Director, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative

Job Summary
The University of Colorado Boulder is excited to announce a unique opportunity within a best-in-class entrepreneurial ecosystem. We are looking for a Director for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative, a key role in providing entrepreneurial experiences, contributing to our local startup 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 our larger entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Director brings together and catalyzes the network of campus entrepreneurship partners so that the university can achieve its vision 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.

What You Will Do
Campus Entrepreneurship Integration and Culture Building

Catalyze and forge connections across an ecosystem of campus and community entrepreneurship programs. You will create coherency and serve as a system-level architect.

Re-launch and lead the Entrepreneurship Circle, a regular gathering 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 entrepreneurship groups.

Cultivate trusting and productive relationships with key entrepreneurship groups across the university, including the Lead’s School of Business, College of Engineering and Applied Science, Silicon Flatirons, College of Arts and Science, Venture Partners at CU Boulder, Advancement, Career Services, and CU System I&E.

I&E Initiative Leadership

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 student employees/interns.

Provide strategic direction to marketing and communications team, to uplift and integrate campus entrepreneurship messaging.

Grow the I&E Initiative’s funding streams through grants, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and cross‑campus philanthropy.

Student and Community Experience and Relationships

Participate in local ecosystem events – listening, forming relationships, 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 entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Continuously discover and evaluate the student entrepreneurial journey and experience, to identify gaps and collectively design solutions with campus partners.

Establish relationships with peer universities, learning and sharing with other leading entrepreneurship programs.

New Venture Challenge

Lead CU Boulder’s annual startup and pitch competition, the New Venture Challenge (NVC).

Building on two decades of impact, continue to grow NVC as the venture competition in the region, through a dedication to founder support, community engagement, and continual evolution.

Develop long‑term partnerships with community supporters, mentors, and investors.

Establish a standard venture building curriculum for participating entrepreneurs that draws from expertise across the campus and provides an accessible path for all students.

Defining Success
Key milestones for the near term (5 years) include:

6–12 Months

Ecosystem portal (launch)

Entrepreneurship Circle (re‑launch)

Entrepreneurship Seed Grants (re‑launch)

Expanded educational and funding resources for students not enrolled in venture building courses

1–3 Years

Shared venture tracking system, for all student founders and mentors

Expanded entrepreneurship curricula, especially within academic units that have historically lacked entrepreneurship courses

Integrated, campus‑wide philanthropic strategy among campus entrepreneurship stakeholders and leaders

3+ Years

Entrepreneurship hub spaces for students, community, and their ventures

Expanded sources of capital (non‑dilutive and investment) for student ventures

Steady, long‑term growth in KPIs: student participation (% of all grads with entrepreneurship experience; individual program enrollment), mentor connections, alumni reengagement rates, alumni venture performance, ecosystem portal usage, I&E Initiative co‑investment validation levels (philanthropic, grants, venture investment, intra‑campus)

Other signature entrepreneurship programs and partnerships, as collectively selected by the Entrepreneurship Circle

What You Should Know
The Director reports to the Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation & Partnerships. The I&E Initiative is positioned within the Research & Innovation Office. This role follows a hybrid schedule: onsite 3 days per week with occasional evening work.

What We Can Offer
A salary of $150,000–$160,000.

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.

What We Require

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience from an accredited institution.

At least 6 years of professional experience in entrepreneurship, including at least 3 years in a leadership role within an entrepreneurship support organization such as a startup accelerator, venture studio, incubator, or high‑performing university program.

Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

What You Will Need

Embodiment of the “Give First” approach. You don’t just know the phrase; you live the philosophy.

Entrepreneurial approach: curiosity and attunement to your “customers,” rapid experimentation, a bias toward action and execution, and the capacity to innovate.

Long‑term vision and thinking, at the scale of ecosystem development.

Creativity and willingness to navigate university processes and find new paths and solutions.

Collaborative and relational style that builds strong relationships.

A partnership outlook that shares “wins” and elevates others.

Strong interpersonal skills and communications; responsiveness with community partners, faculty, and university leadership.

Dynamic and authentic public speaking.

Sensitivity to and appreciation of cultural, racial, political, and other differences.

What We Would Like You to Have

Advanced degree or equivalent experience: Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field such as business or law.

At least 10 years of professional experience in entrepreneurship, including at least 5 years in a leadership role within an entrepreneurship support organization such as a startup accelerator, venture studio, incubator, or high‑performing university program.

At least 3 years supervisory experience.

Ecosystem leadership: Direct experience building and growing programs that support a diverse range of founders.

Demonstrated impact growing entrepreneurship programs and infrastructure in a university setting.

Early‑stage founder/operator experience and understanding of the needs of a venture builder.

Front Range influence: strong existing relationships within the Colorado startup and venture community.

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