Requisition Number:
66543
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
City
Boulder
State
Colorado
Employment Type:
University Staff
Schedule:
Full-Time
Posting Close Date:
21-Aug-2025
Date Posted:
07-Aug-2025

JOB SUMMARY

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Sustainability encourages applications for The Director of Sustainability position! Under supervision of the Vice Chancellor for Sustainability, this role is responsible for helping advance sustainability related efforts for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Sustainability at the University of Colorado Boulder. This includes managing sustainability certifications, classifications and accreditations for the University of Colorado Boulder. The primary focus is the administration of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability, which is an emerging system for Colleges and Universities in the US to gain recognition for their commitment and leadership in sustainability and climate action. The Director builds and maintains relationships with the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation to shape and launch a new elective classification for sustainability. This includes leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the framework by coordinating partner engagement (including collaborating with over 25 pilot and observer institutions), refining methodology and evaluation tools, and managing the operational and administrative infrastructure to support broad institutional participation and impact. The Director will also lead the effort of CU Boulder applying for the Sustainability Elective in its inaugural year.
Additionally, the Director helps institutional efforts to maintain and advance STARS accreditation, supporting campus climate action, aligning data collection and reporting measures following the program’s standard processes. This position will play a critical role in CU Boulder’s goal of achieving STARS Platinum status by implementing gap assessments, coordinating cross-functional collaboration, and driving continuous improvements across the campus’ sustainability performance metrics.
Background: CU Boulder, in support of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education (ACE), will host the new Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability. The Carnegie Classification® has been the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education for the past four and a half decades. Starting in 1970, the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed a classification of colleges and universities to support its program of research and policy analysis. This framework has been widely used in the study of higher education, both as a way to represent and control for institutional differences, and also in the design of research studies to ensure adequate representation of sampled institutions, students, or faculty.
The ideal candidate will be able to work independently and in a team environment. Candidate should be dedicated, have a strong attention to detail, a team orientation, outstanding communication skills, and a strong interest in leader development in higher education.
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 Office of the Vice Chancellor for Sustainability manages a campus-wide sustainability portfolio by coordinating strategic alliances and research partnerships, championing academic collaborations and student sustainability activities, advising on campus operations and the implementation of the CU Boulder Climate Action Plan, integrating the best research practices and Indigenous knowledge into campus planning and design, and playing a lead role in sustainability-related communications, events, and fundraising priorities.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

This position is expected to work in a hybrid format with some in-person and some remote work as prioritized by the business needs of the office.

Lead Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability:

• Manage relationships with ACE and the Carnegie Foundation to advance classification framework
• Develop and Refine the Classification Framework: Lead the design and refinement of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability rubric, incorporating pilot feedback, research, and collaborator input.
• Coordinate Collaborator Engagement: Facilitate interviews, focus groups, and advisory committee meetings with participating institutions, sustainability organizations, and workforce development partners.
• Manage Pilot and Review Processes: Oversee the pilot cohort’s participation, including application guidance, peer review logistics, and the delivery of individualized feedback reports.
• Support Inclusive and Accessible Participation: Ensure the framework is adaptable to a wide range of institutions, including MSIs, community colleges, rural, and under-resourced campuses.
• Administer Evaluation Tools and Indicators: Develop indicators, scoring criteria, and evaluation procedures, and establish a transparent, tiered peer-review process.
• Support Communications and Outreach: Develop and implement communication strategies—including events, workshops, website content, and outreach campaigns—to build awareness and engagement.
• Build and Maintain Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with higher education associations, sustainability networks, and advisory bodies to align with complementary frameworks (e.g., STARS®, UN SDGs).
• Ensure Continuous Improvement and Reporting: Track program performance, analyze institutional data, and produce regular reports to guide continuous improvement and accountability.
• Coordinate CU Boulder’s Application for the Elective: Coordinate CU Boulder’s own application for the elective maintaining transparency and integrity, ensuring a clear separation between internal application efforts and external review responsibilities