Job Details

Temporary Operations Assistant

Position Number: 7104455
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Other Administrative Positions

Temporary Operations Assistant

Requisition Number: 71557
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Temporary Staff
Schedule: Part Time
Posting Close Date: 30-Apr-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) invites applications for two Temporary Operations Assistant positions. The selected candidate(s) will be key members of the administrative team at INSTAAR. These roles will provide assistance with front office processes, collaborating with Front Office Leadership and the INSTAAR Director on a variety of tasks while helping INSTAAR achieve its inclusion goals.

We expect to fill up to two roles through this posting:

Position 1: Is expected to last up to two months, depending on office need. This position will primarily assist with travel reimbursements related to an INSTAAR-hosted conference.

Position 2: Is expected to last up to seven months, depending on office need. This position will support the Operations Coordinator in all their tasks, including event planning/support, meeting management, property reviews, etc.
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.

Who We Are

As the University's oldest institute, INSTAAR has a long history of responding to pressing environmental issues including climate change. Our traditional focus has been on alpine, Arctic, and Antarctic regions, where effects of global change are especially pronounced. In recent decades, our research has broadened to include environmental challenges that span local, regional, and global scales. INSTAAR's research activities integrate field studies, innovative laboratory experiments, sample analysis, and numerical and laboratory modeling. Our field sites are located across all seven continents and the world's oceans.

Our expertise across disciplines helps us generate influential science that can inform public and policy decisions and move us toward a more sustainable society. INSTAAR's national and international research leadership is augmented by exceptional strength in graduate education and bringing undergraduates into the research process.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Support the INSTAAR finance team with processing reimbursements and expense reconciliation.
Provide front desk office support as needed, including greeting and supporting guests in person, on the phone, or via email.
Provide event planning support, including day-of coordination of room setup, catering, and speaker logistics.
Track office inventory and general operation needs, including shipping and parking related tasks.
Participate in institute-wide administrative improvement projects (i.e. workflow designs and process improvements).
Support the Operations Coordinator in all front office tasks.

What You Should Know

Position 1 (2 months): This is a hybrid position with 2 days per week in the office with flexibility for start time and some remote work hours.

Position 2 (7 months): This position will be primarily on-site with 4 days per week in the office and flexibility for the start time and remote work hours during the summer. During the fall semester, more work hours will be on-site to support events and meeting attendance.

What We Can Offer

The pay range for this position is $23.00-$25.00/hour.

Benefits

Temporary positions at the University of Colorado are not benefits-eligible, however, all positions are eligible for paid sick leave.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree and 2+ years of related experience.
An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may substitute.

What You Will Need

Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of professionals, administrators and students.
Ability to maintain effective and professional relationships with staff and community members.
Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and work independently.
Ability to thrive in a team and within other collaborative work situations.
Proficiency with creating and maintaining spreadsheets.
Proficiency with electronic file management.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

A current resume.
A cover letter.

You will not be asked to upload references at this time. Please apply by April 30, 2026 for consideration. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Temporary-Operations-Assistant/71557