Engineering a world of possibilities

Mines is seeking an Assistant Director for the MEP department to support the academic, personal, and professional success of students in our community, contributing to a meaningful and lasting impact on their college experience.

In this key role, you’ll work closely with campus partners to empower students thrive academically and professionally. You’ll plan and lead innovative programs, advise student organizations, support outreach and student success efforts, and contribute to initiatives that assist with the recruitment and retention of students from a range of backgrounds, including first-generation college students, nontraditional students, those most in need of access, and those looking for community.

The successful candidate will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and experience working directly with students fostering welcoming and supportive environments. This role offers a dynamic work environment with a variety of competing priorities, providing an exciting opportunity for those who thrive in fast-paced, ever-changing settings. This work is done primarily on campus in Golden, Colorado. Occasional weekend and after-hours work may be required to support student events and programs.

About the Department

MEP at Colorado School of Mines has been a cornerstone of community, support, and belonging for students since its establishment in 1989. Rooted in a mission to recruit, retain, and graduate students who are first-generation, are most in need of access, and are looking for community, MEP is dedicated to creating an environment where every student feels seen, supported, and valued.

Through a holistic approach, we focus on student success by providing meaningful opportunities for all members of our community—students, faculty, and staff alike. As a central piece of this work, MEP is proud to support a vibrant network of professional societies and student organizations that are focused on community, including AISES, Kickstart, NSBE, oSTEM, SASE, SHPE, and Roots. These groups help create spaces for connection, growth, and empowerment and play a critical role in developing leadership skills while also providing community for students to navigate their academic journeys with confidence. Above all, MEP serves as a home away from home—a welcoming community where students find belonging, build relationships, and are supported on their journey to thrive both academically and personally. Everything we do is centered on ensuring students understand they matter and that their lived experiences enhance the STEM fields they will one day work in.

MEP maintains a community of support through many partnerships and advocacies, some of which include the following opportunities for MEP students: academic support, undergraduate research opportunities, summer bridge programming, K12 efforts, graduate school pathway partnerships, Foundation and advancement efforts, industry connections, and professional development programs. MEP is an environment of collaboration, support, and shared leadership where programming and culture positively impact and engage our community of students.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage the Challenge Summer Bridge Program for first-generation students:
  • Serve as lead in planning, implementing, and assessing the five-week Challenge summer bridge program, including pre-program and post-program communications with students and their families, as well as overseeing on-site summer classes, workshops, and activities.
  • Engage in regular communications with campus support departments during planning and implementation of the program, organize summer classes, tutoring, and activities for bridge students, and conduct regular check-ins with bridge students throughout the program.
  • Create a culture of welcome, enthusiasm, and support centered on a positive student experience. Build and manage ongoing support for bridge students, including student advising throughout the academic year.
  • Work closely with the Director to manage budget of program, assess Challenge applicants, review academic performance of participants, and assess program outcomes.
• Oversee MEP community-based student organizations:
  • Foster positive relationships with student leaders in the student orgs named above, actively engage in organization meetings and conferences, collaborate with organization advisors, and provide advocacy for both students individually and their organizations collectively.
  • Oversee budgetary accounts and compliance requirements through strong working relationships with departments external to MEP, including the office of Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership. Develop semester Leadership Retreats, collaborate on events, such as for history and heritage months, and foster strong working relationships with external partners.
• Manage and work collaboratively with MEP Coordinator on student programs, events, and workshops:
  • Lead activities for student organizations, industry partners and students who may be first-year, first-generation, transfer, graduate, and alumni. This may include planning, coordination, oversight, implementation, and assessment of programming outcomes for MEP’s Graduation Banquet, Welcome Back BBQ, Student Leadership Retreats, Student Transfer Excellence Program (STEP), Introduction to Research in Science and Engineering (I-RISE) program, Industry Mixers, Authentically Me Speaker Series, Grad School and Undergraduate Research Weeks, as well as newly developed programming as needed.
• Advise MEP students:
  • Provide academic achievement and professional development advising for MEP students. Engage students with high-impact, asset-based practices that honor their capital. Use a holistic, student-centered approach and build great rapport.
• Department Management and Engagement:
  • Oversee the day-to-day functions of MEP House, which may include but are not limited to hiring and supervising MEP student staff and/or graduate interns, MEP House management, MEP email account, MEP Newsletter, and MEP social media.
  • Build relationships with departments across campus to help MEP have a visible presence for students outside of MEP House and also create opportunities for external departments to engage with MEP students. Foster a welcoming and supportive environment and set a positive tone for all students. This also includes general office and event supply ordering, document keeping, budgeting, general phone communication, and/or other duties as assigned.
  • Manage MEP scholarships, workshop development and delivery, data collection and assessment, serve on advisory committees, conduct student meet and greets, and general tabling at partner events.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree from an accredited institution of higher education in general education, student development/affairs, higher education, counseling, advising, teaching, sociology, or a related field. Experience directly related to this work may be substituted for the advanced degree on a year for year basis.

• Four years direct experience engaging and supporting students most in need of educational and professional access, including but not limited to first generation students and/or non-traditional students.
• Proven experience building positive relationships with, and effectively supporting the needs and interests of students and their communities. This includes exceling at creating positive first impressions and establishing lasting connections with students, fostering a welcoming environment that encourages their continued engagement.
• Demonstrated experience providing advising, workshops, engagement, teaching, or leadership and direction to a variety of students from an asset lens that also honors their lived experiences.
• Demonstrated leadership skills including self-driven goal-setting, strategic planning, problem-solving, decision-making, and collaborative skills.
• Successful programmatic and event planning experience, including resource management and budgeting.
• Experience and knowledge in working with a variety of communities with an understanding of student’s lived experiences, and demonstrated experience using these values to guide your work.
• Experience effectively working on teams, building positive working relationships, managing people, and partnership development, including experience working collaboratively on goals.
• Excellent oral, written communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated experience providing excellent customer service in a student-facing role.
• Flexibility in a varied schedule during events and programming to include after-hours and weekend hours 

Salary and Benefits

$66,700 - $70,000 annual salary range
Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

How to Apply

Applicants must:

• Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status)
• Upload a resume or CV
• Upload a cover letter: Please include in your cover letter your professional philosophy related to serving a variety of students from different backgrounds and provide example(s) of how this manifests in your work.

Application review will begin April 25, 2025. For best consideration, please apply by April 24, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. as applications received after that date may not be reviewed.

It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities to promote diversity and inclusion at Mines. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at  hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance.

Successful Completion of a Background Investigation is Required for this Position.

About Mines & Golden, CO

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 38 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2023).

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students.

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that’s manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 “Very High Activity” research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.

That size – roughly 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students – also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued and everyone can make an impact.

Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, cultural awareness and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus – nationally-renowned speakers, special events and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few.

And don’t get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado --with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails – and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high-altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world’s problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a community where our individual perspectives and experiences enrich the educational and work experience?

Look to Mines.

Equal Opportunity

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons.  Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.

Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, affirmative action, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a diverse student body and workforce.

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequity or concerns for safety.

Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting