"Director of External Engagement, Sustainability"

Job Summary

The Office of Outreach and Community Engagement (OCE) is encouraging applications for a Director of External Engagement in Sustainability! This role is responsible for developing and managing the University of Colorado Boulder's relationships with external constituents on sustainability issues. This includes building partnerships, understanding public policy implications and opportunities, and engaging external constituents with relevant units within the university to create public impact. The position reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for External Partnerships (AVC) in the Chancellor's Office of Outreach and Community Engagement and serves as an embedded member of the Vice Chancellor for Sustainability's (VCS) team. The successful candidate will have strategic vision, strong collaboration skills, and expertise in sustainability engagement at local, state, and/or national levels.

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

The External Partnerships and State Engagement and Policy team within the Office of Outreach and Community Engagement identifies and develops strategic state, federal, industry and community partnerships to further CU Boulder's mission, and it partners with the CU System Office of Government Relations on state and federal policy priorities for the CU Boulder campus.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Relationship Management: Collaborate with the AVC and VCS to identify and engage with key external constituents, including NGOs, government agencies, and partner organizations, to build support for and align with sustainability goals.
• Partnership Development: Drive leadership in key partnerships, coalitions, and sustainability organizations to advance the university's strategic goals in sustainability.
• External engagement: Develop and complete event and engagement strategies supporting the university's sustainability goals.
• Project Management: Lead state engagement partnership projects in collaboration with AVC, VCS and relevant university partners to achieve sustainability public impact goals.
• Policy and Advocacy: Work with AVC and CU System office of government relations to understand public policy and regulatory environments at the local, state and federal levels and advise on positions and actions supporting University goals.
• Strategic Planning: Work towards the overall sustainability strategy by finding opportunities and risks, and ensure external engagement efforts are aligned with long-term institutional goals.

What You Should Know

This position offers a hybrid work modality.

What We Can Offer

The annual salary range for this full-time position is $125,000-$151,500.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree and 6+ years of relevant experience.

What You Will Need

• Ability to be both a self-starter and highly collaborative member or leader of a team. Great organizational skills.
• Leadership and Communication: Strong leadership, ability to think strategically, and outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Experience working with and influencing cross-functional teams to ensure consistent and effective external messaging and enable public impact.
• Project Management: Proven success in leading and managing complex projects.
• Political and Policy Acuity: Familiarity with policy and regulatory environments, with the ability to represent the university effectively to external constituents.
• Research and Analytical Skills: Strong research, analytical, and data-driven decision-making skills to inform strategy and measure impact.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Master's degree preferred in sustainability, public policy, communications, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in related field.
• Preferred to have a developed network of sustainability contacts and collaborators at the local, state of Colorado, and/or national level.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. A current resume.
2. A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.

We may request references at a later time.

Please apply by February 22, 2026 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply 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.