Job Details

Smead Director of Strategic Engagement

Position Number: 7100262
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Engineering - Aerospace

Smead Director of Strategic Engagement

Requisition Number: 71508
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 05-May-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences seeks a Director to serve as a senior strategic partner to the Department Chair, lead the Smead Program, and act as a primary external-facing leader for the department. We are looking for an aerospace professional with experience in industry or government who is motivated to connect, represent, and advance a top-ranked academic department and its flagship Smead Program within the broader aerospace ecosystem.

This position is responsible for advancing the department's visibility, partnerships, and strategic priorities by connecting faculty, scholars, alumni, and external collaborators across the aerospace ecosystem, including industry, government, and academia. The Director helps position, represent, and champion the department and the Smead Program externally, brings external insights and emerging opportunities in aerospace and related fields into the department, and works across the department to identify strengths, gaps, and areas for alignment to enhance research, education, and broader departmental impact.

A key responsibility of the position is leadership of the Smead Program, a flagship, donor-supported, cohort-based leadership and fellowship program that brings together PhD scholars, faculty fellows, postdoctoral associates, and distinguished visitors. The program emphasizes leadership development and sustained engagement with the aerospace community and serves as a highly visible component of the department's broader strategy to develop future leaders in the field.

At the department level, and in close partnership with the Chair, faculty, and staff, the Director advances department-wide priorities by aligning internal strengths with external opportunities, strengthening the visibility and connectedness of research and educational programs, and translating strategic direction into coordinated action across the department.

This position operates with significant autonomy and influence, leading a focused team and collaborating closely with departmental leadership and staff managers to align resources, initiatives, and priorities in support of the department's mission and long-term direction.
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

CU Boulder is the place for aerospace. Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of aeronautics and astronautics research, crafting next-generation aircraft, growing the possibilities of remote sensing, and building space instruments and satellites for orbit around Earth and beyond!

Our mission is to provide students the highest quality education in aerospace engineering sciences, emphasizing hands-on learning, and to conduct fundamental, applied, and interdisciplinary research to meet societal needs through analysis, design, and implementation of aerospace systems, using connections between aerospace engineering and related sciences. We are home to 56-tenure track, research, and instructional faculty, over 500 graduate students and 1,000 undergraduates.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Strategic Leadership & Chair Partnership:

Serve as a senior strategic partner to the Department Chair in advancing departmental priorities, initiatives, and long-range planning.
Act as an extension of the Chair in selected internal and external engagements, representing departmental priorities and perspectives as appropriate.
Identify emerging areas of opportunity, external trends, and capability gaps, and help position the department to respond and lead.
Support strategizing efforts, retreats, and implementation of key initiatives.

Smead Program Leadership:

Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Smead Program, ensuring alignment with departmental priorities and long-term goals while maintaining the program's distinct role within the broader department ecosystem.
Establish program priorities and guide their continued development, working closely with the Smead Program Senior Coordinator to translate those priorities into program activities and the programmatic calendar.
Be responsible for the recruitment and selection processes for Smead Scholars, Faculty Fellows, and related program components in collaboration with faculty leadership and program partners.
Partner with the Smead Program Senior Coordinator to develop and refine program approaches in areas such as alumni engagement, communications, branding, and professional development, ensuring these areas are cohesive, well-executed, and aligned with overall program priorities.
Lead stewardship and engagement with Smead Program benefactors, ensuring clear communication of program impact and alignment with the long-term vision and intent of the program.
Engage directly with Smead Scholars and program participants through participation in program activities, contributing meaningfully to the intellectual, professional, and community experience of the program.
Guide program-level financial planning and resource strategy, ensuring alignment of investments with program priorities and long-term objectives.
Assess the effectiveness and impact of the Smead Program, using programmatic outcomes and partner feedback to inform continuous improvement and strategic direction.

External Engagement & Strategic Partnerships:

Build and sustain relationships with aerospace industry leaders, government partners, alumni, and academic collaborators to advance departmental programmatic priorities.
Serves as the primary staff liaison to the External Advisory Board (EAB), partnering with the Chair to shape agendas, engagement, and follow-through.
Identify, develop, and advance strategic partnerships across local, national, and international contexts.
Represent the department and the Smead Program in external forums to enhance visibility, influence, and impact.
Partner with Advancement on broader donor engagement and coordination, aligning external opportunities with departmental and programmatic priorities.

Strategic Integration & Departmental Alignment:

Translate departmental strategic priorities into coordinated efforts that connect external engagement, departmental programs, and faculty strengths.
Partner with faculty, research center leaders, and departmental collaborators to align external opportunities with areas of excellence and growth.
Elevate and communicate areas of faculty and departmental strength to enhance visibility, positioning, and impact.
Ensure that major departmental initiatives are aligned with strategic priorities and supported by appropriate partnerships, resources, and infrastructure.
Work in close partnership with department leaders across operations, research administration, finance, and student services to ensure alignment between strategic priorities and functional execution.

Leadership & Coordination Across Strategic Portfolio:

Provide leadership and supervision for a set of roles supporting the Smead Program, the department's external engagement activities, and select strategic resources, spaces, and operational functions that contribute to research, education, and experiential learning, ensuring clarity of priorities and alignment with departmental goals.
Foster alignment, collaboration, and shared ownership of outcomes across these areas while maintaining appropriate distinctions between programmatic, engagement, and operational responsibilities.
Support the development of individuals contributing to these areas, enabling strong execution and growth across programmatic, engagement, and operational functions.

Strategic Assets & Infrastructure:

Contribute to the strategy planning and positioning of departmental facilities, infrastructure, and key platforms that support research, education, and external engagement.
Align facility-related opportunities with external partnerships, experiential learning, and research priorities.
Support the development of new capabilities, programs, and enabling resources that enhance the department's competitiveness, external engagement, and impact.

What You Should Know

This position is primarily based on campus. The typical schedule is Monday through Friday, with some evenings and weekends required. Travel is also expected. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process.

What We Can Offer

The starting salary range for this position is $133,600-$150,300 annually. Relocation assistance is available within department guidelines.

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 ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience in a technically complex environment.
5+ years experience working in a science, engineering, or other technically complex environment.
Experience leading or advancing initiatives, programs, partnerships, or related efforts in complex organizational environments.

What You Will Need

Exceptionally strong leadership and networking skills.
Ability to lead and collaborate effectively across team-based and multi-functional environments, including influencing without direct authority.
Ability to operate at a strategic level while translating direction into coordinated action across partners.
Ability to identify, assess, and respond to emerging opportunities, trends, and shifting priorities in complex environments.
Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with diverse constituencies, including faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
Ability to engage effectively with individuals across academic and professional stages, contributing to their development, perspective, and connection to the aerospace community.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Excellent presentation skills, including comfort engaging with senior leadership, external partners, and advisory boards.
Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity.
Ability to build and sustain relationships across organizational, institutional, and sector boundaries.
Ability to coordinate multiple initiatives and priorities while maintaining focus on strategic objectives.
Demonstrated ability to engage credibly with technical experts and partners.
Demonstrated ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy, including setting priorities, exercising judgment, and advancing initiatives without predefined direction.
Familiarity with the aerospace sector and its ecosystem, including key collaborators, trends, and areas of activity.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

A current resume.
A cover letter that describes how your background and experience align with this position.

You will not be asked to upload references at this time. Please apply by May 5, 2026 for consideration. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted 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/Smead-Director-of-Strategic-Engagement/71508