Location: Boulder, Colorado
City:
Boulder
State: Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full-Time
Posting Close Date: 22-Feb-2026
Date Posted:
26-Jan-2026
Job Summary
Advancement at CU Boulder encourages applications for a Director, Industry
Relations! Reporting to the Senior Director of Industry Relations, this position is a key individual contributor for the Industry and
Foundations Relations team (IFR). The Director, Industry Relations manages a portfolio of partners, including industry prospects that can
invest in excess of $100,000+, that help further the mission and goals of the university.
The Industry Relations team is organized
around liaison assignments, and the Director will be responsible for providing leadership and corporate partnership strategy to the
following campus partners primarily; Leeds School of Business and the College of Arts & Sciences. Additionally, they will support campus
initiatives of sustainability and quantum work through industry partnerships. They will be responsible for developing, managing, and
sustaining the university’s comprehensive relationship with key external industry partners as a liaison to these particular groups.
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
At CU Boulder Advancement, we are committed to fostering an environment where everyone matters and all can
thrive. This dedication is rooted in our core values and our mission to drive impactful fundraising and engagement. Our team actively
engages in learning, reflection, and the transformation of systems, policies, and practices that perpetuate oppressive ideologies-including
racism, sexism, ableism, and heterosexism. We recognize our responsibility to lead by example in building a supportive and inclusive culture
for both internal colleagues and external partners. We hold ourselves accountable through individual and divisional goals that continuously
assess our progress, growth, and outcomes-ensuring alignment with our mission and values every step of the way.
What Your
Key Responsibilities Will Be
Partnership Development and Strategy
- Manage a portfolio consisting
of ~40 industry prospects. - Develop strategies for each industry partner in portfolio and identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward
relationships with industry partners. - Work across matrixed corporate organizational structures to engage companies at various
levels, from university relations to C-suite executives. - Proactively engage in dynamic external relationship-building activities
through calls, travel and utilization of research resources to identify and discover new potential partnerships that lead to strong,
sustained partner relationships and proposal invitations. This will include individual discover work as well as working in partnership with
the IFR Program Manager and Advancement Research teams on proactive discovery work. - At a director level, it is expected that a
majority of activity with industry will focus on major gifts and grants ($100k+), with a goal of growing industry relationships to a
principal level ($3M+). - Host executive campus visits to include, but not limited to, research presentation, tours, roundtable
discussions, etc. - Ensure prospect strategies and agreements are detailed, contact reports are filed, and stewardship plans are
carried out. - Tracks and meets goals relating to core metrics. Core metrics will be determined in partnership with the Senior
Director. - Conduct regular in-state and out-of-state travel to meet with partners.
Collaboration and Internal
Development
- Partner closely with faculty, staff, and college leadership within college liaison assignments to ensure
alignment of research, scholarship, workforce development, and support initiatives to represent CU Boulder to potential industry partners
effectively and strategically. - Work with campus partners, including Research and Innovation Office colleagues, Career Services, and
academic leaders to initiate partnerships that benefit the University’s mission and require cross-collaborative approaches to successful
industry partnerships. - Serve as the lead IFR resource for policies, procedures, and industry trends for corporate and philanthropy
within college liaison assignments. - Serve as a strategic liaison between the Industry and Foundation Relations team and campus
partners, including faculty, unit heads, and leadership. Build trust and develop collaboration to advance foundation engagement. Share
insights and opportunities with IFR colleagues and advancement leaders, promoting a culture of collaboration and shared success across the
CU system. - Develop a trusting and collaborative working relationship with all campus partners.
What You Should
Know
- This position will require local, regional, and out-of-state travel to meet with donors.
- This position has
the ability to work a hybrid schedule with some days on campus and some days remote. - This position will occasionally be required to
work evenings/weekends.
What We Can Offer
The salary range is $105,000 – $125,000 annually. Relocation
assistance is available within Advancement 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 dynamic. Be innovative. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- Education: Bachelor’s
degree or equivalent experience or combination of education and experience may substitute. - Experience: 5+ years of professional,
job-related experience.
What You Will Need
- Strong understanding of corporate giving trends, initiatives,
and the ability to assess the financial impact of corporate partnerships. - Expertise in structuring mutually beneficial partnerships
and identifying new revenue streams for the university. - Solid knowledge of giving vehicles for corporate partners and ability to
navigate corporate needs with university priorities. - Phenomenal organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple,
sophisticated projects simultaneously. Ability to adapt to shifting priorities and set timelines. - Ability to take constructive
feedback from leadership and campus partners. - Ability to champion the shared values of the Office of Advancement.
- Ability to
exercise a high degree of tact, discretion, and collaboration in working with a diverse range of constituents including employees, students,
volunteers, alumni, donors, and campus colleagues. - Great relationship building skills.
- Growth mindset, team-oriented
approach, resilience and perseverance.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Demonstrated experience in
securing corporate funding at $100,000+ or greater. - Experience at an R-1 university.
- Advanced degree or equivalent
experience. - Experience working with faculty.
- Relevant work experience in a Business or Arts and Sciences
school. - Software Used: Microsoft Office Products; donor tracking software CRM (Salesforce experience
advantageous).
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 February 22,
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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