CIRES Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation Director

Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in
Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado
Boulder seeks an innovative, experienced and strategic leader to
serve as Director for the Center for Education,
Engagement and Evaluation (CEEE) . CEEE advances CIRES’ mission
by connecting environmental science with learners, educators,
scientists, and communities through education, engagement and
career development.

The Director will provide visionary leadership and strategic
direction for CEEE, overseeing a broad portfolio of programs and
collaborating closely with Associate Directors and the CEEE
leadership team. This role involves shaping long-term strategy,
supporting an exceptional team, and ensuring CEEE’s programs drive
meaningful impact across research, education, and engagement. The
duties for this position are varied and require an interest and
ability in learning new skills, working across multiple projects,
and across fields. Creativity and flexibility in problem solving,
project management experience, organizational skills and attention
to detail, excellent communication, and good interpersonal skills
are critical for this position. The successful candidate will be
responsible for grant writing and fundraising to support the CEEE
team that is funded by federal grants, contracts and service
agreements. About 50% of the position will be spent on externally
funded project work that falls under the CEEE mission; the
successful candidate is expected to secure this project funding.
The remaining 50% will be supported directly by CIRES.

The ideal candidate combines expertise in environmental or Earth
sciences with an excellent understanding of the national science
education and engagement landscape. The successful candidate will
bring proven success in leadership and cross-sector collaboration,
grant development and funding, fundraising from diversified sources
including foundations, private donors and fee-based initiatives
along with a passion for fostering inclusive, innovative learning
environments. The leadership role requires the CEEE Director to be
in the office 3 days per week.

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

CIRES is an internationally recognized
leader in innovative environmental science and research and is
located at the University of Colorado Boulder. At CIRES, more than
900 environmental science professionals work to understand the
dynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with the
planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of
expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth’s poles,
air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth
sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a
sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal
understanding of the Earth system.

CIRES Center for Education, Engagement and
Evaluation (CEEE ) is a team of 24 outreach, education and
evaluation professionals. CIRES CEEE is a well-known and trusted
partner for connecting CIRES science with educators, learners and
communities. We strive to make research data accessible, inspire
environmental action and empower curiosity and scientific
engagement. We provide accessible, inclusive, high-quality
environmental science curriculum and informal learning experiences,
as well as meaningful professional and career development
opportunities.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Leadership and Strategic Direction (15%)

Provide leadership, management, and strategic vision for
CEEE.
Collaborate with Associate Directors to define priorities,
implement initiatives, and oversee the project portfolio.
Foster a positive, supportive, and high-performing workplace
culture.
Represent CIRES and CEEE with funding agencies, partners, and
collaborators through presentations and networking.
Maintain active engagement with national and international
professional organizations.
Contribute to CIRES and CU Boulder’s service, reporting, and
impact assessments.

Financial and Administrative Management (20%)

Manage and allocate the CEEE operating budget (~$2.5M annually)
in collaboration with Associate Directors.
Oversee project budgets, staffing, reporting, and award
actions.
Identify funding opportunities and lead and support grant and
proposal development across the CEEE portfolio.
Engage with donors and oversee finances for the CEEE service
center.

Team Supervision and Development (10%)

Supervise Associate Directors, and others as needed (~4-8
staff).
Oversee deliverables, provide guidance and performance
feedback, and anticipate staffing and funding needs.
In collaboration with Associate Directors, hire and onboard new
staff and promote professional growth across the team.

Program and Partnership Oversight (5%)

Support CIRES/NOAA scientists in developing education,
engagement, evaluation, or Broader Impacts components of research
grants.
Build and maintain partnerships with CIRES, CU Boulder, and
NOAA to advance shared education and engagement priorities.
Manage community, CIRES, CU and partner requests for
collaboration, including partner with NOAA to advance NOAA
education priorities.

Project portfolio pending the securing of additional funds
(50%)

Lead components or projects of CEEE’s portfolio in areas such
as curriculum development, educator training, public engagement,
workforce development, and education research and evaluation.
Provide direction, management, and oversight for selected
projects, including budgeting, staffing, reporting, and
strategy.
Foster partnerships to advance project outcomes and ensure
broad dissemination through communications, presentations, and
publications.

What You Should Know

Visa sponsorship is not offered for this position. Candidates
needing visa sponsorship now or in the future are not eligible for
hire in this role.
Applicants must be currently authorized to legally work in the
United States on a full-time basis.
This position requires the ability to travel occasionally (3-5
trips per year).
This position will be rostered in CIRES at the University of
Colorado Boulder, in Boulder, CO.

What We Can Offer

CIRES offers a generous compensation package.
The annual hiring salary range for this position is $112,055 -
$145,673. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and
determined based on our CIRES internal career track
classification.
After an initial onboarding period, this position can
accommodate a hybrid work modality. This position requires presence
in the University of Colorado Boulder campus at least 3 times a
week.
Some relocation funds are available to help offset expenses,
following CIRES and the University of Colorado’s relocation
processes and procedures.
CIRES and the University of Colorado Boulder offer a robust
training curriculum, opportunities for professional development,
and a Mentorship Program.
Boulder is a vibrant community with
access to mountain parks, dog parks, miles of trails, rivers,
lakes, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, theaters, museums, and sports
venues.
As an employee at CU Boulder, you will have free access to the
regional public transit system, an
outstanding network of buses, and light rail systems that service
Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding
communities.

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 challenged. Be supportive. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Ph.D. in Education, Environmental Science, Geoscience, or a
closely related field.
At least six years of experience directing programs, including
hiring, grant management, event planning, and reporting.
At least six years of experience supervising and mentoring
professionals.
Proven record of securing external funding as Principal
Investigator or co-Principal Investigator.
Extensive and demonstrated experience in education or research
environments supported by federal grants and/or contracts.
Proven success in building effective, supportive team
cultures.
Ability to travel occasionally (3-5 trips per year).

What You Will Need

In-depth knowledge of the U.S. environmental education,
engagement and outreach landscape.
Proven success in grant writing, fundraising, and managing
funds in areas aligned with CEEE’s and CIRES’s mission.
A history of critical thinking and ability to align center
initiatives that advances CEEE and CIRES mission and goals.
Proven ability to lead multiple geographically dispersed teams
and manage complex, multi-project portfolios, and partnerships
among scientists, educators and administrators.
Ability to delegate tasks strategically to Associate Directors
and CEEE Leadership team.
Excellent demonstrated collaboration across fields and
communication skills for a variety of audiences.
Comprehensive knowledge of science education, public
engagement, career development, and/or evaluation for students and
scientists.
High proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and project
management tools.

What We Would Like You to Have

Please note that while the position details both required and
preferred skills and experience, we invite applicants to apply even
if they do not have the preferred skills and experience outlined in
this section. If you meet the requirements and have passion for the
work, you are encouraged to apply. We encourage on the job training
for any additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the
position.

Extensive experience managing federally funded education or
research programs.
Demonstrated capability to manage foundation-funded, private
donor-funded, and/or fee-based programs.
Background in geoscience or environmental science.
Demonstrated creativity and innovation techniques or approaches
in management, education, and communications.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

Resume or CV.
A separate “Demonstrated Success in Securing External Funding”
document that details grant writing and external fundraising
experience.
Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly
describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific
interest in this position.
Although not needed at the time of application, please be ready
to submit contact information for 5 professional references. If you
are identified as a finalist for this position, you will be asked
to invite your references to complete a Crosschq questionnaire on
your behalf. Crosschq is an online reference check solution. All
information is kept confidential and shared only with the members
of the search committee.

We may request references at a later time.

Please apply by November 6, 2026 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For
consideration, please apply 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: Eric Anderson

Posting Contact Email: ERIC.J.ANDERSON@COLORADO.EDU