Assistant Director

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $73,500 - $85,000

Position Summary

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) at Columbia University serves the University's seventeen undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, providing our international community of students and scholars with advisory and tactical support on all immigration matters, enabling them to focus on their academic and professional aspirations.

Reporting to the Associate Director for Global Academic Partnerships and the Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives, the Assistant Director is responsible for the project management and implementation of new projects and initiatives to meet the ongoing needs of Columbia's international students by coordinating work streams and processes, and ensuring systems are in place to deliver timely, responsive, flexible and empathetic support to students. Duties include planning, monitoring progress, and drafting communication updates to stakeholders, in partnership with the Associate Director and Associate Provost. Responding quickly and with precision to time-sensitive requests.

The ideal candidate is action-oriented and resourceful. They seek opportunities to make a difference; they are flexible and comfortable with ambiguity. They are equally comfortable working in group settings and on individual projects, and can transition seamlessly between close collaboration and independent contribution. They are disciplined, self-driven, and intentional. The ideal candidate is knowledgeable about international issues and has a strong sense of diplomacy, with the ability to adhere to confidentiality and to maintain poise and professionalism at all times. They follow-through consistently, and translate intentions and decisions into sustained effort and action. They are resilient as they face challenges, setbacks, and opportunities to learn. They have a low ego, and a roll-up-your-sleeves approach to work. They possess humility and grit, willing to take on both "lower level" and "higher level" projects based on what needs to be done.

Responsibilities

Project Planning and Development:

• Under the direction of the Associate Director and Associate Provost, collaborate with ISSO staff to identify and prioritize needs and develop comprehensive project plans with clear goals, timelines, and deliverables.
• Design project implementation strategies, including communication plans and stakeholder engagement methods.

Project Execution and Management:

• Support the Associate Director to manage cross-functional teams consisting of staff and faculty to execute projects according to established timelines.
• Monitor project progress, identify potential roadblocks, and provide 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 to ensure all efforts are transparent to key stakeholders.
• Under the supervision of the Associate Provost, coordinate with other departments on campus to ensure alignment with broader institutional goals.
• Build strong relationships with all the divisions within ISSO.

Evaluation and Reporting:

• In coordination with the Associate Director and Associate Provost, develop and implement project evaluation plans to measure effectiveness and impact.
• Collect data, analyze results, and prepare comprehensive, polished, and detail-oriented reports for senior leadership.
• Utilize feedback to inform future project development and improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required. 3-5 yrs. of related experience in higher education or international services is required.
• 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.
• Curiosity and interest in immigration and international trends.
• Work well under pressure, managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
• Knowledge of higher education administration principles, practices, and procedures.
• Ability to adhere to confidentiality and to maintain poise and professionalism at all times.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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