Professor, Director of Construction

Position Details
University of Colorado | Denver
Faculty Level/Title\: Professor, Faculty and Director
Working Title: Professor, Director of Construction
FTE: Full-time 
Salary Range\: $85,000.00 - $130,000.00, 9-month contract
Position #\: 00350978 - Req #41335

About the University of Colorado - Denver
Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We’re the state’s premier public urban research university with more than 100 in-demand, top ranked bachelors, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. We partner with diverse learners—at any stage of their life and career—for transformative educational experiences. Across seven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges and produce impactful creative work. As part of the state’s largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $800 million. To learn more about how CU Denver helps learners meet their moment, visit ucdenver.edu. 

About the College
The College of Engineering, Design and Computing (CEDC) takes pride in having a faculty of excellent scholars and engineering practitioners. We attract hard-working students who are enthusiastic about engineering, and we are redesigning engineering education to create the agile versatile engineers of the future. Providing an education of enduring value to our students is at the heart of our College mission.

We integrate design innovation and computing technology across disciplines, in conjunction with authentic experiences that develop human and social skills such as creativity, collaboration, entrepreneurship, and leadership. We embrace and leverage our setting across urban and medical campuses to broadly impact the social and economic growth of the Denver urban corridor through enterprise partnerships.  Our goal is to emerge as Denver’s technological innovation engine and significantly impact Colorado, the nation, and the world via informatics, infrastructure, sustainability, as a smart city.

Job Description
* Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers *

The Department of Civil Engineering and Construction in the College of Engineering, Design and Computing at the University of Colorado Denver invites applications for the position of Director of Construction. We seek an accomplished leader in construction education, research, and/or professional practice to lead CU Denver’s growing Construction Management and Construction Engineering Management programs. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership for the programs, support and mentor faculty and students, strengthen industry partnerships, and guide continued growth in education, research, and external engagement.

We welcome candidates whose careers bridge academia and professional practice, including candidates with substantial leadership experience in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Candidates do not need to currently hold a tenured faculty appointment to be considered. The successful candidate will receive a faculty appointment in the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction and a separate four-year appointment as Director of Construction. Depending on the candidate’s background and qualifications, the faculty appointment may be as a tenured Associate Professor or Professor or on the Teaching Professor track.
Teaching duties will be in construction engineering management, with upcoming needs in Construction Management Fundamentals, Field Engineering and Management, Materials and Methods, Advanced Construction Technology, Construction Safety, and Construction Engineering.

Faculty track and rank will be commensurate with the candidate’s education, experience, qualifications, and career path.

Why CU Denver and Denver
CU Denver's downtown campus places faculty in the heart of a major metropolitan region, with close connections to construction firms, public agencies, professional organizations, and industry partners across Colorado. Denver offers the cultural and professional resources of a major city, with the Rocky Mountains and extensive outdoor recreation nearby.

CU Denver combines the resources of the University of Colorado system with an urban campus closely connected to the community it serves. Eligible employees have access to health and retirement benefits, tuition assistance, professional development resources, and RTD EcoPass transit benefits.

About the Department
The Civil Engineering and Construction department has 10 full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty, 3 teaching-track faculty, and many part-time lecturers. The department offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, including master's and doctoral degrees, in civil engineering, construction engineering management, and construction management. The civil engineering program has been accredited continuously since its inception, and the newer construction programs were first accredited in 2023. In 2025, the department had 75 graduate students and 310 undergraduate students. Approximately 35% are in the construction programs.

About the Program
The Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) program at the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) launched in Fall 2014 as a graduate specialty of the Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering in response to local industry requests and support. Work on two bachelor's degrees began in 2017\: the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Construction Management (CM) and the Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering Management (CEM). CEDC moved forward with both degrees because of interdisciplinary support throughout the College and across CU Denver, especially from the College of Architecture and Planning and the Business School. The two BS degrees were approved by CU Denver, the University of Colorado Regents, and the Colorado Department of Higher Education in Fall 2019, launched in August 2020, and accredited by ABET in 2023.
 
Professor,  Director of Construction
What you will do:
The faculty responsibilities associated with this position depend on the appointment track and reflect the workload distribution while serving as Director of Construction. A Teaching Professor-track appointment will include 40% teaching and 60% service, while a tenure-line appointment will include 20% teaching, 20% research, and 60% service. The 60% service allocation includes the leadership and administrative responsibilities associated with the four-year Director appointment. The Director appointment includes an additional academic year administrative stipend equal to 7–10% of the faculty base salary. If the Director appointment ends, the faculty workload would be adjusted consistent with the individual’s faculty track and other assigned responsibilities.

Lead the Construction Programs

• Recruit, develop, and retain outstanding faculty and staff 
• Oversee program ABET accreditation; manage operations and budget in partnership with department leadership; lead issue resolution

Grow Enrollment and Program Reach

• Lead strategy to grow and retain undergraduate and graduate enrollment 
• Increase the program’s visibility and reputation regionally and nationally

Advance Academic Quality and Student Experience 

• Champion impactful curricular and extracurricular learning opportunities
• Integrate emerging construction technologies into teaching and learning

Strengthen Industry Engagement and Fundraising

• Continue to build and activate a strong Industry Advisory Board (IAB) to support program relevance, student opportunities, and resource development
• Diversify program revenue streams

Strengthen Research and External Funding

• Support growth in research activity and external funding across the program
• Support and mentor faculty in developing research and scholarly activities

Qualifications you already possess (Minimum Qualifications)
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

All candidates:

• Demonstrated leadership experience in academia, the construction industry, or a closely related setting.

For appointment on the tenure line:

• PhD in Construction Management, Construction Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
• A proven record of teaching, research, and service accomplishments commensurate with unit-level and college requirements for appointment with tenure at the Associate Professor or Professor level in the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction.

For appointment on the Teaching Professor track:

• Terminal degree in Construction Management, Construction Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent qualifications and professional experience consistent with the applicable Teaching Professor-track appointment.
• A proven record of teaching and/or professional accomplishments commensurate with unit-level and college requirements for appointment at the applicable rank on the Teaching Professor track in the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction.

Preferred Qualification to possess (Preferred Qualifications)
Competitive candidates may demonstrate strengths in several of the following areas. Candidates are not expected to possess every preferred qualification.

• Professional experience in or substantial engagement with the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.
• Experience developing industry partnerships, working with advisory boards, and/or supporting fundraising or external engagement.
• Experience teaching, training, advising, or mentoring students or professionals in construction-related fields.
• Experience with accreditation, program assessment, or continuous improvement; ABET experience is preferred.
• Interest in or experience with emerging construction technologies, including applications of AI in education, research, or professional practice.
• Professional Engineer licensure or other relevant professional license or certification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Effective communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to lead collaboratively and support the professional growth of faculty and staff.
• Strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate education and student success across a range of backgrounds, educational pathways, and career goals.
• Ability to guide curriculum and program development in response to changes in construction education and professional practice.

Conditions of Employment

• Occasional work during the evening and/or weekends may be required.
• Working from the office is encouraged particularly when working on tasks that require a high degree of collaboration.

Mental, Physical, and/or Environmental Requirements 

• The ability to sit for extended periods, stand and walk occasionally, reach with hands and arms, use hands to manipulate a keyboard and mouse, and have good near vision for computer work; often requiring minimal lifting, but may involve bending or reaching to retrieve items from shelves or drawers.

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. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [email protected].

Employment Sponsorship
Please be advised that this position may be eligible now and in the future for certain visa sponsorship limited to Change of Status (COS) within the United States or if the candidate meets the criteria for the portability provision. While the hiring unit is willing to pursue visa sponsorship, an offer of employment will be contingent on the candidate having a visa status that allows employment with the University as of the start date for the position or the University’s petition being approved and on the candidate being able to obtain the appropriate visa status.

Compensation and Benefits
The salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established at:

• In addition to the faculty salary listed below, the four-year Director appointment includes an administrative stipend equal to 7–10% of the faculty base salary.
• Professor\: $120,000 - $130,000 per 9-month academic year. Additional salary for summer months can be sourced from internal funds for additional duties or external funding.
• Associate Professor\: $110,000 - $115,000 per 9-month academic year. Additional salary for summer months can be sourced from internal funds for additional duties or external funding.
• Teaching Professor-track appointment\: $95,000 - $105,000 per 9-month academic year. Additional salary for summer months can be sourced from internal funds for additional duties or external funding.

• Teaching Associate Professor-track appointment\: $85,000 - $95,000 per 9-month academic year. Additional salary for summer months can be sourced from internal funds for additional duties or external funding.

   

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training.

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation. Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado Denver provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line. 

Benefits statement to include in all benefits-eligible positions. See Eligibility Matrix.

Benefits\: https\://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits Total Compensation Calculator\: http\://www.cu.edu/node/153125 

Application Deadline

• Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Preference will be given to complete applications received by January 1, 2027. Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered. Interested applicants are welcome to continue to apply.

Required Application Materials:
To apply, please visit: http\://www.cu.edu/cu-careers and attach:

• A one-page cover letter describing interest in the Director of Construction role and relevant qualifications.
• A current CV/resume.
• A two-page director philosophy.
• The names and contact information of three professional references. Candidates will be notified before references are contacted.

Questions should be directed to David Mays, [email protected].

Background Check Policy
The University of Colorado Denver strives to maintain a safe and productive educational, clinical, research and employment environment. All prospective employees and current employees must, therefore, consent to and pass background checks prior to any final appointment/employment.