Program Manager for Sustainability Initiatives
Requisition Number:
68477
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
City
Boulder
State
Colorado
Employment Type:
University Staff
Schedule:
Full-Time
Posting Close Date:
19-Nov-2025
Date Posted:
06-Nov-2025
Job Summary
The University of Colorado Boulder seeks a highly motivated and detail-oriented Program Manager to join the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Sustainability to support executive leadership in advancing CU Boulder’s vision of becoming a global leader in sustainability and climate resilience. This role will be central to coordinating strategic initiatives, partnerships, operations, and communications that expand CU Boulder’s influence locally and globally. The Program Manager will serve as a trusted advisor and operational partner to executive leadership, ensuring alignment across campus sustainability initiatives and enhancing the university’s impact on climate action, equity, and resilience.
The ideal candidate will be able to work independently and in a team environment. Candidate should be highly organized, have a strong attention to detail, initiative, outstanding communication skills and a commitment to sustainability.
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 Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
Strategic Leadership Support
- Partner with executive leadership to coordinate a coherent, campus-wide sustainability portfolio, including supporting strategy development, academic collaborations, student engagement, and operational initiatives.
- Support the design and implementation of structures that enhance collaboration across CU Boulder colleges, centers, and administrative units.
- Assist in building and maintaining external partnerships with universities, government agencies, NGOs, corporations, foundations, and multilateral organizations.
- Provide project management for critical initiatives that position CU Boulder as a hub for sustainability research, education, operations and community engagement.
- Generate key performance indicators and track and report progress toward sustainability goals and initiatives.
Engagement & Academic Integration
- Coordinate with faculty leaders to integrate sustainability into curriculum development and support the growth of sustainability-related academic programs and student opportunities.
- Support committees and cross-campus groups advancing sustainability and climate justice.
- Help connect sustainability initiatives with CU Boulder’s research strengths, working with institutes such as CIRES, INSTAAR, IBS, and RASEI.
- Handle communication and engagement strategies to promote CU Boulder’s sustainability education and research priorities.
- Build, support and help maintain relationships with key external partners, including with the City of Boulder and other Colorado communities.
Operational Excellence
- Assist in advancing campus sustainability operations, including energy, water, transportation, waste reduction, and supply chain management initiatives.
- Partner with operational leaders to support implementation of the Climate Action Plan and CU Boulder’s net-zero goals.
- Support the integration of Indigenous knowledge and multicultural perspectives into sustainability planning, operations, and education.
- Develop, track, and refine sustainability metrics and reporting systems (e.g., STARS, Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability).
Communications, Fundraising & Outreach
- Work with CU Boulder communications teams to run events, campaigns, and materials that raise visibility for sustainability leadership.
- Support Advancement staff in pursuing philanthropic and grant funding opportunities for sustainability initiatives.
- Draft reports, presentations, talking points, and other materials for executive leadership.
What You Should Know
- Traditional business hours (8:00am-5:00pm), with occasional requests for evening and/or weekend event staffing.
- 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.
What We Can Offer
The annual salary range for this full-time position is $70,000-$85,000.
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. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.
Be Statements
Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- Bachelor’s degree in sustainability, environmental studies, public policy, business administration, project management, or a related field.
- 5 years of experience leading complex projects and strategy development, preferably in higher education, sustainability, or public policy settings.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple initiatives simultaneously.
What You Will Need
- Critical thinking with the ability to shape strategy, develop vision, translate big-picture goals into actionable projects.
- Strategy creation and synthesis skills and the ability to develop decks and briefs that shape compelling and cogent high-level initiatives.
- Research skills to benchmark against peer institutions and inventory campus level activities.
- Relationship-building and diplomacy across diverse internal and external collaborators.
- Analytical skills to track progress against sustainability and climate goals.
- Flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Passion for sustainability, climate resilience, and social equity.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Excellent communication skills—both written and verbal—with experience preparing executive-level materials.
- Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment that integrates Indigenous and multicultural perspectives into sustainability work.
- Master’s degree in sustainability, public administration, environmental sciences, or related field.
- Experience working in or with higher education institutions.
- Familiarity with sustainability assessment frameworks (e.g., STARS, UN SDGs).
- Track record of successful partnership development with external organizations and collaborators.
- Experience in fundraising support, grant writing, or philanthropic engagement.
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 November 19, 2025 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: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu