The Community Engagement Manager is responsible for creating and managing programs for the Office of Leadership Support and Programming at the University of Colorado Boulder. This role will provide leadership for building and driving the office programming strategy. This involves supporting the coordination of programmatic functions associated with employee affinity groups, Impact Grants and campus-wide programs; and helping to grow, develop, coordinate and assess social and educational activities for employees. Reporting to the associate vice chancellor, duties for this role include but are not limited to developing and evaluating employee engagement programs, meeting and documentation support, community engagement (both internal to CU Boulder and the region), and event management.
The Community Engagement Manager will be a critical contributor in a high functioning team with a campus-wide reach and will support efforts to foster community engagement to evidence the retention of all employees and in consideration of myriad constituent needs, experiences, and campus history. Knowledge of equity issues in higher education and a demonstrated dedication to creating environments where everyone matters and can thrive are crucial!
We expect this person will establish trusting relationships and work closely with existing services within and outside of Leadership Support and Programming (e.g., Human Resources, Business, Finance and Infrastructure, Student Life, Employee Health and Wellbeing) to complement the current landscape of employee support and engagement for CU Boulder. As such, the role will create structures and programs for employees to connect with other employees with a focus on creating supportive environments, as well as programs or initiatives designed to increase employee engagement and community building.
Incumbents will apply Shared Equity Leadership and organizational change principles to support the design, coordination, and assessment of employee engagement and community-building initiatives across the institution. Our core values include accountability, love and care, humility, courage, transparency, creativity, and vulnerability. Drawing on applied frameworks in organizational effectiveness, participatory leadership, community engagement, and multicultural organizational development, this role emphasizes building structures and programs that foster connection, shared responsibility, and inclusive participation.
A range of competency models and applied frameworks (e.g., NASPA/ACPA Professional Competencies, Multicultural Organizational Development, Leadership Reconsidered, and human-centered or participatory design approaches) will inform the development of engagement strategies, resources, and programming that strengthen leadership capacity and employee experience at multiple levels of the institution. This work attends to individual, collective, structural, and systems-level factors that influence organizational culture, retention, and belonging, with a focus on sustaining campus environments where everyone matters and all can thrive. Responsibilities may include coordinating campus-wide signature events, employee engagement programs, supporting affinity group and community-building efforts, developing toolkits and guidance materials, managing projects and events, collecting feedback, and contributing to assessment and evaluation processes.
Ideal candidates will demonstrate experience supporting employee engagement, working with vendors external to the institution, leadership development, or community-building efforts within large, complex organizations. Candidates should bring strong cultural competence, an understanding of equity-related disparities in higher education, engaging across difference, and experience contributing to or supporting initiatives related to inclusive leadership, organizational change, and community engagement.
Successful candidates will be able to translate theory into practice by supporting programs and partnerships that foster connection, shared responsibility, and continuous learning. Relevant experience may include facilitating or supporting engagement initiatives; coordinating learning communities or affinity-based efforts; contributing to assessment and reporting; and collaborating with a wide range of partners to advance equity-centered outcomes. Candidates should speak directly to the competencies and desired experiences in their application materials and interviews.
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.