Program Manager for Sustainability Classifications and Recognition Initiatives

Requisition Number: 70563

Location: Boulder, Colorado

City:
Boulder

State: Colorado

Employment Type: University Staff

Schedule: Full-Time

Posting Close Date: 23-Mar-2026

Date Posted:
10-Mar-2026

Job Summary

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) seeks a highly organized,
self-directed Program Manager to support the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Sustainability (OVCS) in advancing institutional
sustainability leadership in higher education. This position plays a critical role in the administration, coordination, and continuous
improvement of sustainability classification and recognition initiatives-most notably the Carnegie Elective Classification for
Sustainability, an emerging national framework recognizing institutional commitment and leadership in sustainability and climate action.

The Carnegie Classification has served as the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S.
higher education, and is widely used in research, policy analysis, and institutional benchmarking. The Carnegie Elective Classification for
Sustainability builds on this legacy by creating a rigorous, inclusive, and nationally recognized system for assessing and advancing
sustainability and climate action across colleges and universities. CU Boulder, in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education, hosts and supports the development of this new elective classification. The
Program Manager will provide operational leadership, collaborator coordination, and administrative support to ensure the integrity,
scalability, and impact of the classification.

This role is ideal for a thorough professional who thrives in both independent and
team-based environments and has a strong interest in sustainability, institutional improvement, and systems-based solutions across higher
education.

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 Office of the Vice Chancellor for Sustainability manages a campus-wide sustainability portfolio by coordinating
strategic alliances and research partnerships, championing academic collaborations and student sustainability activities, advising on campus
operations and the implementation of the CU Boulder Climate Action Plan, integrating the best research practices and Indigenous knowledge
into campus planning and design, and playing a lead role in sustainability-related communications, events, and fundraising
priorities.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Carnegie Elective Classification for
Sustainability

Framework Development

• Help coordinate and manage relationships with the Carnegie Foundation and
  American Council on Education to advance the Sustainability Elective Classification.
• Assist in developing the operational and
  administrative infrastructure required to support broad institutional participation, and the design of indicators, review criteria, and
  evaluation procedures.
• Support efforts to ensure the framework is accessible and adaptable to a wide range of institutions,
  including Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), community colleges, rural institutions, and under-resourced campuses.

Program
Management

• Run logistics for applicant cohort participation, including application guidance, timelines, and
  communications.
• Assist the implementation, refinement, and documentation of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability
  framework and review guidance, maintaining a transparent, tiered peer-review process with clear documentation standards.
• Coordinate
  review processes, including reviewer recruitment, training, evaluation workflows, and the development and distribution of individualized
  institutional feedback reports.

Training, Outreach, and Engagement

• Support the development and execution of communications
  strategies, including workshops, webinars, convenings, website content, and outreach materials to build awareness, shared understanding, and
  momentum around the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability across higher education institutions.
• Assist in coordinating
  capacity-building events and training sessions for participating institutions and campus partners.
• Support collaboration with higher
  education associations, sustainability networks, and complementary frameworks (e.g., AASHE STARS, UN Sustainable Development
  Goals).

Continuous Improvement and Reporting

• Incorporate feedback, research findings, and collaborator input into framework
  updates and evaluation tools for future classification cycles.
• Track program performance metrics, institutional data and analysis
  for benchmarking and continuous improvement.
• Prepare regular reports, summaries, and briefing materials to support program
  evaluation, accountability, and future development.

Strategic Leadership Support

• Partner with OVCS
  leadership to coordinate a coherent, campus-wide sustainability portfolio, including supporting strategy development, academic
  collaborations, student engagement, and operational initiatives.
• Assist in building and maintaining external partnerships with
  universities, government agencies, NGOs, corporations, foundations, and multilateral organizations.
• Provide project management for
  strategic initiatives that position CU Boulder as a hub for sustainability research, education, operations and community
  engagement.
• Generate key performance indicators and track and report progress toward sustainability goals and
  initiatives.

Operational Excellence

• Assist in advancing campus sustainability operations, including
  energy, water, transportation, waste reduction, and supply chain management initiatives.
• Support the integration of Indigenous
  knowledge and multicultural perspectives into sustainability planning, operations, and education.
• Help develop, track, and refine
  sustainability metrics and reporting systems for the CU Boulder campus.

Communications, Fundraising &
Outreach

• Work with CU Boulder communications teams to lead events, campaigns, and materials that raise visibility for
  sustainability leadership.
• Support Advancement staff in pursuing philanthropic and grant funding opportunities for sustainability
  initiatives.
• Draft reports, presentations, talking points, and other materials for executive leadership.

What You
Should Know

• This position is expected to work in a hybrid format with some in-person and some remote work as prioritized
  by the business needs of the office.
• This position is expected to work during traditional business hours (8:00am-5:00pm), with
  occasional requests for evening and/or weekend event staffing.

What We Can Offer

The annual hiring range
for this full-time position is $82,000-$92,000. Relocation funds are available for eligible candidates.

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

• Bachelor’s degree in sustainability, education, environmental studies, public administration, project management,
  or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience managing complex projects and strategy development, preferably in higher education,
  sustainability, or public policy settings.

What You Will Need

• Strategic thinking with the ability to
  shape strategy, develop vision, and translate big-picture goals into actionable projects.
• Strategy creation and synthesis skills and
  the ability to develop decks and briefs that shape compelling and cogent high-level initiatives.
• Research skills to benchmark
  against peer institutions and inventory campus level activities.
• Relationship-building and diplomacy across a broad range of
  internal and external collaborators.
• Analytical skills to track progress against sustainability and climate
  goals.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Passion for sustainability, climate resilience,
  and social equity.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple initiatives
  simultaneously.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment that integrates Indigenous and
  multicultural perspectives into sustainability work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience
  preparing reports and facilitation materials and executive-level materials.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder
  initiatives with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to thrive independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative
  team environment.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Master’s degree in sustainability, public
  administration, environmental sciences, or related field.
• Experience working in or with higher education institutions.
• Track
  record of successful partnership development with external organizations and collaborators.
• Familiarity with sustainability
  assessment frameworks (e.g., AASHE STARS, UN SDGs, LEED).
• Experience in fundraising support, grant writing, or philanthropic
  engagement.
• Experience supporting equity-centered or inclusive program design.
• Interest in sustainability leadership and
  institutional change in higher education.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following
materials:

1. A current resume.
2. 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 March 23, 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.

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