Deputy Director for Strategic Development and Communications

Job Summary

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics ( LASP ) at the University of Colorado Boulder seeks an experienced leader to serve as its Deputy Director for Strategic Development and Communications. Reporting to LASP’s Director, the Deputy Director will be a senior member of the LASP executive leadership team and will be responsible for strategically enabling growth through business development, managing communications programs, and advancing the technology infrastructure that directly and indirectly enables LASP’s work.

The Deputy Director is one of six senior-level leaders of the Lab reporting to the Director and supervises nine senior staff responsible for Business Development, Communication Management, and Technology. The Deputy Director ensures that LASP is identifying, assessing, and operationalizing both long-term relationships such as with NASA and other federal agencies and newer relationships with international partners and the commercial space sector. The Deputy Director represents the Lab to external sponsors and partners as well as to University of Colorado support functions such as communications, technology, government relations, and fundraising to ensure that its needs are understood and its accomplishments celebrated.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU) began in 1948, a decade before NASA. We are the world’s only academic research institute to have sent instruments to all eight planets and Pluto.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The Deputy Director:

• Help create a shared vision for the development of the Lab to sustain growth and excellence.
• Advocate for innovation, support, and sustainment.
• Strategically champion research in emerging opportunity areas.
• Maintain a broad understanding of space research, science, and engineering.
• Influence investment in unexplored research opportunities.
• Strategically assess research capabilities and needs.
• Maintain and coordinate awareness of competitor developments.
• Oversee internal and external communications strategy and advocacy.
• Represent LASP at external forums and venues.
• Guide investment in technologies that transform how LASP stores, protects, and uses data.
• Assess the changing regulatory/risk environments and ensures effective security policies/programs accordingly.

What You Should Know

• The Deputy Director must be a U.S. Person. Eligibility for a high-level security clearance is preferred but not required. The Deputy Director will embrace the values of a mission-driven non-profit organization.
• All University of Colorado Boulder employees are required to comply with the campus COVID-19 vaccine requirement . New employees must provide proof of vaccination or receive a medical or religious exemption within 30 days of employment.

What We Can Offer

The salary range for this position is $199,000.00 - $235,000.00. We offer a generous retirement plan that includes 200% matching for the first 5% contributed with immediate vesting. Relocation assistance is available per institute guidelines.

Benefits
The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder .

Be Statements
Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Qualifications include:

• Outstanding leadership ability, a deep sense of scholarship, thorough comprehension of the issues involved with space exploratory research, and the ability to be an effective member of the LASP management team.
• Successful candidates will have an advanced degree or a Bachelor’s degree and equivalent experience in a relevant discipline of engineering or science.
• Substantial management experience in a research and development organization is also required.

What You Will Need

In addition, qualified candidates will possess:

• Ability to lead and define new directions in science, engineering, and program opportunities.
• Familiarity with government, commercial, and international space research goals, and opportunities.
• Ability to identify academic, financial, and political factors that impact research opportunities.
• Experience with U.S/international space agencies and/or the areospace industry.
• Ability to recognize and manage commercial and international research/business issues.
• Commitment to promoting LASP’s and CU’s Diversity and Inclusion goals.
• Commercial business development and marketing experience.
• Cross-cultural and cross-discipline communication skills.
• Ability to succeed through influence and subject-matter expertise.
• Excellent collaborative and adaptive thinking perspectives, and high emotional intelligence.
• Resilience, agility, and organizational savvy.

Special Instructions

LASP has engaged Opus Partners ( www.opuspartners.net ) to support the recruitment of the Deputy Director. Craig Smith, Partner, and Jeffrey Stafford, Senior Associate, are leading the search. Candidates should send their CV and an introductory letter of interest to craig.smith@opuspartners.net or jeffrey.stafford@opuspartners.net . Nominations, recommendations, and inquiries should go to the same address. Every effort will be made to ensure candidate confidentiality. LASP will begin to review candidate materials on May 15, 2022 and will advance the selection process as expeditiously as possible. The search process will remain confidential.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu