Position Summary:

Job Description:

Position: Western Colorado University seeks an experienced, strategic leader to serve as the Director of a thriving Energy Management Program. This is a full-time, 12-month position with some travel. Reporting to the Dean of the School of Business, the Director oversees a program coordinator and provides strategic development in alignment with Western’s 2023-28 strategic plan, and budget management and industry forecasting. The successful candidate develops external partnerships for student placements and fundraising with the Dean, Vice President for Advancement, Career Services Director, and Energy Management Advisory Board.

The Director promotes student engagement and success in partnership with the Moncrief Chair for Energy Management and collaborates with other School of Business and campus personnel. The position maintains AAPL program accreditation, which provides scholarship and networking opportunities for students through their educational events and certification program. Program accreditation requires that the Director be based at the University.

Located in beautiful Gunnison, Colorado, Western strives to be a campus of inclusive excellence. Opening as a teaching college in 1911, the university has continuously evolved with and for the growing community it serves to offer wide-ranging areas of study and research opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities. Western’s School of Business educates ~70 graduate students each year and ~ 350 undergraduate students; 40-50 of whom are in the Energy Management emphasis.

Required Duties
The Director must

• Be a proven fundraiser (or proven business development experience in industry) who will engage with donors, alumni, and industry leaders in advancement and career development activities.
• Ensure a sustainable student enrollment in the Energy Management Program and support program growth.
• Develop networks that aid student enrollment, retention, completion, and post-graduate/career success for energy management students.
• Oversee effective oral, print, digital, and social media communications and marketing.
• Maintain a productive partnership with the program’s advisory board.

Minimum Qualifications: a master’s degree; candidates without an advance degree but with significant leadership experience in the field of energy management will be considered if they demonstrate a commitment to higher education. 

Additional Required Experience includes:

• demonstrated experience in fundraising and/or business development;
• the ability to understand the current and future career horizon of the energy management field;
• experience building and sustaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders;
• a successful record of achievement of strategic goals through shared vision and change management; 
• experiences in fiscal planning and budgeting management;
• good communication and interpersonal, leadership and motivational skills; and
• experiences and achievements which exemplify Western’s values of integrity, inclusivity, stewardship, courage and growth.

Preferred Qualifications: experience with higher education energy management or land management programs.  3+ years experience with fund-raising and donor relationships

Compensation: The annual salary for the full-time, 12-month position is $120,000 and the position is FLSA exempt. Western offers an excellent benefits package including shared premiums for a comprehensive health insurance plan, dental insurance, retirement plan, life insurance, and other insurance options. After one year of employment, Western provides free tuition for dependents enrolled full-time in undergraduate programs for up to four years and the University offers participation in a national tuition exchange program for dependents.

Application Procedure:  Apply online at www.Western.edu/jobs. Required attachments for online application include a letter of application (addressed to Dr. Sharoni Little, Dean of the School of Business), resume, and contact information for three references.

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.

Please direct questions to Dr. Sharoni Little, [email protected].

Application deadline is March 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (MDT).   

Additional Information on Western and Gunnison/Crested Butte

Western Colorado University is a public institution with an enrollment of ~3,700 students. 47% of students are undergraduates, 33% are graduate students, and 80% receive some form of financial aid. Western students represent 17 countries, 50 states, and almost every county in Colorado. With an average class size of 17, Western’s faculty and staff share a strong commitment to personalized, rigorous, and immersive education. Visit http://www.western.edu to learn more about the university.

Western Colorado University is located in Gunnison, Colorado, about 200 miles southwest of Denver amidst over 2 million acres of public land and a vibrant ranching community. The Gunnison valley provides robust cultural programming and exceptional outdoor recreation. A network of dedicated community organizations enrich the lives of many in the tight-knit community. Living in the valley, one appreciates a vibrant culture of festivals, exhibitions, performances, wellness activities, and more. In the winter, many enjoy in skiing at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and along dozens of miles of cross-country trails. In the summer, bikers, hikers, and runners explore 750-plus miles of singletrack trails, while others delight in fishing, boating, and paddleboarding at Blue Mesa Reservoir or on the Gunnison River and its tributaries. Pre-K-12 students are served by the highly-ranked Gunnison Watershed School District.

An Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.

Western Colorado University believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. Western is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (for state classified positions, with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Please see our diversity statement, and our DEII Committee charge.

 
ADAAA ACCOMMODATIONS:

Western Colorado University is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Western will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to the Office of Human Resources at [email protected] or (970) 943-3140.

WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER INCLUDING DISABILITY/VETERANS