Job Details

Director of the McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Position Number: 6578929
Location: Golden, CO
Position Type: Economic and Business Development

Director of the McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Posting Number: JR107420
Location: Colorado

Engineering a world of possibilities
Mines is seeking a visionary and hands-on leader to serve as Director of the McNeil Center. This role is dedicated to empowering the entire student body with entrepreneurial tools, experiences, and development. The Director will be responsible for mapping and activating the full range of student-facing entrepreneurship resources, teaching foundational entrepreneurship courses, and launching signature programs like the Mines New Venture Challenge.

If you're energized by students, passionate about ideas, and eager to build something transformative as part of a world-class technical institution, this is the role for you.
About the McNeil Center

At the Colorado School of Mines, we believe that every student-regardless of their major or career ambition-deserves the opportunity to take an idea and make it real. The McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation exists to bring this vision to life. As the student-focused heart of Mines' thriving Entrepreneurship & Innovation (E&I) ecosystem, McNeil complements two powerhouse partners: the Beck Venture Center, which supports startup growth and investment, and the Labriola Innovation Hub, which brings hands-on experience to physical prototyping and making.

The McNeil Center isn't about startups alone-it's about unleashing creativity and building a launchpad for Mines students to become innovators in every imaginable industry.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Student Entrepreneurship Initiatives
Serve as the primary driver of entrepreneurship for all Mines students. Create accessible, engaging, and inclusive programming that supports students at every point in their innovation journey.

Make E&I Resources Accessible and Actionable
Create intuitive and actionable pathways through the Mines E&I network-connecting students with tools, resources, mentors, and real-world opportunities at Labriola, Beck, and across campus. Help students see not just where to go next, but how to get there.

Ensure "Ideas to Reality" for 100% of Students
Design and promote opportunities so that every student, regardless of major or interest, has a meaningful experience turning an idea into something real-whether that's a prototype, project, or startup.

Meet Students Where They Are
Engage students who may not identify as entrepreneurs but are building, designing, or solving real problems. Help them recognize the entrepreneurial value of what they're doing and connect them with appropriate resources.

Teach Foundational Entrepreneurship Courses
Teach one course in the fall and one in the spring (e.g., Intro to Entrepreneurship). This helps the Director stay connected with the student community and directly engage budding entrepreneurs. (Formal teaching experience is not required.)

Lead the Mines New Venture Challenge
Co-lead the planning and execution of the annual Mines New Venture Challenge, a startup pitch competition for student teams across campus. Collaborate with Beck and the Mines Venture Fund to secure external investors and real capital for top ventures.

Fundraising and Donor Relations
Identify and cultivate relationships with supporters-including individuals, foundations, and organizations-who are passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship. Work in partnership with the Mines Foundation to align donor passions with strategic student programs and support fundraising for the McNeil Center in general and Mines at large.

What You Bring

Minimum Qualifications:

A bachelor's degree in a technical field (engineering, computer science, mathematics, or physical sciences)

Experience as a startup founder, entrepreneurial educator, or mentor to early-stage ventures

A student-first mindset, with a deep commitment to mentorship, access, and involvement

Exceptional collaboration skills and a proven track record of working effectively in teams without direct authority over them

Preferred Qualifications:

A master's or Ph.D. in a STEM or related field

A business or entrepreneurship degree

Experience working in higher education or managing student innovation programs

A personal track record of launching or scaling a technology startup

Why This Role Matters

This is your chance to shape the future of innovation at a top STEM university. You'll influence how thousands of students see their potential-not just as engineers or scientists, but as creators, founders, and leaders in every field. You'll help build something that outlives you. And you'll do it at a place where ideas don't just stay in the classroom-they take flight.

About Mines & Golden, CO

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines' scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that's manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more.

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world's problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a community where our individual perspectives and experiences enrich the educational and work experience?

Look to Mines.

Equal Opportunity

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequity or concerns for safety.

Annual Rate

$133,000 to $150,000

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate's education, training and experience as well as the position's scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

In addition to the amazing benefits mentioned below, Mines continues to show its dedication to its employees by offering an 11% employee contribution through our Mines Defined Contribution Plan and an incredible 12% employer contribution with immediate 100% vesting for our Administrative Faculty positions!

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees.

For this role, that includes:

Flexible health and dental care options

Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year - including a week-long winter break for entire campus.

Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution

Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)

Free RTD Ecopass

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state-of-the-art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should apply online as soon as possible but before Monday, October 13, 2025. If you submit your application after October 13, 2025, it may or may not be considered.

How to Apply: Applicants must submit a letter of application addressing this position specifically and a curriculum vitae. References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and applicants will be informed before that contact is made.

Contact Dorie Gelber, Human Resources, at dorie.gelber@mines.edu with any questions about this opportunity.

Background Investigation Required Prior to Start

Accommodations - It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities to promote diversity and inclusion at Mines. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance.

Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting

Apply online at https://mines.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Mines_Careers/job/Colorado/Director-of-the-McNeil-Center-for-Entrepreneurship-and-Innovation_JR107420