The University of Colorado Boulder is taking bold steps to address today鈥檚 most pressing environmental challenges. A core component of this ambition is the newly established Sustainability Research Initiative (SRI), a strategic effort to advance research in sustainability and resilience.

CU Boulder is seeking an Executive Director for the SRI to accelerate the university's efforts to become a national leader in environmental resilience and听sustainability research.

The Executive Director will play a critical role in expanding CU Boulder鈥檚 sustainability research portfolio and guiding the strategic direction of the SRI. This new position will report directly to the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation and will maintain a close, dotted-line relationship with the inaugural Vice Chancellor for听Sustainability.

About the Sustainability Research Initiative (SRI)

The SRI is being established to support CU Boulder鈥檚 sustainability goals by fostering research across a broad spectrum of disciplines, as well as elevating the expertise and efforts of CU Boulder鈥檚 diverse academic departments, research centers, and institutes. The SRI will drive interdisciplinary research and innovation by uniting the university鈥檚 expertise in earth sciences, engineering, energy, environmental policy and ethics, business and more.

The initiative is a key part of CU Boulder鈥檚 long-term sustainability strategy, which includes reducing the university鈥檚 environmental footprint, promoting resilience, and addressing the most pressing global sustainability issues.

SRI Executive Director

The Executive Director will be instrumental in shaping the initiative鈥檚 future by its leading strategic development and operational management. This role will involve:

  • Strategic Leadership: Guiding the SRI听to align with CU Boulder鈥檚 overarching sustainability, environmental reslience听and climate action goals.
  • Partnership Development: Cultivating key internal and external partnerships with government agencies, industry leaders, academic institutions and philanthropic organizations to secure significant external funding for groundbreaking research, technology commercialization and deployment of sustainability solutions.
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Integrating diverse academic perspectives from CU Boulder鈥檚 colleges, institutes and research centers to foster a collaborative research environment that promotes innovative solutions to sustainability challenges.
  • Research Expansion: The Executive Director will create pathways for faculty and researchers to expand the impact of their sustainability research, enhancing the university鈥檚 statewide, national and global influence.

Join CU Boulder in driving sustainability innovation

If you are passionate about leading interdisciplinary research and collaboration to address the world鈥檚 most pressing environmental challenges, CU Boulder invites you to apply for the position of Executive Director of the Sustainability Research Initiative.