Program Assistant - Mechanical Engineering Department

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. Located in the foothills of the Rockies, a short walk from downtown Golden, Colorado, Mines campus is home to a close-knit community of change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers.

Not an engineer? No problem! Join the Mines team as a Program Assistant I in the Mechanical Engineering department, playing a key role in departmental event planning, program coordination, and administrative operations—including HR, payroll, and research support.

We offer a comprehensive portfolio of benefits to our classified workforce, including medical, dental, life, short and long-term disability plans, dependent tuition benefit, and retirement plans. Benefits begin the first of the month following your start date.

Other perks include:

• 13 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation and sick leave which starts accruing your first month!
• Free access to Mines varsity sporting events for you and 3 guests!

The Mechanical Engineering Department (ME) offers cutting-edge undergraduate and graduate programs, empowering almost 2,400 students to become leaders in engineering, research, and service. With a team of 50+ world-class faculty and a vibrant community of research experts, adjuncts, and visiting scholars, we’re driving breakthroughs in engineering and technology. The Mechanical Engineering Department prides itself on providing a challenging yet rewarding experience for students to develop as engineers, scholars and citizens.

The department has experienced unprecedented growth over the past five years and currently represents 37% of the Mines student body.

To meet the demands of our expansion, we seek a full-time Program Assistant I to allow us to continue delivering excellence. This vital role supports a wide range of administrative and clerical functions, including:

• Department events
• Graduate and undergraduate programs
• Hiring and payroll
• Research funding coordination

The Program Assistant will play a key role in event planning, program coordination, and administrative operations—including HR, payroll, and research support.

Key Responsibilities include:

Graduate Program Support

• Coordinate recruitment efforts and graduate events
• Manage teaching assistant hiring and payroll processes
• Provide administrative support for graduate student operations

Undergraduate Program Support

• Assist with course scheduling and room assignments
• Process student course changes
• Oversee hourly student budgets and course support funding
• Handle administrative and payroll actions

Department Event Planning & Execution

• Organize department events including seminars, guest speakers, recruiting activities, and community-building gatherings
• Manage logistics such as advertising, catering, travel arrangements, reimbursements, and guest support

Administrative Operations

• Support faculty with fund management
• Facilitate faculty ordering and purchasing
• Serve as building proctor, overseeing access and maintenance
• Track department space usage
• Manage website and social media content

Please note:

this position reports to campus Monday - Friday; 8:00 - 5:00

Residency Requirement:

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

Class Code & Classification

Description:

H4R1XX
PROGRAM ASSISTANT I

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience Only:

Four (4) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position, including work in communications, managing and organizing information, must be able to manage competing priorities, have familiarity with marketing and outreach (Experience must be clearly documented in the "Work History"…