Job Summary
Vision
The inaugural Vice Chancellor for Economic Development will
position CU Boulder as Colorado's indispensable partner for
innovation, economic competitiveness, and societal impact—the
campus that state leaders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, community leaders,
and major philanthropists turn to first to help shape the state's
future.
By building transformational partnerships and attracting strategic
investment, the Vice Chancellor will ensure that CU Boulder's
excellence in research and education translates into stronger
industries, thriving communities, expanded opportunity for
Coloradans, and enduring prosperity. Every partnership secured will
strengthen the university's existing research, innovation,
education, and outreach enterprises, amplifying their impact rather
than creating parallel structures.
Position Summary
The University of Colorado Boulder seeks an outstanding,
entrepreneurial leader to serve as its inaugural Vice Chancellor
for Economic Development, the campus' principal external-facing
relationship builder and strategic negotiator for large-scale
corporate investment, statewide economic competitiveness, talent
development, translation of CU Boulder research and expertise into
societal impact, and philanthropic partnership.
Reporting directly to the Chancellor and serving on the
Chancellor's Cabinet, the Vice Chancellor leads CU Boulder's
engagement with corporate leaders, state government, communities
across Colorado, and philanthropic partners on initiatives of
sufficient scale to require the Chancellor's office at the
table—including anchor corporate partnerships, major infrastructure
investments, statewide innovation strategies, and talent
development initiatives pursued with industry, educational
institutions, and public-sector partners.
The Vice Chancellor attracts major corporate, public, and
philanthropic investment to the university and the state while
ensuring CU Boulder plays a leading role in shaping Colorado's
long-term economic competitiveness, innovation ecosystem, and
workforce strategy.
Role Philosophy
As Colorado accelerates its economic trajectory across sectors like
quantum science and technology, space, sustainability,
biotechnology, and earth sciences, the Vice Chancellor for Economic
Development builds and stewards CU Boulder's relationships with the
leaders who shape Colorado's future: corporate executives making
investment and location decisions, state officials establishing
innovation and competitiveness priorities, civic leaders across
Colorado, and philanthropists whose investments strengthen
communities and expand economic opportunity.
The role's currency is trust, strategic relationships, and the
transformational partnerships and investments those relationships
make possible.
Success is measured by major corporate partnerships secured,
statewide innovation and competitiveness strategies influenced,
philanthropic investment generated, enduring relationships
established with communities across Colorado, and new public and
private investment in workforce development. Each of these outcomes
is then transitioned to the campus unit best positioned to
deliver—including Academic Affairs, Advancement, Sustainability,
the Research & Innovation Office, and the Office of Outreach
and Community Engagement. The Vice Chancellor succeeds by creating
opportunities that enable the rest of the university to expand its
impact.
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 University of Colorado was established in 1876. The flagship
university within the University of Colorado system and one of only
38 public research institutions in the Association of American
Universities (AAU), CU Boulder serves more than 38,000
undergraduate and graduate students and employs a workforce of more
than 8,000 faculty and staff members.
The university offers more than 90 degree programs and 4,000
academic courses, and in fiscal year 2025 was awarded over $760
million in sponsored research funding. Our mission is to serve as
the state of Colorado’s comprehensive graduate research university
with selective admission standards, offering a comprehensive array
of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. CU
Boulder’s institutional priorities in carrying out this mission is
to foster the success of all students, faculty and staff; scale
research and creative work excellence; achieve global leadership in
sustainability impact; and align our resources and infrastructure
to our mission.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
Strategic Priorities
- Build and steward CU Boulder's enduring civic relationships
across Colorado, ensuring community priorities and differential
regional needs inform campus partnerships, investment decisions,
talent strategies and statewide competitiveness strategies with
attention to how opportunities and benefits are distributed across
Colorado.
Recruit and steward major corporate partnerships and
transformational public and private investments requiring
executive-level leadership and statewide coordination, aligning
industry, government, federal laboratories, higher education, and
communities around shared opportunities in priority sectors.
In coordination with CU System’s State Office of Government
Relations, position CU Boulder as a preferred partner on
innovation, industry engagement and statewide economic
competitiveness with the Governor's Office, the Colorado Office of
Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT), the General
Assembly, and other state agencies.
Cultivate and steward major philanthropic partnerships and
investment, in partnership with Advancement, to strengthen
Colorado's innovation economy, expand opportunity, and advance CU
Boulder's societal impact.
Secure new public and private investment in talent innovation,
including employer-supported education, talent pipelines, workforce
incentives, credential pathways, internships, work-based learning,
and employment opportunities, in partnership with Academic Affairs,
Student Life, community colleges, and the Schools and
Colleges.
Translate CU Boulder research, education, and expertise into
economic and societal impact by strengthening partnerships that
accelerate innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship, and
regional prosperity across sectors like quantum science and
technology, space, sustainability, biotechnology, sustainability,
and earth sciences.
Accelerate Colorado's quantum economy and CU Boulder's
integrated quantum innovation ecosystem through strategic
engagement with industry, the Colorado Quantum Incubator, Elevate
Quantum, federal laboratories, public-sector partners, CUBIT and
the university's research and innovation enterprise.
Leadership Responsibilities
- Build and lead a new Office of Economic Development focused on
executive engagement, strategic partnerships, and external
corporate relationships.
- Serve as the Chancellor's principal advisor and lead negotiator
on statewide competitiveness and innovation strategy.
- Handle executive relationships with federal laboratories,
industry leaders, philanthropic organizations, and regional
economic organizations.
- Establish the university's long-term strategy for civic
engagement and regional partnership across Colorado.
- Negotiate talent development commitments as part of major
corporate investments and statewide initiatives and coordinate
implementation with Academic Affairs, community colleges, and other
educational partners.
- Lead philanthropic cultivation and solicitation for initiatives
that strengthen Colorado's innovation ecosystem and economic
competitiveness in partnership with Advancement.
- Work together with CU System Office of Government Relations
regarding relationships with state agencies.
What We Can Offer
The annual salary range for this full-time position is
$325,000-$360,000, plus a recruitment incentive and moving
allowance (if applicable).
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. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of
Forbes' America's Best
Large Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado
and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and
programs through the
CU Advantage program.
Be Statements
Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- Minimum of eight years of senior leadership experience with
significant responsibility for strategic planning, partnership or
economic development, and advancing complex initiatives or related
work.
- Master's degree, JD, or an equivalent combination of education
and experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and
abilities necessary to perform the responsibilities of the
position.
What You Will Need
- Outstanding executive relationship-building skills with
corporate leaders, elected officials, philanthropic organizations,
and community partners.
- Political foresight and diplomatic judgment in the areas of
state government, corporate boardrooms, and national policy
discussions.
- Demonstrated ability to develop economic and workforce
strategies that expand opportunity, address barriers to
participation and consider how the benefits of institutional and
economic investment are experienced across communities.
- Demonstrated ability to build and sustain trust while leading
complex partnerships across communities and constituencies with
differing levels of institutional power, resources, interests and
access to decision-making.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Distinguished executive experience in economic development,
innovation strategy, state government, corporate investment, or
philanthropy.
- Demonstrated success securing large, complex, multi-party
partnerships involving government, industry, philanthropy, and
research organizations.
- Experience negotiating workforce and talent development
initiatives as part of major corporate or public-sector
investments.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- A current resume.
- A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background
and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and
responsibilities of the position and includes the names of three
references (References will only be contacted after confirmation
from the candidate).
Please apply by
October 26 , 2026 for
consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For
consideration, applications must be submitted 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.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu
