Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs

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

University Life was created to develop and enhance the student experience at Columbia. Working in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff, University Life strengthens resources, policies, and conversations, and builds community outside of the classroom. Our efforts all connect to core values for the Columbia community :

• Inclusion and belonging
• Health and well-being
• Sexual respect
• Community citizenship

University Life is a central division focused on enhancing the student experience across Columbia's 17 schools and colleges. We serve as a student life hub for the University and are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive campus culture where students can thrive in all dimensions of their lives. In University Life, we focus on connecting students to each other, to the broader University and surrounding community, and to opportunities beyond their schools.

We work to educate students about Columbia's values and policies and share essential and timely information with students from the University. Through our programs, services, and partnerships, we support students' educational enrichment during their time at Columbia.

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs, the Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs, in partnership with the University Life division, Columbia schools, and central departments, is responsible for the the project management and implementation of or new projects and initiatives to meet the ongoing needs of students and Columbia in response to global, national, and local events. These include time-limited high-priority special projects and initiatives - overseeing the execution of multiple projects by coordinating teams, managing budgets, schedules, risks, and ensuring initiatives, programs and projects are delivered on time, within budget. Duties include planning, monitoring progress, resolving issues, and drafting communication updates to stakeholders, in partnership with the Director for Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs.

Responsibilities

Project Planning and Development :

• Under the direction of the Director of Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs, Collaborate with student affairs staff to identify and prioritize student needs and develop comprehensive project plans with clear goals, timelines, and deliverables.
• Conduct feasibility studies, gathering data, and creating project budgets.
• Design project implementation strategies, including communication plans and stakeholder engagement methods.

Project Execution and Management :

• Support the Director of Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs to manage cross-functional teams consisting of staff, faculty, and student leaders to execute projects according to established timelines and budget constraints.
• Monitor project progress, identify potential roadblocks, and provide the Director of Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs with recommendations to make necessary adjustments to ensure project success.
• Manage project risks, mitigating issues, and escalating concerns when appropriate.

Communication and Collaboration :

• Provide regular project updates with the Director of Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs to ensure all student support efforts are transparent to key stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
• Under the supervision of the Director of Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs, coordinate with other departments on campus to ensure alignment with broader institutional goals.
• Build strong relationships with all the divisions within University Life

Evaluation and Reporting :

• In coordination with the Director of Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs, and the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, develop and implement project evaluation plans to measure effectiveness and impact on student outcomes.
• Collect data, analyze results, and prepare comprehensive reports for senior leadership.
• Utilize feedback to inform future project development and improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and / or its equivalent experience required. 3-5yrs. of related experience in higher education is required, focusing on student services and academic operations.
• Strong organizational and operational skills, capable of synthesizing information quickly and implementing processes efficiently.
• Achievement orientation and demonstrated success in tracking projects from inception to completion.
• Work well under pressure, managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
• Capable of independent work coordinating multiple responsibilities.
• Knowledge of higher education administration principles, practices, and procedures.
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting Columbia University's policies and procedures.
• Ability to write clearly and express ideas logically.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across both student and staff populations.
• Demonstrate and have an understanding of FERPA, Clery, Title IX, and trends pertaining to crisis response and de-escalation techniques.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree preferred.
• Knowledge of project management and productivity software (ex : Asana) a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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