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 Req #41335

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 Program

• 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.

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 th