• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $101,400 - $116,700

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Associate Director of Operations will provide strategic operational leadership to the Founding Director???s Office. This role is integral to the organization, encompassing key functions such as project management, strategic planning, and the execution of critical organizational initiatives.

As a key member of the Founding Director???s Office, the Associate Director will be responsible for overseeing strategic planning, finance, budgeting, and human resources. Additionally, they will work closely with CGEP???s senior staff and their teams, facilitating meeting scheduling and preparation in coordination with the Chief Operating Officer and Founding Director.

Responsibilities

Serve as a member of the Founding Director???s office (approximately 50% time):

• Ensure alignment of priorities, efficient internal communications, and coordination of key internal meetings.

• Collaborate with the Senior Administrative Manager, scope out preparation and decision-making timelines aligned to major meetings, engagements, and deliverables for the Founding Director in order to ensure adequate resourcing and planning.

• Work closely with the Senior Administrative Manager and Chief of Staff to execute projects as directed. Responsibilities include determining deliverables, setting and tracking deadlines, and facilitating project completion. These projects may include, but are not limited to:

  • CGEP Advisory Board and Executive Committee meetings

  • Advisory committee meetings across research areas (e.g., natural gas, carbon management, power sector, international security, etc.)

  • Leadership team meetings, retreats, and development opportunities for senior staff

Oversee strategic planning, finance & budgeting, and human resources (approximately 50% time):

• Manage organization-wide efforts to update and maintain the accuracy and integrity of the Salesforce platform, procurement operations, and grant management logistics in close collaboration with the Finance team.

• Partner with relevant Columbia University offices, including Human Resources, Finance, and the Sponsored Projects Office.

• Oversee office-wide internal space management and assist with external event management in close collaboration with the Director of Events and the Founding Director???s Office.

• Interface with CGEP???s senior staff and their teams to coordinate meeting scheduling and preparation with the Chief Operating Officer and Founding Director.

• Provide guidance for the Center???s strategic planning process, working closely with the Chief Operating Officer, Director of Research, Founding Director, and their teams.

• Foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the organization???s vision and mission.

• Participate in other ad-hoc initiatives and projects as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor???s degree required and a minimum of four to six years of related experience in operations.

• Handle complex situations and multiple responsibilities that mix long-term deadlines with immediate demands.

• Manage sensitive matters with a high level of confidentiality and discretion, acting as a liaison between key stakeholders, both internal and external.

• The skills to collaborate with and achieve actionable results in partnership with others and the capability to interact effectively with all levels of an organization.

  • Build strong and sustainable relationships with key stakeholders.

• Excellent communication skills???written and verbal.

• Computer fluency and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and G-Suite.

• Interest in the Center???s mission and areas of focus.

• Some night and weekend availability is essential during the Founding Director???s travel schedule.

• Ability to foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in an academic or research organization focused on policy or climate issues.

• Familiarity and functional competency with Salesforce, Concur, Google Workspace, Project Management Tools (e.g., Monday.com, Asana), and Zoom.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

Connections working at Columbia University