Assistant Vice Chancellor, KMCWR

The Kennedy Mountain Campus Wellness & Recreation department at the University of Denver (DU) is a vibrant and integrative unit that advances the universitys holistic 4D Experiencesupporting intellectual growth well-being character development and purposeful careers and lives. By bridging DUs urban and mountain campuses the department offers immersive wellness and recreational programs that cultivate personal growth resilience and meaningful community engagement.

At the heart of our urban campus the Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness fosters a championship culture grounded in excellence integrity and connection. Drawing inspiration from the spirit of the Rocky Mountain West our team embraces innovation and builds lasting relationships that serve as a vital link across DUs diverse community.

Nestled beside Roosevelt National Forest the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus spans 724 acres of breathtaking wilderness. This unique setting provides students with transformative nature-based learning experiences designed to deepen their connection to self others and the natural world. With a focus on leadership character development and holistic well-beingspanning social spiritual and physical dimensionsthe campus is a cornerstone of DUs commitment to experiential education.

Position Summary

The Assistant Vice Chancellor for James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus Wellness & Recreation (KMCWR) reports to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and serves as a key member of the divisions senior leadership team. The Assistant Vice Chancellor provides vision leadership and operational oversight for a multifaceted portfolio that includes the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus facilities operations events and outreach; DU Outdoors; and the Universitys wellness and recreation programs. Together these units advance student engagement health character development and well-being while also supporting auxiliary revenue generation that strengthens the University of Denvers mission and long-term sustainability.

The Assistant Vice Chancellor oversees a comprehensive portfolio of student-centered and revenue-generating initiatives. This includes responsibility for strategic planning budget management (approximately $10.0 million annually) capital improvements and revenue growth. The position also directs efforts in program design wellness education risk management and the professional development of a diverse team.

The Assistant Vice Chancellor collaborates with stakeholders across the University and external partners to align KMCWR programming with university-wide priorities such as the 4D Experience Student Success and Retention Advancement Admissions and University Relations.

The Assistant Vice Chancellor will coordinate and manage emergency situations and critical incidents on city and mountain campuses ensuring timely response effective communication and collaboration with division and university departments and external emergency services to maintain the safety and well-being of students faculty staff and guests.

This position summary is not designed to capture all activities duties or responsibilities required for this position. Responsibilities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time.

Essential Functions

Leadership & Strategy (25%)

• Strategic Leadership: Lead and oversee operations for Kennedy Mountain Campus Wellness & Recreation and DU Outdoors ensuring alignment with institutional goals and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
• University Representation: Represent the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs in university-wide planning efforts policy development and board of trustee subcommittees related to the Kennedy Mountain Campus.
• Business Planning: Develop implement and execute a multi-year strategic business plan that integrates with curricular and co-curricular initiatives ensuring alignment with student development and financial objectives.
• Performance Management: Establish annual goals for each business unit and monitor progress using key performance indicators (KPIs) ensuring continuous improvement and accountability.
  Kennedy Mountain Campus and DU Outdoors (25%)
• Provide strategic leadership for the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus Long-Term Plan focusing on expanding student engagement generating auxiliary revenue growth ($2MM) securing fundraising support and overseeing capital development initiatives.
• Develop and execute innovative outdoor and experiential learning programs that capitalize on DUs proximity to the Rocky Mountains enhancing student development and institutional distinctiveness.
• Lead the strategic growth of the DU Outdoors business unit with a focus on increasing student participation improving retention and aligning with broader university goals.
• Cultivate and maintain cross-campus partnerships with faculty and staff to integrate outdoor and experiential learning into academic curricula and co-curricular experiences.
• Ensure rigorous compliance with all risk management safety protocols and regulatory standards to support sustainable and responsible program delivery.

Wellness & Recreation (25%)

• Departmental Leadership: Provide supervision and mentorship to professional staff across key program and operational areas.
• Program Development & Delivery: Design and implement inclusive accessible and innovative wellness and recreation programs that cultivate community belonging and holistic student well-being.
• Facility & Resource Management: Oversee the scheduling maintenance and strategic utilization of Daniel L. Ritchie Center facilities ensuring safe welcoming and high-functioning environments.
• Campus & Community Partnerships: Foster collaborative relationships with internal and external partnerssuch as Athletics Academic Affairs and Community Partnersto embed wellness and recreation into broader institutional initiatives and student success strategies.
• Fiscal Stewardship: Manage departmental budgets revenue streams and long-term planning efforts to sustain high-quality services optimize resource allocation and support strategic growth.
• Assessment & Impact Measurement: Develop and monitor key performance indicators to evaluate program effectiveness student learning outcomes and the departments contribution to student health and success.
• Risk Management & Compliance: Ensure adherence to safety protocols risk management practices and relevant regulatory standards across all wellness and recreation operations.
  Stakeholder Engagement and Revenue Generation (20%)
• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with students faculty staff alumni and external partners to advance the mission and visibility of KMCWR.
• Lead the identification and development of innovative revenue streams sustainable business models and auxiliary enterprises that enhance financial resilience.
• Collaborate closely with the Advancement team and the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs to secure philanthropic investments in key institutional priorities including capital projects programs and endowment.

Other duties as assigned (5%)

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Knowledge

• Strategic planning organizational leadership and higher education administration
• Outdoor education experiential learning and student development theory
• Wellness and recreation programming facility operations and fiscal management
• Risk management regulatory compliance and performance assessment
• Fundraising auxiliary revenue generation and stakeholder engagement

Skills

• Visionary leadership and cross-functional team management
• Strategic business planning and KPI-driven performance evaluation
• Program design and implementation for diverse student populations
• Effective communication partnership cultivation and institutional representation
• Budgeting resource optimization and impact measurement

Abilities

• Align departmental initiatives with institutional goals and student success strategies
• Lead innovative outdoor wellness and experiential learning programs
• Foster inclusive environments that promote belonging and holistic well-being
• Build strategic relationships and secure philanthropic support
• Ensure safe compliant and high-quality service delivery across all units
• Awareness of capital project planning space utilization and facilities management in higher education.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Higher Education Administration Business Administration Outdoor Education Student Affairs or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in student affairs campus recreation outdoor education or related areas
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning program development and performance management
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex operations across multiple units
• Experience with budget development fiscal oversight and resource optimization
• Strong understanding of risk management safety protocols and regulatory compliance in outdoor and wellness environments
• Excellent communication collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to represent senior leadership in institutional planning and governance settings
• Demonstrated success in leading complex multi-stakeholder initiatives from strategic development through to execution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree in a relevant field
• Experience working in a university setting with outdoor education or experiential learning programs
• Familiarity with capital development fundraising and advancement strategies
• Demonstrated success in developing inclusive and accessible wellness and recreation programs
• Knowledge of student development theory and its application in co-curricular environments
• Experience with assessment tools and methodologies for measuring student outcomes and program impact
• Ability to cultivate strategic partnerships across academic and administrative units
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders and represent the division with professionalism and influence.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline

For consideration please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) October 27 2025.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number

The salary grade for the position is 16.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $140000-$160000.

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 candidates 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

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family or parental status pregnancy or related conditions national origin disability or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race color national origin ancestry age religion creed disability sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family and parental status pregnancy genetic information military enlistment or veteran status and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal state or local law regulation or ordinance in any of the Universitys 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; the Americans with Disabilities Act; 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; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers Rights (POWR) Act; and any other federal state and local laws regulations or ordinances that prohibit discrimination harassment and/or retaliation. For more information please see the University of Denvers NonDiscriminationStatement.

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