Chief Academic Officer Greater Denver, CO Area

Job Description

Position Summary :

The Chief Academic Officer (CAO) serves as the senior academic officer of the Colorado State University System and is a key member of the Chancellor’s executive leadership team. The CAO provides strategic leadership for academic affairs, student success, educational innovation, workforce development, and academic policy across the System's institutions. The position serves as the principal advisor to the Chancellor and Board of Governors on academic matters and plays a central role in advancing the System’s strategic priorities, fostering collaboration across institutions, and positioning the CSU System to meet the evolving educational and workforce needs of Colorado.

The CAO works collaboratively with System university provosts, faculty, student affairs and enrollment leaders, and external partners to promote educational excellence, strengthen student outcomes, and support the long-term strategic priorities of the Colorado State University System. The CAO also helps identify and advance opportunities for collaboration across the System’s universities, fostering innovation while respecting the distinct role and missions of each institution.

The CAO serves as the primary liaison to the Colorado Department of Higher Education and provides leadership on matters related to academic quality, accreditation, transfer and articulation, institutional effectiveness, academic policy, educational technology, and emerging issues affecting higher education.

The successful candidate will be eligible for appointment with tenure at one of the System’s universities, subject to institutional and departmental review and approval.

To learn more about the CSU System, please visit

For full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on January 8, 2027.

Specific Responsibilities of the CAO:

Staffing the Board of Governors Academic and Student Affairs Committee (ASAC).

The Board of Governors meets six times per year and includes ASAC presentations that feature regular reports on enrollment, student success, faculty affairs, research, extension, and agriculture, as well as ad-hoc reports on issues of interest to the Board. The CAO organizes these presentations with the relevant campus leaders and ensures timely and accurate submission of materials to the Chancellor for final review and inclusion in the Board meeting agendas. The CAO is generally responsible for presenting these reports to the Board orally at the Board meetings.

Working with the campuses to bring their academic reports, curricular proposals, and academic policy changes to the Board of Governors for information and/or approvals.

The reports and action items that are brought to the Board of Governors by the campuses require consistency and collaboration that the CAO provides. The CAO is involved in designing the formats and to some extent the content of these reports on a regular basis. The CAO works primarily with the provost offices. Items requiring Board approval are also vetted with General Counsel.

Acting as the primary liaison with the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE).

The CDHE is overseen by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education which meets monthly. The CAO is expected to attend these meetings, as well as to participate in the meetings of the General Education Council (CDHE’s forum for transfer and articulation issues) and the Academic Council (CDHE’s forum for all academic matters to be discussed with state institution provosts), both of which also meet monthly. There are additional initiatives at the state level that the System CAO participates in on a more irregular basis. The CAO serves to support campuses and other system staff as they interface with the department.

Assisting on all legislative matters that involve academic and student affairs policy.

Statutory initiatives of the legislature are monitored by the System and the CAO is part of the team that analyzes probable impacts. The CAO may assist in the design of strategies that inform our system and campus conversations with legislators and staff to develop amendments or positions and may participate in Board education about legislation or referenda that impact the campuses or higher education in Colorado more generally.

Advancing system-wide student success and educational attainment priorities.

Working collaboratively with campus leaders, the CAO supports initiatives focused on student persistence, completion, belonging, transfer, post-graduation success, and equitable educational outcomes, while promoting the use of evidence and data-informed decision making.

Overseeing and facilitating regular meetings of campus leaders in academic and student affairs areas for communication and coordination.

The CAO is instrumental in coordinating communities of practice across campus leadership on major sectors of activity; these meetings are generally held quarterly. They may include areas such as Enrollment and Admissions, Student Affairs, Student Success, Online Education, and other groups as needed.

Monitoring and helping the System respond to emerging trends affecting higher education.

Areas of focus may include artificial intelligence, fraudulent students, educational technology, demographic shifts, workforce needs, public policy developments, and other issues likely to shape the future of higher education.

Advising the Chancellor, the Board of Governors, and senior colleagues in the System on major academic and student affairs issues, which may be local, national, and/or international in nature.

These issues may include the full range of activities that may impact academics; recent examples include federal research policy impacts, artificial intelligence, national demographic trends, etc.

Leadership Responsibilities and Characteristics:

In addition to the above sectors of activity, the CAO is expected to provide system and statewide leadership for the promotion of academic excellence, the coordination of academic and curricular planning across the system, educational innovation, student success, workforce and talent development projects, instructional excellence, and partnerships that advance the CSU System’s service to Colorado’s communities and economy. Building trust, fostering collaboration, and aligning diverse institutional priorities around common system and statewide/national goals are prerequisites for success in this role.

The CSU System seeks a leader who has demonstrated a collaborative and data-informed leadership style, who can incorporate innovative and strategic systems and design thinking into projects, who has an excellent political sense of operating in a state institution ecosystem, and who has strong personal academic strengths. Outstanding communication skills and a record of operating with transparency, integrity, and good judgement are expected. Personal and professional commitment to enduring Colorado State priorities of student success, shared governance, access to academic excellence, respect for our diverse institutional composition, and our land-grant tradition of service to our communities and our state, are all qualities expected.

The position requires the ability to lead through influence rather than direct authority, build productive relationships among diverse constituencies, and align institutional priorities around shared system goals. Success in the role depends upon intellectual leadership, political acumen, strategic thinking, and a demonstrated commitment to shared governance and academic values.

Required Qualifications:

Currently holds, or has previously held, a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or higher at an accredited institution, with academic credentials and scholarly achievement sufficient for appointment with tenure at one of the Colorado State University System Institutions that grant tenure (Colorado State University and Colorado State University Pueblo).

At least five years of progressive senior leadership experience in higher education, including but not limited to service as an associate dean or dean, vice (or associate) provost, provost, vice president, or comparable executive academic leadership role.

Demonstrated experience developing and implementing academic strategic initiatives, which may include but are not limited to those related to undergraduate student success, academic program development and prioritization, transfer initiatives, K-12 partnerships, and workforce development.

Experience with accreditation, academic quality assurance, and institutional effectiveness processes.

Demonstrated ability to lead complex organizations or multi-unit initiatives.

Evidence of effective communication and relationship-building with internal and external stakeholders.

At least two years supervising professional staff within a postsecondary academic unit.

Preferred Qualifications :

Leadership experience in a public higher education system and/or multi-campus environment.

Experience working with governing boards.

Experience with state higher education policy and legislative relations.

Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, funding sources, and resources.

Demonstrated experience with and responsibility for analyzing, assessing, and facilitating implementation of state and/or federal higher education policy.

Academic record and scholarly accomplishment consistent with appointment at the rank of Professor.

Demonstrated success leading through influence, consensus-building, and collaboration across decentralized organizations or multi-stakeholder environments.

Salary, Benefits, and Work Schedule:

The CAO is a fully in-person role, expected to work at the downtown Denver offices of the System.

Some travel (to the Pueblo and Fort Collins Campuses, the six regular Board of Governors meetings held around the state, and to relevant conferences as appropriate) is a routine expectation of the position.

The position is expected to collaboratively supervise several senior-level administrators.

Salary is commensurate with knowledge, skills, and experience.

The anticipated hiring range is $260,000-290,000 dependent upon qualifications and experience.

The anticipated start date is April 15, 2027.

Application and Nomination Process:

Nominations and queries may be sent in confidence to csus_cao@mail.colostate.edu and should include the nominee’s name, current role, and email address.

A complete application includes:

A letter of application that addresses the expectations discussed in this Search Profile.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae.

Salary Range

$260,000 - $290,000

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.

Cover Letter, Resume/CV

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.

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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.