Principal Sustainability Professional

The University of Colorado Denver is hiring a Principal Sustainability Professional to lead sustainability initiatives on campus, focusing on climate goals like waste diversion and emissions reduction. Responsibilities include securing funding for projects, tracking sustainability metrics, and engaging with the university community. The position requires a Bachelor's degree and three years of relevant experience. It is funded until June 30, 2026, with potential for extension.
About the position

The University of Colorado Denver is seeking a Principal Sustainability Professional to lead the campus' sustainability initiatives. This role is crucial in advancing the university's climate goals, which include waste diversion, reduction in resource consumption, energy use, and emissions. The Principal Sustainability Professional will collaborate with various stakeholders, including Facilities Management and Planning team members, the Auraria Campus Sustainable Campus Program (SCP), and passionate climate advocates from the student body, staff, and faculty. A significant aspect of this position involves seeking and acquiring funding from external sources such as grants, rebates, public-private partnerships (ESCOs), and loans to support projects that align with CU Denver's climate objectives and comply with state mandates regarding Energy Use Intensity (EUI), Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, and water consumption. In addition to funding acquisition, the Principal Sustainability Professional will be responsible for tracking key sustainability metrics, which are essential for reporting progress to various stakeholders, including the State of Colorado, CU Denver leadership, and the CU Board of Regents. This includes monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, energy use intensity, and water consumption through building automation systems and utility bills. The role also involves overseeing the annual President's Sustainable Solutions Challenge and serving as the primary liaison between CU Denver and the Auraria Sustainable Campus Program. The successful candidate will engage with the CU Denver community to foster a culture of climate advocacy and will represent the university on various sustainability-focused committees and working groups. This position is funded until June 30, 2026, with the possibility of extension contingent upon the success of the Principal Sustainability Professional in acquiring additional funding for sustainability projects that reduce future operating costs.

Responsibilities
• Lead the campus' sustainability efforts, including waste diversion and reduction in resource consumption.
,
• Seek and acquire funding from external sources for sustainability projects.
,
• Track key sustainability metrics and report progress to stakeholders.
,
• Oversee the annual President's Sustainable Solutions Challenge.
,
• Serve as the primary liaison between CU Denver and the Auraria Sustainable Campus Program.
,
• Engage with the CU Denver community on sustainability initiatives.
,
• Represent CU Denver on sustainability-focused working groups and committees.
,
• Create and maintain a sustainability web page within the Facilities Management and Planning site.

Requirements
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in education and experience.
,
• Three years of active working experience in sustainability, energy management, or related fields.
,
• Experience acquiring funding for sustainability-related projects.
,
• Experience coordinating capital improvement projects with a sustainability focus.
,
• Demonstrated record of executing programmatic sustainability initiatives.

Nice-to-haves
• Experience working in an academic setting.
,
• Experience prioritizing and completing projects within a budget.
,
• Experience with energy performance contracting.

Benefits
• Health insurance
,
• Generous leave
,
• Retirement contributions