Engagement Administrator

DESCRIPTION OF WORK UNIT

Founded in 1870, Colorado State University is among the nation’s leading research universities and enrolls approximately 32,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Located an hour north of the Denver metro area, Fort Collins is a vibrant community of approximately 157,000 residents that offers the convenience of a small town with all the amenities of a large city. Fort Collins is situated on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains with views of 14,000 foot peaks, and offers access to numerous cultural, recreational, and outdoor opportunities.
The Energy Institute is operated under the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) at Colorado State University (CSU). The Institute builds on the long history of work in energy, climate solutions, and decarbonization at CSU and is intended to foster greater collaboration among energy faculty across all eight colleges with broad access to new facilities for faculty and industry partners. The Energy Institute additionally supports efforts across the state and region related to energy and carbon solutions including direct collaborations with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, University of Colorado-Boulder, and Colorado School of Mines.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position will serve as the Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Research Collaboratory and manage direct external engagement activities relating to energy and sustainability identified by the three R-1 university’s Vice President for Research (VPR) and the top leader appointed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The Colorado Energy Research Collaboratory is a research consortium of four research institutions:

• Colorado School of Mines (Mines)
• Colorado State University (CSU)
• University of Colorado Boulder (CU
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

The Collaboratory is a multi-disciplinary consortium that works with industry, community colleges, NGOs, philanthropic organizations, government, other universities and colleges, workforce and economic development organizations, incubators, accelerators, and VCs to: 1) serve to catalyze an inclusive energy transition, serving the entire state including increasing the visibility of Colorado, pulling together necessary organizations to win federal funding in Research, Development & Deployment (RD&D), utilizing and leveraging state funds for measurable impacts as solutions are deployed as we collaborate alongside the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and Colorado Energy Office; 2) promote partnerships (e.g. with the Colorado Community College System, workforce development, and economic development organizations) by coordinating the universities, colleges, and labs to build curriculum and workshops in new technology. This would include stackable credentials that the community colleges would teach in urban and rural communities including teaching underserved & BIPOC students to prepare them for the new jobs that will be needed in cleantech. Our proposed budget includes sharing financial resources with partnering organizations. Example: Mines & Front Range Comm. College has partnered with the Mines Academy in engineering; 3) development and deployment of new technologies within our respective entities to enable an inclusive energy transition and sustainable practices in a manner that grows the state’s economy and improves the quality of lives of its citizens. This will include attracting companies and philanthropic investments while working collaboratively with incubators and accelerators to enhance innovation while continuing the efforts to build a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in sustainable tech, industries, and high-paying job creation; 4) foster an end-to-end ecosystem by investing in de-risking technologies and building coalitions with industry organizations and individual companies. Our universities, labs, community colleges, incubators, and industry partners will use our respective built infrastructure to advance our programs and projects collaboratively and measurably with the intent of enhancing Colorado’s reputation globally as a leading state in education, prepared workforce, workforce up-skilling and high-skilled jobs.
More information about the specific leadership of the Collaboratory can be found here: https://www.coloradocollaboratory.org/about-the-collaboratory/organization/
This position serves as the Executive Director of the Collaboratory and reports to the Authority Board and Executive Board of the Collaboratory. This position is treated as a CSU employee with a salary being paid by the Collaboratory through the Collaboratory operating funds managed by CSU. The person in this position will work with external and internal partners to build collaborative working relationships in energy research, economic development, workforce development, community colleges, NGOs, philanthropic organizations, industry, and industry associations. This position will serve as an ambassador for CSU as well as the other Collaboratory partners including Colorado School of Mines, CU Boulder, and National Renewable Energy Lab.
Responsibilities will include providing assessment, management, evaluation, and accountability; developing and nurturing strategic partnerships, alliances, and collaborations; and representing the Collaboratory partners through networking and professional collaboration with various organizations including industry, community partners, government, NGOs, incubators, accelerators, and other academic institutions.
The Collaboratory’s office may be in a different location than at the Powerhouse Energy Campus depending on the outcome of this hiring process.

REQUIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree, in Business, Public Relations, Communications, or related discipline.
• Five plus years of experience in a similar role.
• Experience in financial management.
• An established and experienced interdisciplinary leader with demonstrated expertise in strategic planning.
• Experience in both philanthropic fundraising and grants.
• Experience with developing, promoting, and facilitating special events.
• Ability to travel domestically as well as internationally (including developing nations) as required.
• Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.
  The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. by the start date. The Energy Institute will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.

PREFERRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in; Business, Public Relations, Communications, or related discipline.
• Experience in public speaking, media relations, and writing.
• Expertise in collaborative program and partnership building.

Please refer the Job description for details