Director, Academic Administration and Finance, Astronomy & CAL

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Reporting jointly to the Chair of the Department of Astronomy and the Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory (CAL) Co-Directors, the Director of Academic Administration and Finance (DAAF) oversees all academic, financial, and administrative functions for the Department of Astronomy and provides operational leadership for the Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory (CAL). The DAAF manages budgets and grants, staff and space planning, and student and faculty services, while ensuring the smooth operation of CAL's complex research enterprise. Working closely with faculty leadership, the Arts & Sciences Office of the Executive Vice President, and central University partners, the DAAF ensures effective financial stewardship, operational excellence, and human resource management across both units, supervising a team of administrative and financial staff in support of their academic and research missions.

The Department of Astronomy at Columbia University is home to a distinguished group of faculty and researchers advancing understanding of the universe through observational, theoretical, and computational astrophysics. The department offers vibrant undergraduate and graduate programs and maintains close collaborations with institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History and the Flatiron Institute Center for Computational Astrophysics.

The Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory (CAL) is an interdisciplinary research center jointly operated by the Departments of Astronomy and Physics. CAL's faculty and scientists lead pioneering investigations in high-energy astrophysics, cosmology, plasma physics, and instrumentation development. With extensive external funding and global collaborations, CAL serves as a hub of innovation supporting missions with NASA and other international space agencies.

Responsibilities

Finance and Grants

• Serve as the administrative liaison for the Department of Astronomy and CAL with Arts & Sciences leadership, central University offices, and the Department of Physics.
• Manage the research and administrative budgets, including overseeing federal, state, gift, discretionary, endowment, fellowship, research and instructional funds. Provide financial analyses to advise on resource allocation and spending and administrative strategy.
• Operationalize strategic initiatives and special projects for both units.
• Oversee the Assistant Director of Grants and Finance in the processing of CAL's pre-award proposals and post-award grants, ensuring compliance with university and sponsor requirements.
• Partner closely with the Principal Investigators in CAL and the Assistant Director of Grants and Finance to monitor project expenditures, prepare reports, resolve complex financial issues, and support long-range grant and research planning.
• Oversee budget submission and year-end processes for both units.
• Perform monthly reconciliations, prepare reports, and resolve overdrafts or audit issues.
• Serve as the approver of all procurement and P-Card activities, supply inventories, vendor contracts / renewals, and equipment purchases in support of administrative, academic, and laboratory operations.
• Coordinate facilities and oversee operations to ensure that the Astronomy Department's teaching and CAL's research infrastructure needs are met.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, sponsor requirements, and external regulations.

Academic Administration

• Support the Astronomy Faculty in their educational mission by overseeing administrative aspects of academic planning, including course scheduling and graduate admissions, and logistical support for community events.
• Manage research and academic appointments for CAL and Astronomy faculty, staff, students, postdocs, researchers, and visiting scientists. Support faculty searches, tenure and promotion reviews, and adjunct or visiting faculty appointments.
• Partner with the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) to manage visa and immigration processes for international researchers and students.

Human Resources

• Oversee the recruitment, hiring, training, supervision, and evaluation of administrative staff.
• Partner with A&S HR on the employee life cycle, including recruitment, performance management, recognition, and professional development. Foster a collaborative and inclusive workplace culture across Astronomy and CAL.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required and a minimum of 5 years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in business, higher education administration, or related field.
• Experience in academic administration, finance, or research administration.
• Demonstrated expertise in grants management, sponsored research administration, and strategic financial planning.
• Ability to simplify and communicate complex financial information to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with electronic funds management.

Other Requirements

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain high confidentiality and professionalism with a client focus.
• Strong multi-tasking, prioritization, and organization skills.
• Attention to detail, research, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Self-starter, a fast learner who can work independently under limited supervision.
• Work well in an interactive team environment.
• Working knowledge of PeopleSoft or similar enterprise HRIS, Microsoft Office, and relational databases.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.