Job Details

Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Senior Director for Science

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder invites nominations and applications for the newly created position of Senior Director for Science. The development of the position provides a unique opportunity to help define the future of one of the world’s premier space research institutions.

As a key member of the laboratory’s executive leadership team, reporting directly to the Director of LASP, the Senior Director for Science will shape LASP’s long-term scientific vision, champion emerging research frontiers, cultivate scientific excellence across a multidisciplinary community, and help position the laboratory to lead the next generation of transformative discoveries and missions.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory-Level Scientific Leadership

• Foster a vibrant multi-disciplinary and inclusive scientific community of researchers within LASP’s science division.
• Provide strategic leadership for the scientific direction of LASP and advise the Director on all matters related to scientific institutional positioning.
• Define, articulate, and implement LASP’s long-term scientific vision.
• Enable institutional strategy that ensures continued competitiveness in major research programs and space missions.
• Guide the direction of major proposals, new research initiatives, and investment in capability development, including identification of LASP-internal leaders for these.
• Oversee tenure-track faculty lines, including recruitment, retention, promotion, and salary structures, working with the Director.
• Establish policies affecting the scientific workforce and oversee their implementation, such as hiring, evaluation, and promotion.
• Make staffing decisions that provide leadership structure for the Science Division and oversight for LASP’s faculty, researchers, postdoctoral scholars, and science students.
• Facilitate cross-divisional collaboration across LASP’s science, technical and operational teams.
• Provide guidance to scientific teams facing leadership or organizational challenges.
• Collaborate with divisional assistant directors to provide structures and policies that foster mentorship, growth, and career opportunities for LASP scientists.
• Execute their own scientific research program with excellence.

External Scientific Leadership and Representation

• Work closely with the Director to promote and advocate for LASP’s scientific mission and programs, representing LASP science in interactions with university leadership, industry, federal agencies, and national and international scientific communities.
• Strengthen LASP’s leadership within the national and international space science community.
• Shape national and international scientific agendas through leadership and participation in panels, advisory bodies, and public-facing communications.
• Support the Director in serving as one of LASP’s primary scientific representatives to NASA, NOAA, NSF, and federal agencies; National Academies panels and advisory bodies; international space agencies and global research partners; and commercial and philanthropic partners.
• Promote the participation of LASP scientists in national and international leadership, identifying opportunities and providing mentoring.
• Strengthen collaborations with CU Boulder departments, institutes, and external research organizations.

Plus other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., atmospheric science, planetary science, solar physics, space physics, or related fields).
• An internationally recognized record of scientific achievement and research leadership.
• Leadership of major research programs, mission science teams, or research organizations.
• Demonstrated success in scientific leadership, mentorship, and team development.
• >10 years’ experience with large interdisciplinary collaborations and complex research initiatives.
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication of science at expert and layperson levels.

Preferred

• Scientific expertise in multiple of LASP’s scientific and technical disciplines.
• Prior experience in senior leadership roles within research institutes, universities, or space mission organizations.
• Experience interacting with federal research agencies such as NASA, NOAA or NSF.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute long-term scientific strategy.
• Experience managing faculty or research scientist career-track systems.
• Strong commitment to fostering a multi-disciplinary and inclusive scientific community.