SRI's communication capacity by ensuring our research and events are effectively promoted to the campus and the broader community.
Speaker Coordination: Manage a diverse range of speakers, being responsible for the administrative lifecycle, from initial invitation and gathering information about speakers to contracts and honorarium processing.

Financial & Administrative Operations

Expense & Procurement Management: Manage the SRI procurement card; draft, submit, and validate expense reports while ensuring strict compliance with CU Boulder financial policies.
Financial Tracking: Maintain detailed logs of initiative spending and reconcile budgets against outcomes to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency.

Impact Tracking

Data Collaboration: Work with the SRI Analyst to maintain and analyze event metrics, including attendance trends, venue capacity, and participant satisfaction to inform future strategic decisions.

What You Should Know

The work schedule will consist of traditional business hours (8:00am-5:00pm on weekdays), with occasional requests for evening and/or weekend event staffing.
This position offers a hybrid format with some in-person and some remote work as prioritized by the business needs of the office.

What We Can Offer

The annual hiring range for this position is $60,000-$75,000.

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 ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree and one year of relevant professional experience in event coordination, operations, project coordination, or administrative roles within a complex organization.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

What You Will Need

Knowledge of event planning and logistical coordination for in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats.
Knowledge of administrative and financial processes in a regulated environment.
Knowledge of standard office software and tools, including calendaring, spreadsheets, and virtual meeting platforms.
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and professionally in both written and verbal formats.
Effective time-management skills with the ability to prioritize competing demands.
Skill in maintaining accurate records and documentation.
Customer-service and relationship-management skills when working with internal and external partners.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet timelines.
Ability to balance meticulous administrative work with front-facing event and coordination responsibilities.
Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and community partners.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities in a growing initiative and operate effectively in ambiguous situations.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

A current resume.
A cover letter. Please share a 1-page cover letter highlighting your interest in working with the Sustainability Research Initiative (SRI) as well as your experience with events logistics, project management, and communications.

We may request references at a later time.

Please apply by 6/1/26 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply 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.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Operations-Events-Coordinator-Sustainability-Research-Initiative-SRI/72276