Associate Director for Programs and Operations, Center Research and Innovative Solutions

CHRIS Associate Director For Programs And Operations

The Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions (CHRIS) at the University of Denver (DU) is the first center of its kind in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West — an interdisciplinary hub for housing research, data, policy evaluation, and education. Bringing together expertise in real estate, land use law, public policy, and social sciences, CHRIS produces rigorous, nonpartisan research spanning the full housing continuum — from deeply affordable to market-rate, rental to home ownership — with a focus on production and preservation, affordability, and resilience.

CHRIS applies innovative research methods, policy tools, and technologies, including in emerging areas like industrialized construction, to expand whats possible for how housing is built, financed, accessed, and preserved. Through policy evaluation, comparative research, and market analytics, CHRIS translates evidence into practical, forward-looking solutions for policymakers, practitioners, and communities, while building regional data infrastructure that strengthens housing decision-making across Colorado and the region.

CHRIS also advances the next generation of housing leaders through research training, applied learning opportunities, and executive education for practitioners and policymakers.

The Associate Director for Programs and Operations serves as CHRISs operational backbone, providing senior-level leadership across financial management, administration, communications and events, and the relationship-building work that connects CHRIS to its faculty, advisory bodies, students, and educational programs. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this position is essential to CHRISs ability to function as an effective, well-run organization during a period of rapid growth — building the internal systems, and infrastructure that allow the Centers research and policy work to move forward, while also helping sustain the relationships CHRIS depends on with its advisory bodies, partner schools, and students.

This is a broad, hands-on role spanning roughly 50% financial, administrative, and operational responsibilities; 25% communications and events; and 25% relationship and program management, including support for CHRIS's advisory bodies, its role in the DU Executive Certificate in Affordable Housing, and student and graduate assistant engagement. The Associate Director will initially work closely with CHRISs interim support partners — the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab (Colorado Lab), Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute (RMLUI), and Burns School of Real Estate Management — to assume responsibilities and functions currently being provided on an interim basis, including budget tracking and grant compliance, HR and hiring logistics, and communications and events.

This transition may happen incrementally, and CHRIS expects to continue relying on these partners for higher-level systems work and support even after this position is filled and fully trained.

Length of position is dependent on gift/grand funding availability.

Financial Management & Grants Administration:
Manage day-to-day budget tracking, payment processing, and expense report reconciliation for CHRIS; support the Executive Director in developing and monitoring annual budgets, financial policies, and expense forecasts. Track and reconcile multiple grant and gift sources; support timely and compliant funder reporting; assist with grant proposal preparation, budget development, and post-award administration, including tracking deliverables and deadlines. Serve as a point of contact with DUs Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) on grant administration, compliance, and contracting matters, in…