Director, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative

Summary

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 incredible 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 of the I&E Initiative brings together and catalyzes the network of campus entrepreneurship partners so that we can together achieve our 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.

Who We Are

CU Boulder is a leading public research university and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), with a wide-reaching mission that includes prioritizing innovation and entrepreneurship. 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 entrepreneurial communities in the country. Boulder has been ranked by Forbes as the best city in America in which to start a business, and as the top city in America by Bloomberg’s Brain Concentration Index. Ours is a unique and mature ecosystem of 'Give First' leaders and committed founders, with a high concentration of both intellectual and venture capital.

Responsibilities

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

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 Leed’s School of Business, Colleague 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 of success for near term (5 years) include:

6-12 months

• Ecosystem portal (launch, see above)
• Entrepreneurship Circle (re-launch, see above)
• Entrepreneurship Seed Grants (re-launch, see above)
• 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 of the I&E Initiative reports to the Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation & Partnerships. The I&E Initiative is organizationally positioned within the Research & Innovation Office. This role follows a hybrid schedule working onsite 3 days/week. This position also involves occasional work during the evening.

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. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

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 equivalent experience 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.
  
  

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 7/24/26 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.