Description

The Institute for Research in the Social Sciences Director is a full-time, twelve-month administrative professional leadership position that reports to the Associate Dean for Research, College of Liberal Arts. The Director may select to have a faculty affiliate appointment in an appropriate department in the College of Liberal Arts. Desire to maintain an active research program will be considered but is not required.

We seek an established leader with expertise in the field of applied social science who is committed to collaboration, networking, and team building. The institute collaborates on projects and services with colleagues across campus in the colleges of Agriculture Science, Liberal Arts, Business, Engineering, Health and Human Sciences, Natural Resources, Natural Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, as well as administrative divisions and departments.

A large number of state and federal government agencies, including CDC, USDA, NIH, NOAA, NPS, USGS, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and others are located in the Northern Colorado area, providing strong opportunities to develop research and advancements in social sciences. Nongovernmental stakeholders, including industry/producer groups, are also key constituents served by research staff at the Institute.

The Institute’s mission is to empower research teams and partners to address complex challenges through innovative applied social science. Executing this mission demands broad experience across social science disciplines and a leader who can inspire social scientists at all career stages. This leader must forge powerful connections with both campus and external partners to deliver robust social science research that enhances the research capacity of our clients.

The Director will drive both existing and emerging research initiatives in the community and across campus that leverage collaboration with social scientists. This includes: forging strategic partnerships, alliances, and collaborations both on-campus and with academic and non-profit institutions nationally; establishing and energizing advisory boards; coordinating high-impact activities throughout campus and community; championing the University through strategic networking and professional collaboration and engagement with external constituents, industry stakeholders, schools, and organizations; and securing vital resources for programmatic growth and long-term sustainability.

The Director will lead a dynamic collaborative team to launch and expand social science service areas (e.g., evaluation research, Science of Team Science), featuring both fee-for-service offerings and transformational training and educational components.

The IRISS Director will leverage their expertise to cultivate research partnerships, develop compelling grant proposals, and collaborate with academic researchers and community partners to lead strategically vital research initiatives. This position is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with community partners and key clients, seeking projects aligned with IRISS strategic goals, and securing internal and external funding. The Director will co-develop grant proposals in collaboration with researchers across campus (e.g., natural resources, engineering, agricultural sciences) as well as with community partners. The Director will be responsible for supporting ongoing initiatives while launching innovative programs that integrate social science research methods and theories to support the growth and development of research programs across campus.

To be considered, complete you application at https://jobs.colostate.edu/postings/164875 by October 5, 2025

Requirements

• Professional degree, PhD (or equivalent), in social sciences or related field from an accredited university.
• An exemplary record of peer-reviewed scholarship commensurate with a senior scholar in a social science field.
• Demonstrated post-terminal degree experience leading research programs, initiatives, or teams related to social science (e.g., entrepreneurial activities, administration, etc.).
• Demonstrated success with revenue generation and leading awarded grants.
• Demonstrated expertise with an array of social and behavioral science research methods, data sources, and analytic techniques.
• Strong organizational, project management, and collaboration skills as demonstrated by work experience.
• Demonstrated ability to write outreach materials and research reports for both academic and non-academic audiences.
• Demonstrated experience and enthusiasm in supervising faculty, professional staff, and student researchers.