Job Description

Position Summary:

The Principal Investigator (PI) serves within the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML) in Colorado State University's (CSU) Warner College of Natural Resources and leads a designated program while advancing CEMML's mission through research, technical service, and partnership development. Working closely with CEMML executive leadership, the PI establishes program goals and objectives, oversees projects and programs, and fosters relationships with federal agencies and other public-sector partners to support program success and organizational growth.

The primary purpose of this role is to develop and expand innovative program areas that address emerging environmental and public-sector needs while helping shape CEMML's future service and research portfolio. As a leader, program builder, and advisor, the PI contributes to CEMML's strategic direction and operational effectiveness while ensuring all projects comply with Colorado State University requirements, award terms, federal regulations, and sponsoring agency policies and procedures.

Essential Job Duties:

• Preparing competitive proposals, scopes of work, budgets, and project plans; leading and managing complex programs and projects that support CEMML's mission and sponsors.
• Contributing to CEMML-wide initiatives and collaborating with other Principal Investigators; communicating effectively with diverse audiences, including sponsors, partners, university leadership, technical professionals, and the public.
• Hiring, supervising, and mentoring multidisciplinary teams of on-campus and/or off-campus personnel.
• Managing cooperative agreements, contracts, and other funding mechanisms; ensuring compliance with university, sponsor, and regulatory requirements.
• Creating and implementing effective workflows, processes, and management practices that support successful project execution.

Supervision:

This position will supervise on-campus and off-site employees.

Conditions of Employment:

• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires). 
• Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license by the employment start date.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. by proposed start date; the department will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.
• Must be able to pass a federal background investigation to obtain a Department of Defense Installation Access Pass and must possess a Real ID or passport.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, natural resource management, cultural resources management, engineering, geospatial science, social sciences, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience leading environmental, natural resource, cultural resource, or related programs and projects.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience applying relevant federal environmental and/or cultural resource laws, regulations, and compliance processes.
• Experience supervising professional staff and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated project and program management experience, including budget and resource oversight.
• Experience working in a soft-funded position or organization, including managing projects supported by grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other external funding sources, and adapting to evolving programmatic and funding needs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in environmental science, natural resource management, anthropology, archaeology, cultural resources management, geospatial science, engineering, social sciences, or related fields.
• Experience working with federal agencies or public land management organizations.
• Demonstrated success securing and managing grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or other externally funded projects.
• Experience working within a university, research, or other complex institutional environment.
• Strong project management skills, including management of budgets, personnel, schedules, and client relationships; PMP certification or equivalent experience is desirable.
• A clearly articulated vision for expanding CEMML's capabilities through development of a program area, client base, partnerships, funding opportunities, or technical specialty.

Applicant Instructions:

For any questions concerning this search please reach out to hiring contact Tim Schommer at [email protected]

Salary Range

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.

• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.

• Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.