Director of Strategy and Partnerships

Job Summary

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder invites nominations and applications for the position of Director of Strategy and Partnerships. The position provides a rare opportunity to help define the future of one of the world’s premier space research institutions.

Who We Are

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) is one of the largest research institutes of CU Boulder, the #1 public university recipient of NASA research grants, and one of America’s leading aerospace universities. With a focus on solar, stellar, space plasma, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, LASP employs both experimental and theoretical approaches to answer key science questions. Since its inception in 1948, LASP has developed, operated, and analyzed the data from scientific instrumentation for solar science, earth atmospheric, planetary, deep-space, and Earth-orbiting spacecraft missions investigating the Sun, all eight planets, Pluto and beyond. The progressive development of research capabilities and use of innovative technologies in pursuit of emerging research initiatives ensures a continued leadership role for LASP in today’s growing “new space” era.

Key Responsibilities

• Working with the LASP Director and senior leadership, oversee the development of short- and long-term strategic priorities and future plans that span LASP’s science and technology teams, including in coordination with CU, government, private, and international space partners.
• Identify new opportunities across academic, government, commercial, and international sectors, including awareness of emerging domains, products, and sectors eligible for expansion, such as large mission concepts, instrument line development, and strategic faculty and staff hiring.
• Cultivate partnerships with NASA, NOAA, local and state government, federal agency, industry, foundation, and philanthropic entities, supported by a robust partner relationship management system.
• Identify and develop advancement and philanthropic opportunities in collaboration with the Director of LASP.
• Interact with prospective principal investigators (PIs) to maintain a continual awareness of future ambitions.
• Evaluate proposal opportunities and assess resource and capacity requirements for responding to calls, working closely with LASP leadership.
• Publicize upcoming proposal opportunities within LASP.
• Lead a team of proposal and capture managers to grow the quality and number of proposals submitted by LASP principal investigators and by external principal investigators partnered with LASP scientists and technologists.
• Oversee the submission of large mission, instrument, and research proposals, including conducting internal reviews to ensure proposal excellence.
• Oversee the LASP Strategy and Partnerships Committee, a rotating group of scientists and technologists to support the Director of Strategy & Partnerships in shared responsibility for lab-wide dissemination of opportunities, internal proposal support and review, and fostering the skills growth of new PIs and PMs.
• Ensure initiatives for strategy and partnerships are resourced, sequenced, and tracked to completion.

What You Should Know

Due to requirements governing access to export-controlled data and information, only U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), or other protected individuals (i.e., persons designated as an asylee, refugee, or temporary resident under amnesty provisions) are eligible for hire.

What We Can Offer

• The annual salary range for this position is $225,000 to $265,000, plus moving allowance and performance bonus.
• The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, and an ECO Pass for local transit.
• Boulder County’s largest employer, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation.

Be Statements

Excellent collaborative and adaptive thinking perspectives, along with high emotional intelligence.

What We Require

• Advanced degree (e.g. Master's) or Bachelor’s plus minimum of 5 years experience in a relevant discipline of engineering or science.
• Ability to lead and define new directions in science, engineering, and mission opportunities.
• Program/project management experience in a research or science mission capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex organizational relationships and drive alignment across diverse teams without direct authority.
• Knowledge of government, commercial, philanthropic, and international space research goals, objectives, and opportunities.
• Deep familiarity with federal proposal and procurement processes, including experience with NASA, NOAA, NSF, DoD, or comparable agencies.
• Ability to identify academic, financial, and political factors that impact research and mission opportunities.
• Ability to assess and manage business, social, and cultural factors affecting strategy and partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Ph.D. degree in a relevant discipline of engineering or science.
• Experience with industry, federal, and/or international space agencies.
• Commercial business development and marketing experience.
• Eligibility for a high-level security clearance.

Special Instructions

DO NOT APPLY ON THIS SITE.

The University of Colorado and LASP have engaged Opus Partners (www.opuspartners.net) to support the recruitment of the Director of Strategy and Partnerships. Craig Smith, Managing Partner and Jeffrey Stafford, Senior Associate, are leading the search. Candidates should send their CV and letter of interest to jeffrey.stafford@opuspartners.net. Nominations, recommendations, and inquiries should go to the same address. Every effort will be made to ensure candidate confidentiality. Applications received by August 1, 2026, will receive full consideration. The search process is confidential.

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.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu