Assistant Director of Budget and Financial Planning

Assistant Director of Budget and Financial Planning

Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 STEM-focused research university focused on applied science and engineering, located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Mines' talented graduates and faculty bring knowledge and solutions to serve industry and benefit society. Mines is seeking an Assistant Director of Budget and Financial Planning to partner with executive leadership, faculty, and staff in advancing the university's mission through data-informed financial planning, resource allocation, and decision support.

The Office of Finance, Administration and Operations (FA&O) provides critical support to our mission and strategic initiatives while managing $325 million in operating activity, stewarding $1 billion in assets, and supporting 1650 faculty and staff. Within FA&O, the Budget and Financial Planning department provides oversight of the institution's operating and capital funding. This position reports to the Director of Budget and Financial Planning and is responsible for institutional budget development, financial forecasting, resource planning, variance analysis, and executive financial reporting.

The Assistant Director of Budget and Financial Planning supports Academic Affairs and Research areas while being charged with building a team that is both technically strong and focused on providing high-quality service to faculty and other campus partners. The leader is responsible for onboarding and training staff, complying with budget management practices, and ensuring transparent communications within the team, across FA&O and with the broader university.

This position is responsible for ensuring that business processes and practices are efficient and effective, optimizing available technology and proactively considering campus needs. Embedded in these responsibilities, the Assistant Director is responsible for conducting financial analysis, preparing financial reports, and conducting ongoing assessments of the financial health of the areas they support, providing insights and recommendations to inform strategic decision-making and resource allocation.

The position leverages emerging technologies, automation, and appropriate AI-enabled tools to improve business processes, reporting capabilities, and operational efficiency while maintaining institutional data integrity. This position may be eligible for hybrid work in Colorado and requires two or more days per week on campus in Golden, Colorado. Onboarding for this position includes introduction and integration with academic and research campus partners.

It will involve training on policies and procedures, as well as technical training on the systems and technology required for this role. The onboarding period may require additional on-campus days per week.

Budget Formulation & Resource Allocation

• Lead and coordinate key university budget processes in partnership with the Director, including annual operating budget development, implementation, monitoring, and fiscal year analysis.
• Oversee financial planning and analysis across complex funding sources, including General, Designated, Auxiliary, Restricted, and Endowment funds.
• Partner with financial and operations departments to ensure effective planning of financial and personnel resources.

Financial Analysis & Long-Range Planning

• Develop and maintain sophisticated, multi-year financial forecasting models to evaluate the long-term sustainability of university initiatives and support strategic planning.
• Assess the financial health of the areas they support, providing insights and recommendations to inform strategic decision-making and resource allocation.
• Conduct sensitivity analyses and scenario planning regarding institutional revenues, enrollment fluctuations, state funding changes, sustainable auxiliary units, and research infrastructure investments.

Reporting & Systems

• Prepare and present executive-level financial analyses, dashboards, forecasts, and recommendations for senior leadership and the Board of Trustees.
• Provide campus reporting and analysis by utilizing and developing operational, variance, and…