Dear Infrastructure and Sustainability team,
Over the past few months, I’ve been having discussions with the VCIS leadership team about the current labor environment. We recognize that maintaining appropriate staffing levels is critical to providing a safe work environment for everyone.
First, some good news: I recently asked our leadership team to put together a summary of the vacancies we have across our unit, and compared to historical vacancy data, the number of openings we have at the moment is not substantially above the norm.
That being said…we need you!
Retention is our top priority. We know that the best way to avoid an opening is to keep our current team members engaged in their jobs. Here in Boulder especially, we are competing with many private sector employers, some of which are able to offer higher salaries and more creative job perks.
From our recent employee surveys, we know that one of the biggest reasons people come to work (and stay working) at CU is our benefits packages. (Check out the total compensation calculator to better understand the fiscal value of your employment.) If you aren’t familiar with all that we offer, or if it’s been a few years since you started working here, check our staff benefits page, and mention them when people in your circle ask you how you like working at the University.
It’s important to have professional development conversations with your supervisor to identify staffing continuity plans and growth opportunities within your unit. Upcoming performance reviews present a great time to review your accomplishments from the past year and how they have contributed to your goals. I encourage you to use these conversations to identify your objectives and how they can contribute to your growth within the organization.
Recruitment is another key focus right now. Check the CU job board occasionally to see what positions are open. Think about your network – do you know anyone who might be a good fit for one of these positions? The more eyes and ears we have helping us recruit, the faster we will be able to fill our openings.
I appreciate all you do for our campus and for our students. As a reminder, please join us for our I&S staff appreciation picnic on July 28 to honor and celebrate with our team. I look forward to seeing you there.
With gratitude,
Chris Ewing, interim vice chancellor for infrastructure and sustainability
