Travel Specialist, CIRES

Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) is encouraging applications for a Travel Specialist to join our Finance team! This position facilitates research by providing high‑quality travel support to CIRES faculty, research personnel, and administrative staff, and ensures compliance by advising on complex aspects of travel policies and procedures. This position collaborates with CU’s central offices (Office of Contracts and Grants, Campus Controller’s Office, Research and Innovation Office, the Procurement Service Center, Risk Management, etc.)

to coordinate the Finance Office’s research administration services which encompass all financial aspects of sponsored and non‑sponsored funding for the Institute.

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.

At CIRES, the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, more than 900 people work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with the planet. An institute at the University of Colorado Boulder, we have partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) since 1967. Our areas of expertise include weather and climate, wildfire and water, changes at Earth’s poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more.

Our researchers work in 10 CU Boulder departments and eight NOAA laboratories and centers.

Our mission:
Conduct innovative research that advances our understanding of the global, regional, and local environments and the human relationship with those environments, for the benefit of society.

Our vision: CIRES is an international leader in conducting cross‑cutting environmental research of the highest quality while bridging fundamental science and service to society. We build leaders, scientists, communicators, and teams dedicated to developing sound and trusted information to address environmental challenges. We embrace a positive and inclusive culture, recognizing that CIRES thrives when our people do.

• Ensure compliance in all aspects of travel policies and procedures and serve as the authority and single point of contact for researching, interpreting and advising on complex policies and procedures.
• Maintain a complete and up‑to‑date understanding of the Office of Management and Budget’s Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, the Fly America Act and other travel regulations and ordinances.
• Review, evaluate and approve travel requests in InsideCIRES, Concur, and via email. Prepare travel reconciliation and expense reimbursements in compliance with all travel policies and procedures and sponsored project funding regulations.
• Manage a central email inbox with all members of the CIRES Travel team. Respond to emails in a timely manner, and completely, in support of CIRES researchers.
• Review and approve Travel Card Applications.
• Assist travelers and staff with questions, including, but not limited to, issues involving international travel, non‑employee travel, meal per diem, other travel costs, and personal travel. Work with the CIRES Travel team to refine processes, research federal, state, and university policies, and communicate policy or process changes throughout the institute.

• As the CIRES expert on Travel laws and regulations, maintain CIRES intranet pages with up‑to‑date travel policy and procedures along with helpful resources for travelers.
• Assist with ad hoc reporting and review related to travel expenditures.

After an initial training period, this position offers a hybrid work modality with Tuesday & Wednesday being in‑office days.

The annual hiring range for this…