Program Director/Instructor – Energy Management/Landman Program

Summary

The Davis School of Business at Colorado Mesa University is seeking candidates for the Program Director/Instructor – Energy Management/Landman Program. Candidates may come from diverse backgrounds, with a range of experiences, achievements, and leadership roles, either within or outside academia. Candidates should have significant industry, business, or corporate experience relevant to the energy management industry. The position is full-time, tenure-track starting January 2027 (preferred) or August 2027. Colorado Mesa University (CMU) is a state‑funded institution that emphasizes quality teaching and research, having embraced the teacher‑scholar model. The standard teaching load is 12 credit hours per semester; courses are delivered on‑campus, online, and in hybrid format, though our main focus is on in‑person learning on a dynamic residential campus. In addition to teaching, scholarship within your discipline is expected along with advising students and service at the school and university level.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

The Program Director/Instructor of Energy Management/Landman provides strategic leadership, administration, instruction, and continuous improvement for Colorado Mesa University's nationally recognized Energy Management/Landman Program in the Davis School of Business. The position directs all aspects of the program, including curriculum development, AAPL accreditation, student recruitment, advising, industry engagement, experiential learning, field tours of energy operations, assessment, and instruction. The Program Director serves as the university's primary liaison to the energy industry, professional organizations, alumni, advisory board members, and community partners to ensure graduates are prepared for careers in the energy sector. The position combines responsibilities typically associated with an academic program director, faculty instructor, academic advisor, recruiter, internship coordinator, and industry relations manager.

Salary

Salary: $88,000 - $100,000 Commensurate with education and experience.

Excellent health and retirement benefits package: Click here for more information!

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: REQUIRED

• Master’s degree in Business, Energy Management, Petroleum Land Management, Natural Resources, Engineering, Law, or a related field.
• Significant professional experience in the energy industry.
• Familiarity or experience working with local, state and federal regulatory agencies
• College‑level teaching or professional training experience.
• Ability to develop experiential learning opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to build industry partnerships.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.

DESIRED

• PhD, Doctorate, or Juris Doctorate with significant industry experience.
• Professional Landman (PLM), Registered Professional Landman (RPL), or Certified Professional Landman (CPL) designation preferred (or a significant amount of compliance, regulation, and/or land experience).
• Experience directing an academic program.
• Experience maintaining specialized accreditation.
• Experience with curriculum development and assessment.
• Demonstrated success in student recruitment and retention.
• Established professional network within the energy industry.

To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history. Applicant must be able to verify U.S. employment eligibility.

Colorado Mesa University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a culturally diverse faculty, staff and student body. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact the CMU Human Resources Office by phone or email. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and the type of accommodation needed.

Direct Inquiries

Dr. Morgan Bridge,

A comprehensive university in Grand Junction, Colorado Mesa University provides exceptional educational opportunities on a state‑of‑the‑art campus. As western Colorado’s largest university, CMU serves students on its main campus in Grand Junction, its satellite campus in Montrose, its technical college, CMU Tech, and via online offerings. Colorado Mesa University serves as the primary intellectual and cultural center of western Colorado and promotes the exchange of ideas that are of regional, national, and international importance. Founded in 1925, it is a dynamic university enrolling 10,000 students at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels. At the heart of the CMU experience is an integrative and experiential approach to higher education that encourages students to think differently and empowers them to challenge assumptions. CMU brings students together with expert scholars and thinkers from different disciplines to make connections between ideas and gain the skills to solve the unstructured, complex problems they will encounter in life. Our focus is on providing quality academic programs, built on a strong liberal arts core that supports students' interests and regional employment needs, as well as technical programs that respond to vocational workforce demands.

The Grand Valley is home to some of the best outdoor recreation in the state of Colorado and you will not have to fight traffic and crowds to enjoy it. CMU is surrounded by the Grand Mesa, Book Cliffs, and the Colorado National Monument. We have world-class mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, rafting, and a mountain resort that’s less than 45 minutes from campus for skiing, snowboarding, and cross‑country skiing. Living and working in Grand Junction, you will be able to explore one of Colorado’s best kept secrets.