Professor, Director of Construction
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus · Denver
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