Summary

Job Summary

The Director of the Environmental Center plays an influential role in advancing student-focused sustainability on the Boulder campus. The position provides strategic leadership and direction for the E-Center (Environmental Center) office and leads student-focused sustainability efforts while partnering with and supporting campus and system wide sustainability efforts. This position will research, create and be knowledgeable in current sustainability technologies and efforts that benefit the students and campus while recommending and implementing new programs and initiatives. This position will build and implement a multi-year plan to support the overall campus sustainability efforts while focusing on initiatives directly tied to the student experience. The E-Center Director reports to an Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. The E-Center is a cost center of CU Student Government (CUSG) and the Director serves as an advisor to the CUSG Environmental Board. Sustainability programs currently under the E-Center include zero-waste events and recycling; Green Labs; climate action and climate justice; transportation (bus pass, bike, and e-bike programs); and student engagement in co-curricular sustainability learning and program implementation.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The Environmental Center leads locally and globally by providing direct services and expertise to our campus community and beyond. Services are provided in the areas of zero waste, sustainable transportation, renewable energy programs, sustainability training, educational events and more. Founded in 1970 by students, the Environmental Center is the nation’s longest-standing, largest and most accomplished student-led center of its kind. Recognizing that diversity and social justice initiatives are key components of sustainability, the Environmental Center strives for diversity, inclusivity and social justice in our staff, all programs, activities and outcomes.

Leadership

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Provides strategic leadership, advocacy, and direction for the approximately 15 FTE staff and 130 student staff in the E-Center. Actively strives to foster and maintain a workplace climate that is supportive of employees and respectful of difference, as well as to build an inclusive environment that cultivates leadership development, intercultural engagement, and a sense of belonging to support student academic and co-curricular success.
• Supervises staff through meetings, performance planning and evaluation. Ensures student development is interwoven into student staff work and learning.
• Champions practices for student engagement in crafting short- and long-term sustainability framework and goals. Works collaboratively to integrate climate justice into sustainability work.
• Serves as the advisor (non-voting) member of the Environmental Board (E-Board), supporting the Board and chair(s) learning, development, and leadership. Supports the E-Board with setting and holding regular meetings, member recruitment and training, setting agendas, and providing necessary information or staff support to assist the Board in driving their responsibilities and initiatives. Ensures student development is interwoven into the E-Board experience. Connects E-Board chair with division and campus partners on relevant topics.
• Proposes new and promising practices that help advance student-focused and campus sustainability, initiatives, policies, and practices and that improve student engagement in sustainability. Leads effective implementation of initiatives, engaging E-Center staff and division and campus partners as needed.
• Engages in regular meetings with CUSG leadership, including the E-Board, and follows CUSG legislation, bylaws and similar guidelines. Balances needs and initiatives of CUSG with those of the division and campus.
• Oversees the department’s communication strategies, using data to tell the story of the E-Center’s work and impact.
• Manages, administers, and advocates for the overall budget for the E-Center and its associated programs, ensuring adequate planning and forecasting for expenses and revenues, responsible expenditures of its fiscal resources in alignment with division principles, CUSG guidelines and legislation, university policies, and local, state, and federal laws. Meets regularly with Student Affairs Finance to review budget proposals, changes and updates, forecasts, and quarterly reviews.
  
  

Program And Student Development

• Stays current with practices, research, and trends in student development, student engagement, and sustainability and with division and campus priorities and initiatives in sustainability.
• Develops vision for future E-Center sustainability efforts. Translates this vision into long-term plans and priorities with clearly identified roles, responsibilities and coordinated processes.
• Identifies impacts to students and social justice from sustainability initiatives, or lack thereof, and brings forward initiatives to enhance positive impacts or address gaps. Collaborates with division and campus partners.
• Collaborates with division and campus partners on programs, policies, services, and planning that impact student and campus sustainability efforts.
• Provides resources and guidance to support process improvements for the E-Center and ensures all department programs are aligned with division and campus goals.
• Develops, implements, and analyzes assessment initiatives that foster student engagement in sustainability. Supports campus sustainability assessment using STARS or similar sustainability assessment program. Works with division and campus assessment departments.
• Leads division in creating and implementing sustainability initiatives, applying recommended guidelines and data to support Student Affairs directors in their department’s sustainability work. Actively engages student voices and participation.
• Represents the E-Center at division meetings, retreats, etc. Leads or participates in projects with division and campus as assigned.
  
  

Representation And Partnership

• Represents the Center and student / student development lens on campus committees and to key campus constituencies and decision makers as needed. Participates in conversations about campus sustainability policy and initiatives with a university-first demeanor. Engages with campus’ Chief Sustainability Officer and campus colleagues to find short- and long-term pathways for campus sustainability goals.
• Cultivates and influences relationships with campus and non-campus partners to provide a comprehensive perspective of and approach to sustainability efforts. Engagement may include committee leadership and participation. Encourages and supports initiatives between E-Center and other campus departments.
• Works collaboratively with faculty to create or share proven methodologies in sustainability work for use in the classroom, assisting with the student development lens and student voice in the development of sustainability-focused academic initiatives as needed.
• Assist division and campus media relations colleagues with responses to media inquiries including but not limited to press releases, articles, and interviews.
• Leads or assists with campus sustainability initiatives or events (ex., Sustainability Summit).
• Connects with peer campuses to understand and share policies, practices, and findings with regard to student-focused and campus wide sustainability work.
• Collaborate with campus partners to seeks off-campus funding to support student-focused and campus sustainability work. May include grant writing and engagement with major donor fundraising using data and research. Works closely with Advancement, Student Affairs, and others in this work.
• Advances the Environmental Center’s efforts through activities such as presentations and/or leadership in professional organizations that support sustainability in higher education and student development. Participates in ongoing training and development to stay abreast of national sustainability direction and tried and tested practices.
  
  

Sits On Division And Campus Committees

• Project work as needed.
  
  

What We Can Offer

• The salary range for this position is $116,500 to $120,000 annually. Onboarding assistance is available within SA departmental guidelines.
  
  

Benefits

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder .

Be Statements

Be dynamic. Be visionary. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for the degree on a year for year basis.
• Five or more years of experience providing oversight for sustainability initiatives, preferably on a college campus. Oversight experience should include budgeting, program implementation and assessment, and developing and fostering an inclusive environment for staff and/or students.
• Demonstrated experience with leading, implementing and supporting coordinated sustainability initiatives in a sophisticated environment.
• Three or more years of experience managing and supervising full-time staff.
  
  

What You Will Need

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, demonstrated by the ability to interact comfortably with a wide range of a diverse group of people, including professional staff, students, faculty, parents, administrators, system-wide colleagues, community partners, and media.
• Ability to work collaboratively across all institutional lines including a proven record of effective working relationships with staff in departments across campus, students and student leadership.
• Excellent organizational skills demonstrated by the ability to balance numerous demands, evaluate competing demands, and adjust planning, as needed.
• Exceptional critical thinking skills demonstrated by the ability to analyze information, evaluate results, and facilitate resolution of difficult challenges, including the ability to handle issues of complex and extreme political sensitivity.
• Capacity to simultaneously engage in multiple issues of very significant policy, operational, and legal complexity with a large and diverse number of constituencies.
  
  

What We Would Like You To Have

• Master’s Degree in college student personnel, higher education, student affairs, sustainability, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading initiatives that integrate climate justice into sustainability work.
• Proven ability to work effectively with students, staff, and administrators in a complex system with multiple direct and indirect reporting lines and within the framework of university and state policies and procedures.
  
  

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.
  
  

We may request references at a later time.

Please apply by February 14, 2024, for consideration.

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