Position Summary

The ( grant  funded) Managing Director will build, manage, and innovate the administrative infrastructure of a world-class, federally-funded smart cities research center with extensive outreach, education, diversity and innovation programming. The Managing Director will assume chief responsibility for the design and implementation of financial and operational policies and procedures, including policies and procedures related to finance, pre- and post-award grant management, information technology, facilities, human resources, communications, events, academic governance, non-academic partnerships, and workforce development.

Responsibilities

• (30%) Personnel & Project Management. Hire, supervise, and develop three full-time staff supporting the Center’s integrated research and broader impacts initiatives. Set performance objectives, motivate personnel to achieve desired results, and ensure staff support of faculty efforts across research, workforce development and education, diversity and culture of inclusion, and innovation ecosystem. Coordinate with Center staff at partner universities to ensure alignment with priorities/policies

  Lead and manage daily operations, staff development, technology, and space, facilitate cross-institution collaboration and internal and subaward milestones, and ensure that operations are defined by and aligned with the Center’s priorities and University policy.  

• (25%) Finance & Operations. Work with the Engineering School and other University-wide offices to build, manage, and report upon a $3.5-6M annual operating budget, including monitoring subaward agreements and milestones of four partner universities.

  Report on financial affairs to the federal agency sponsor, and communicate sponsor requests and other updates to University partners. Administer the Center’s seed funding program and the disbursement of funds to awardees.

  Facilitate the recruitment and supervision of postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate researchers, and work study students.

• (25%) Leadership Support. Staff the Center’s monthly Executive Committee meetings, and delegate staffing duties for all other advisory and subcommittee meetings.

  Ensure that Center faculty and leadership have the administrative support necessary to achieve excellence in intellectual activities, societal impact, and overall operations.

  Represent the Center Director and Deputy Director’s goals and vision and serve as a liaison to faculty, schools, and administrative units of Columbia University, including senior University leadership as well as partner universities.

  Facilitate integration, engagement and check deliveries from all members of the Center’s 80+-person/multi-institutional team of faculty, trainees, non-academic institutional partners, and administrators.

• (20%) Communications, Events & Special Projects. Spearhead special projects as directed by the Center Director and Deputy Director, including but not limited to external communications, partnership development, event planning, new program design, and/or personnel recruitment.

  Manage Institute internal and external communications initiatives to align with the Center Director and Deputy Director’s strategic priorities. 

  Oversee Center-wide communications, regular events and annual meetings, NSF Site Visits, and outreach including innovation ecosystem events.

  Facilitate joint initiatives and expand impact through strong and productive relationships with key industry partners, academic, and government leaders both locally and globally.

  Represent the Center at meetings, conferences, symposia, and other events.

  Oversee education programming, in partnership with the Universities’ schools, and identify areas to expand, grow offerings, and enhance interaction among programs and students.

  Develop new initiatives to foster collaborative inter- and transdisciplinary programming (e.g. seed funding, networking, seminars), including broadening the Center’s activity across underrepresented disciplines.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor degree required, graduate Degree preferred  preferably in engineering or sciences, data science, business administration and/or public administration.

• At least 8-10 years of management and organizational leadership and change management experience, including a strong commitment to supervising and developing staff combined with the ability to plan and manage multiple diverse projects, work collaboratively across functions, levels, and departments toward shared objectives, and integrate resources on a timely and organized basis. Experience within a complex and matrix enterprise is a must.

• Demonstrated operational and financial management experience, including formulating and executing a strategic plan in support of growing and scaling an organization in terms of staff, budget, activity, and impact.

• Experience or familiarity with the federal grantmaking landscape and government funding policies and guidelines.

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, to anticipate future consequences and trends, and to incorporate them into organizational planning processes.

• Ability to effectively collaborate with diverse personnel and partners, notably those from academia, industry, non-profits, and the city and federal government, with the ability to convey a vision of the Center’s strategic future.

• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, and oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to consider multiple points of view and to make sometimes difficult decisions.

• A working knowledge of the higher ed environment and academia is essential.

• Track record of handling sensitive information with the highest level of professionalism and confidentiality.

• Strong personal interest in urban technologies.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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