The Colorado State University (CSU) System, along with its partners, has developed a unique and exciting public facility called CSU Spur at the National Western Center in Denver, Colorado. The CSU Spur campus houses three buildings focused on water, food and agriculture, human and animal health, and sustainability. Within the Spur buildings, CSU conducts research and convenes experts from around the globe; students of all ages engage with science and have opportunities for exploratory learning, transforming their thinking about food, water, and health, and the careers available in these fields; and partners join in programming the space and bringing evolving content to the year-round campus. CSU Spur is part of a larger 250-acre redevelopment project, which started in 2013 and reimagines what the National Western Center can be, creates a site that will support the National Western Stock Show long-term, and makes the location a year-round destination. CSU Spur was created with an Anchor Institution framework and is committed to supporting the surrounding communities through the programming and activities developed at the campus.

More information about CSU Spur is available at www.csuspur.org.

The One Water Solutions Institute (OWSI) within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University connects campus expertise with public and private partners to advance sustainable water management through applied research, technology innovation, and technical training.

OWSI operates several collaborative initiatives, including the Water Technology Acceleration Platform (Water TAP) at CSU Spur in Denver. Water TAP serves as a testbed and demonstration hub for emerging water technologies, supporting CSU researchers, industry partners, and utilities in developing and validating solutions for water reuse, resource recovery, and watershed resilience.

More information is available at: https://owsi.colostate.edu/centers-of-innovation/water-tap/

CSU Spur is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the Education Team as a Spur Education Support Specialist and Laboratory Technician. This individual will be part of a team designing and delivering programs at the CSU Spur campus in Denver that inspire life-long learners to tackle global problems around food, water, and health, and will play a key role in the future of educational offerings at a brand-new state-of-the art campus. They will also provide technical support for some laboratory spaces on campus, including the Water TAP and Spur educational labs – the Hydro Teaching Lab and Morgridge Learning Lab.

As an Education Support Specialist, they will support the CSU Spur vision and Education Team by executing the daily programmatic logistics and delivery necessary for successful educational experiences at Spur for PreK-12th grade audiences, families, community partners, and general campus guests. This position is responsible for delivering educational content both in classroom program facilitation and exhibit interpretation, engaging with on site visitors, providing off-site and virtual programming, and collaborating with staff and volunteers to support the programmatic goals of the CSU Spur campus. They will also support some laboratory functions of the Hydro Teaching Lab and Morgridge Learning Lab, including maintenance and monitoring of equipment and protocols.

As a Laboratory Support Technician, they provide technical support for laboratory and pilot-scale operations within the Water Technology Acceleration Platform (Water TAP), managed by the One Water Solutions Institute (OWSI) at CSU Spur. The position is responsible for assisting with the setup, operation, and maintenance of treatment, monitoring, and reuse systems used for applied research and technology demonstration. Duties include collecting and managing water samples and data, maintaining equipment and safety documentation, and coordinating with faculty, students, and external partners to support experimental and demonstration activities. The technician also contributes to administrative and logistical tasks such as purchasing, scheduling, and maintaining inventory to ensure efficient and safe laboratory operations.

This role has a planned weekly schedule, which may include one weekend day (2nd Saturday of the month) and some evenings. Work will occur on site at CSU Spur in Denver and may include outreach events in the community. The individual in this role may work up to 30 hours per week.

This position is supervised by the CSU Spur Senior Education Manager.

Program Areas of Interpretation:

Individuals in this role will learn new and innovative ways to provide educational programming through virtual reality, in person hands on interactive experiences, live virtual programming, exhibit interpretation, indoor and outdoor learning opportunities, and live interpretation of on show surgical procedures, animal therapy, equine-assisted services, as well as cooking, planting, and water demonstrations.

Flexibility and an openness to learn and try new ideas and experiences is highly encouraged.

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.

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates. 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.

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.

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.