Job Details

Director for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship

Position Number: 9722785
Location: Boulder, United States
Position Type: Executive - Other Executive

Director for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship

Requisition Number: 73735
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 06-Aug-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Office for Outreach and Community Engagement (OCE) at CU Boulder invites applications for the Director for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship (PACES) position! This role is the senior operational and scholarly leader of PACES, reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor (AVC) for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship. The Director is responsible for managing the day-to-day leadership of PACES programs and initiatives; stewarding and delivering on established community partnerships; managing the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification process; supporting and producing engaged scholarship; and supervising PACES program staff.
The Director works closely with the AVC and with OCE colleagues to ensure that PACES programming is coordinated across the broader OCE portfolio. The Director serves as the primary operational deputy to the AVC and is authorized to act on the AVC's behalf as needed.
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 Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship team, located within the Office of Outreach and Community Engagement, is the lead CU Boulder unit for building the campus's capacity to undertake public and community-engaged scholarship. We support community-engaged research, teaching and learning, and creative work of faculty and staff members, and we connect those activities to the broader campus context. Our approach values diverse traditions and methodologies from across academic disciplines and fields. Ultimately, these efforts contribute to a campus culture that recognizes public and community-engaged scholarship as essential to CU Boulder's mission as a public flagship and comprehensive research university.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Operational Leadership and Office Management

Serve as the primary operational deputy to the AVC, handling day-to-day PACES programs, staff, and initiatives
Authorized to represent and act on behalf of the AVC during absences or as otherwise designated
Provide regular data-informed program reports and recommendations to the AVC, including analysis of outcomes, trends, and emerging opportunities
Supervise PACES program budgets and expenditures in alignment with office priorities and in coordination with the AVC
Ensure effective internal processes: clear roles and responsibilities, workflow management, and a culture of collaboration and accountability
Coordinate with the PACES communications team on program news, marketing, website content, and external communications
Serve on campus and division committees as the PACES operational representative
Collaborate with OCE unit colleagues to ensure PACES programming is coordinated across the broader OCE portfolio, including with the Office of Government and Community Engagement and the Conference on World Affairs
Work collaboratively with the PACES Faculty Directors (Community-Engaged Research and Creative Work; Community-Engaged Teaching and Learning; Strategic Events and Public Scholarship / Conference on World Affairs) as peer leaders within the PACES portfolio; coordinate on shared programs, data, and communications while respecting the direct reporting relationship each Faculty Director holds with the AVC

Community Partnership Management and Program DeliveryThe Director is responsible for stewarding existing community partnerships and ensuring clear, accountable delivery on partnership commitments. While the AVC leads high-level partnership cultivation and executive-level relationship development, the Director translates those relationships into active, well-managed programs. Handle and maintain established partnerships with community organizations, nonprofits, governmental agencies, and civic entities across Colorado, ensuring mutual accountability and follow-through on commitments

Serve as a consistent, accessible point of contact for community partners, responding to needs, coordinating university resources, and facilitating ongoing collaboration
Design and lead specific university-community initiatives - including public forums, community learning programs, and co-created projects - in alignment with partnership goals established with the AVC
Develop and implement assessment and evaluation strategies to measure the efficacy of community partnerships and engagement programs, and use findings to improve practice
Identify emerging partnership opportunities and bring these to the AVC for strategic consideration and cultivation
Provide professional development support to community partners on standard processes for collaborating with a research university
Work with the PACES and OCE communications teams to share information about partnership activities, outcomes, and opportunities

Campus Coordination, Carnegie Classification, and AssessmentStrategic Coordination

In coordination with the AVC, implement institutional strategies to build campus capacity for community-engaged scholarship across relevant campus units (e.g., Office of Faculty Affairs, Research & Innovation Office, academic colleges and departments)
Collaborate with campus units and faculty to expand service-learning, community-based research, and other engaged scholarship offerings in alignment with AVC-led strategic priorities
Provide grant consultation and support to faculty, staff, and graduate students; write letters of support for community-engaged grant applications; participate in grant review processes as needed
Support the AVC's advocacy for policy changes that advance recognition of community-engaged scholarship in faculty promotion, tenure, and review processes
In coordination with OCE colleagues and relevant campus partners, identify and facilitate opportunities to connect faculty engaged scholarship interests with industry, foundation, and community partnership resources

Carnegie Classification and Assessment

Lead the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement reapplication process: convene a campus-wide steering committee, coordinate institution-wide data collection, write and submit the application, and produce recommendations for advancing community-engaged scholarship at CU Boulder
Design and maintain ongoing assessment and evaluation systems that track progress on engagement objectives and inform PACES strategic planning
Lead adoption and use of Collaboratory and related platforms to support data collection, assessment, and the Carnegie Classification process

Scholarship of Engagement

Produce or co-produce peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, reports, or other recognized scholarly contributions on community engagement practice, policy, or theory
Present at national and regional conferences and professional convenings to represent CU Boulder's engaged scholarship work
Support and mentor faculty and staff in producing and publishing scholarship on community engagement
Represent CU Boulder in relevant national professional organizations (e.g., Campus Compact, Engagement Scholarship Consortium, IARSLCE, APLU) as appropriate

Staff Supervision

Supervise PACES Program Director, and Program Managers/Coordinators: annual performance planning, professional development, regular check-ins, and additional support as needed
Supervise student office assistants and interns: set goals, handle workflow, ensure appropriate training and support
Foster a team culture of professional growth, equity, open dialogue, and shared accountability

Other Responsibilities

Engage in relevant professional development activities and trainings
Participate in office, OCE, and campus meetings, activities, and committees
Other duties as determined by campus priorities and emerging opportunities

What You Should Know

The work modality will be hybrid.

What We Can Offer

The annual salary range for this full-time position is $95,000 - $114,000. Relocation assistance may be available.

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

Doctoral degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent) in higher education, educational leadership, public administration, or a closely related field. A master's degree, combined with an exceptionally strong record of relevant professional achievement, may be considered.
At least 8 years of progressive leadership experience in community-engaged scholarship, outreach, or a closely related field at a college, university, or comparable institution
Demonstrated experience managing complex programs and partnerships, with accountability for delivering on commitments to diverse stakeholder groups
Experience supervising professional staff and managing program budgets of significant scale
A record of scholarly contribution related to community engagement, higher education, or a closely related field

What You Will Need

Senior operational leadership: ability to lead a complex programmatic portfolio, coordinate across teams, and ensure accountability for outcomes
Partnership management: demonstrated success maintaining and delivering on long-term, reciprocal relationships with community, governmental, and civic organizations
Scholar-practitioner orientation: capacity to connect practice with research and support faculty and staff in producing engaged scholarship
Assessment and evaluation expertise: experience designing frameworks for measuring community engagement program impact
Strong communication skills (written and verbal), including public representation and institutional communications
Budget oversight and administrative leadership, including experience handling personnel and program expenditures
Ability to collaborate effectively across organizational units within a complex university environment
Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and cultural competency in community-engaged work

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 August 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.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Director-for-Public-and-Community-Engaged-Scholarship/73735