UCAR Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Visa Sponsored Job: No

Relocation Assistance Eligible: No

Job Location: Boulder, Colorado

Position Type: Full time, Regular

Compensation Range: Salary Range: $183,265 - $229,080

Final date to receive applications: This position will be posted until 11:59:59 pm MT on Friday, January 23, 2026. Applications will not be accepted past this date.

Required application materials (preferably in PDF Format):

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Background checks are conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more.

Work Location Expectations: This position is open to candidates seeking in-person, hybrid (combination of 3 days in-person and 2 days of remote), or fully remote opportunities. UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories. CPAESS staff deployed to federal agencies must abide by their respective federal agency requirements concerning remote/flexible work arrangements.

UCAR is seeking a Deputy Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our team to provide enterprise-level leadership for UCAR’s operational infrastructure, ensure the effective, compliant, and resilient delivery of services that support UCAR’s federally funded research mission. Reporting to the COO, this senior executive will help shape operational strategy and translate organizational priorities into coordinated, high-performing operations spanning facilities, infrastructure, centralized services, and administrative functions.

The Deputy COO will play a critical role in advancing operational excellence, strengthening governance and risk management, and ensuring organizational readiness within a complex and evolving federal funding environment.

The Deputy COO will assist the COO oversee a complex operational portfolio focused on financial stewardship, risk management, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. This role will lead organizational change initiatives, ensure operational readiness in a dynamic federal funding environment, and serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership and UCAR’s Board of Trustees. The position will require skill and experience navigating evolving federal requirements while maintaining operational excellence and supporting the COO across the full scope of enterprise operations.

Operating with significant independence, the Deputy COO will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, strong emotional intelligence, and executive presence. The role requires sound judgment in managing high-impact operational, financial, and reputational decisions while engaging effectively with stakeholders at all levels. The ideal candidate will have a proven record of thriving in rapidly evolving environments, proactively identifying emerging issues and operational improvements, and leading cross-functional teams to advance strategic initiatives.

• Lead development and implementation of enterprise-level strategic initiatives aligned with UCAR’s mission and organizational goals.
• Establish cross-functional governance structures to drive strategic priority-setting, resource allocation, and operational alignment across all Laboratory, Center, Program, and Office (LCPO) functions.
• Develop and monitor performance metrics that assess operational effectiveness, strategic progress, and organizational risk.
• Integrate risk identification and mitigation into strategic planning and decision-making processes.

• Lead enterprise-wide process improvement initiatives that enhance operational performance, cost efficiency, and compliance through stakeholder engagement, satisfaction surveys, and data-driven analysis.
• Design and implement operational workflows that improve quality, timeliness, consistency, and risk management across the organization.
• Establish, monitor, and report on enterprise-wide key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure operational impact and inform evidence-based recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Direct change management efforts including stakeholder engagement,…