Director, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative

Job Summary

University of Colorado Boulder is excited to announce a unique opportunity within a best-in-class entrepreneurial ecosystem. Weare looking for a Director for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative, a key role in providingentrepreneurial experiences, contributing to our incredible localstartup community, and taking CU Boulder to a new level of entrepreneurial excellence.

The Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) Initiative was created to integrate and elevate CU Boulder’s rich mosaic of entrepreneurial offerings, and to build connectivity with ourlarger entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Director of the I&E Initiative brings together and catalyzes the network of campusentrepreneurship partners so that we can together achieve ourvision of positively transforming lives through entrepreneurship.

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.

CU Boulder is a leading public research university and a member ofthe prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), with awide-reaching mission that includes prioritizing innovation andentrepreneurship. Our faculty, staff, and students collaborate with global partners to create lasting economic and social value—shaping the future of Colorado and the world.

CU Boulder is situated in one of the most entrepreneurialcommunities in the country. Boulder has been ranked by Forbes asthe best city in America in which to start a business, and as thetop city in America by Bloomberg’s Brain Concentration Index. Oursis a unique and mature ecosystem of 'Give First' leaders and committed founders, with a high concentration of both intellectual and venture capital.

• Catalyze and forge connections across an ecosystem of campusand community entrepreneurship programs. You will create coherencyand serve as a system-level architect.
• Re-launch and lead the Entrepreneurship Circle, a regulargathering among entrepreneurship-focused faculty, staff, and students to build awareness, drive collaboration, and catalyze campus-level initiatives.
• Facilitate an annual Entrepreneurship Seed Grant program to incentivize and support creative and collaborative projects that enhance entrepreneurship infrastructure at the university.
• Collaborate with, and support, student entrepreneurshipgroups.
• Cultivate trusting and productive relationships with keyentrepreneurship groups across the university, including the Leed’sSchool of Business, Colleague of Engineering and Applied Science, Silicon Flatirons, College of Arts and Science, Venture Partners atCU Boulder, Advancement, Career Services, and CU SystemI&E.

• Oversee all aspects of the I&E Initiative strategy, finances, and operations, in collaboration with the Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and other Research & Innovation Office leadership.
• Supervise the I&E Initiative Program Manager, plus studentemployees/interns.
• Provide strategic direction to marketing and communication steam, to uplift and integrate campus entrepreneurshipmessaging.
• Grow the I&E Initiative’s funding streams through grants, strategic partnerships, sponsor ships, and cross-campusphilanthropy.

• Participate in local ecosystem events – listening, formingrelationships, and facilitating the exchange between campus and community.
• Design and launch an interactive portal for students and community members to easily navigate CU Boulder’s entrepreneurialecosystem.
• Continuously discover and evaluate the student entrepreneurialjourney and experience, to identify gaps and collectively design solutions with campus partners.
• Establish relationships with peer universities, learning andsharing with other leading entrepreneurship programs.

• Lead CU Boulder’s annual startup and pitch…