The Josef Korbel School seeks an energetic and experienced Assistant Director to manage the Bridging the Gap project components funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and housed at the Korbel School. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in day-to-day project direction, experience in grant management and funder relations, knowledge and education in a disciplinary field related to international affairs, and excellent written and oral communication skills. They will also be task-oriented and detail-conscious while able to appropriately prioritize and balance a complex overall workload. The position is central to the Korbel School’s ability to execute a major grant-funded initiative to advance engaged scholarship on a range of policy issues.

Founded in 2005, Bridging the Gap (BTG) is a multi-university, foundation-funded initiative dedicated to supporting and promoting policy-relevant research and connections between scholars and policymakers in international affairs. As of January 2023, BTG’s flagship grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York (a three-year budget, from January 2023–December 2025, of approximately $1.3 million) will be administered by the University of Denver’s (DU) Josef Korbel School of International Studies.

Position Summary

The BTG Assistant Director will have daily responsibility for all the activities specified under this grant, including but not limited to: the planning and execution of BTG programming, including workshops and events; financial and administrative management, including funder relations; outreach and communications; personnel oversight, including contracting; and ensuring full compliance with all DU, Korbel, and Carnegie Corporation policies, practices, and procedures. The Assistant Director will work under the supervision of the faculty principal investigator (the Director of the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy) for the BTG grant, as well as the Korbel School’s Dean’s team, the BTG leadership team, and BTG-affiliated faculty and fellows across the multi-university consortium, Korbel School institute and center staff, and DU central administration in order to ensure the successful management and execution of BTG’s Carnegie Corporation grant.

This position is supported by a grant through the end of 2025; continued employment beyond this date is contingent on Bridging the Gap securing additional funds to support its DU-based initiatives.

Essential Functions

• Direct day-to-day BTG operations related to the Carnegie Corporation grant, serving as the primary manager of the grant throughout the grant cycle and supporting grant execution to meet objectives.
• Serve as project liaison for grant officers at the Carnegie Corporation of New York; and understand the unique budget management rules of funders on all current grants, including compiling mid-cycle and end-of-cycle reports as requested.
• Advise BTG PI and members of the project leadership team on strategic priorities for appropriate execution of the grant and contribute to team discussions on ensuring smooth and innovative project execution.
• Coordinate BTG management with other elements of the overarching initiative housed and administered at other institutions and maintain relationships with Bridging the Gap programmatic partners to coordinate on programming, co-funding, and other joint initiatives.
• Manage outreach and communications, including serving as the main BTG point of contact with the BTG alumni and partner network.
• Advise BTG PI and members of the project team on budgeting at the proposal stage, applying knowledge of post-award systems and processes at DU.
• Manage and track grants and contracts using InfoEd Grants and other DU systems, liaising with Korbel and DU staff as necessary.
• Serve as the main point of contact in executing two in-person BTG workshops annually (International Policy Summer Institute and New Era Workshop) as well as ad hoc virtual programming and BTG programming at the annual International Studies Association Meeting.
• Design and disseminate conference and event materials for workshops based on guidance from the leadership team, including event announcements and publicity via website / social media channels and response to inquiries.
• Manage the application process for invitation-only events and, after participants are selected, handle all event-related communication and logistics with participants.
• Work with the BTG project leadership team on program agenda and content, including outreach to and communication with invited guests. Supervise BTG Fellows, including the DEI Fellow, in their programming and partnership-related roles.
• Serve as BTG point of contact for logistics regarding events with partnering host institutions. Plan and execute all event arrangements, including meeting facilities, meals, lodging, audiovisual equipment and operators, and transportation for all in-person events.
• Track event budgets, process invoices, and reconcile expenses, liaising with Korbel and DU staff as necessary.
• Manage all BTG financial processing (including contracts), BTG personnel planning, administration and compliance, and BTG operational and administrative dimensions related to the Carnegie Corporation grant.
• Track planned and committed expenditures and provide regular reports to BTG leadership; reconcile all Carnegie grant related BTG expenses on a monthly basis, maintaining accurate BTG internal budget tracking documents.
• Work with the Korbel finance team to process all invoices, payment requests, procurement requests, and reimbursements, and develop all individual and vendor contracts, ensuring compliance with Korbel and DU standards, rules, and procedures.
• Resolve all issues related to expenditures, budgets, grant closeouts, carryovers, etc.; and ensure proper fiscal year close, including all required records and files.
• Supervise part-time administrative staff and student employees and manage employee timecards.
• Coordinate and attend meetings and planning sessions related to any research endeavors.
• Receive and disseminate all submissions for the BTG book series to team editors and relay decisions to applicants.
• Serve as the primary point of contact to website designers, ensuring that the design and functionality of the BTG website fulfills the needs of the program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to prioritize and plan multiple complex project elements and meet deadlines.
• Extraordinary organizational skills and impeccable attention to detail.
• Strong initiative and ability to be self-motivated and directed.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with a diverse set of constituents in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and to provide strategic insight in a fast-paced educational setting.
• Ability to professionally represent BTG and the Korbel School to high-profile scholars, policymakers, and current and potential funders.
• Excellent writing and editorial skills.
• Ability to interpret and manipulate financial and budget data for use in general reporting.
• Excellent skills in word processing, spreadsheet and database management.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field or equivalent.
• Three years of relevant previous experience, including at least one year in a project management role.
• Experience in event planning, including publicity and application management, handling communication on behalf of the organization with participants, and making travel arrangements for participants.
• Experience in budget and financial management
• Experience in grant writing, tracking, reporting, and management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Outlook, and Google applications as well as the willingness to learn new systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven skills in current engagement with and outreach to relevant network and stakeholders.
• Experience developing publications, communications and marketing materials, including contact databases, websites, and social media campaigns.
• Knowledge of Banner Financial System and InfoEd Grants System.
• Experience working with Event Management Software (e.g., 25Live).

Working Environment

1. Standard office environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often, and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.

Work Schedule

University operating hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Work schedule may vary.

Application Deadline

For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) April 7, 2023.

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 11.

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $70,000-$80,000.

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. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans 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; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; 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; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non‑discrimination‑statement.

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