New

Director of Academic and Student Affairs

Columbia University
United States, New York, New York
Aug 16, 2025
Job Type: Officer of Administration Bargaining Unit: Regular/Temporary: Regular End Date if Temporary: Hours Per Week: 35 Standard Work Schedule: Building: Salary Range: $94,000 to $120,000 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 The Director of Academic and Student Affairs provides strategic leadership and operational management for the academic affairs, student affairs, and graduate admissions functions of the IEOR Department. Reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations and working closely with the Senior Associate Director of Academic and Student Affairs and the Department Chair, the Director plays a key leadership role in shaping the department's academic programs and student support infrastructure. This role supervises a professional staff team of four or more and is responsible for building a high-performing, collaborative team culture. The Director oversees a wide range of services including academic advising, program administration, admissions, student programming, and data analytics. The position requires a demonstrated ability to lead in complex academic environments, with specific expertise in managing end-to-end graduate admissions operations; beyond advising to include application review, yield strategy, marketing, and reporting for BS, MS, and PhD(department of approx 1500 students enrolled . The incumbent must also have proven experience supporting large, diverse student populations in a university or college setting, and will be expected to collaborate regularly with campus stakeholders to enhance student success and wellness. This is a high-impact role for a strategic, student-centered leader who thrives in fast-paced, data-informed academic environments. Responsibilities 30% Academic Affairs & Student Affairs Set/maintain the best practices for University policies and regulations in academic and student affairs area including execution, communication and maintenance of all functions Lead, oversee, and enhance the quality of IEOR Department's graduate and undergraduate academic advising, student programming, graduate admissions, registration and related system enhancements Manage the operation and functions of all Departmental degrees (online and on campus), non-degree, minor programs Maintain/improve student data and tracking; provide analytics, audits, and best practices Address urgent/complex student inquiries, host office hours, and collaborate with Director of Finance and Operations and ESA which includes Crisis Management, ESA, and Columbia Engineering Wellness team, Review all student performance and collaborate with various University entities to support success and degree completion Collaborate on the class/exam schedule and teaching assignments Lead graduation and orientation activities with the assistance from the department Co-host various academic and student affairs special events and activities including: registration advising town halls, open houses, celebrations, etc. Collaborate on adjunct appointments (Adjunct Roster) with Department Chair and Director of Finance and Operations with Senior Associate Director. Assist with reviewing course evaluations and advising on pedagogical best practices of the university and department Oversee the grade review of BS and MS students and execute appropriate sanctions. Oversee and process students' change of status requests: reduced course load, leave of absences and returns, readmissions, etc. Build a student centric community - focusing on student services, empathy, and community values Liaise and collaborate with various university offices (i.e. Dean's Office, ESA, CSA, Registrar's Office, ISSO, other columbia schools) to recommend and implement new policies and systems to enhance student experience and support the mission of the Department/School. 30 % Graduate Admissions (MS, CVN, PhD, Dual Degree Program) Determine the annual admissions standards and goals in collaboration with the School Leadership and Department Chair Manage the processing of all IEOR graduate admission applications (online and on-campus) with the SEAS Admissions Office Propose and execute yield activities to converge to the predetermined class size Maintain/update Departmental marketing materials Provide analytics and best practices by reviewing existing student data. Create admissions reports and statistics for the admissions committee and leadership; recommend best practices for future cycles Manages and cultivates dual degree partnerships, admissions process, and yield. Provide timely data to Chair and Deans. Department liaison with other departments and schools on admissions and rankings . 20% Team Management and Human Resources Supervise full-time academic staff members and co-supervise Academic interns, in the largest Department functional area to support the student population, graduate admissions, and functions related to student support. Provide strategic direction to the team in consultation with the Director of Finance and Operations, Senior Associate Director, Academic and Student Affairs, and Chair. Goals include cultivating staff, performance reviews, providing guidance and leadership on best practices within and outside of the department, etc. 10% Academic Administration and Operations Support Departmental events. Lead automation projects related to admissions and academic/student affairs. Oversee and strategize onboarding process for new MS students (bootcamps, communications, exams, databases). Liaise with Columbia Business School Partners on course availability and registration. Collaborate departmental COI submissions and requests for curricular/policy changes. Lead new program initiatives and program changes with collaboration with leadership and program directors. 5% Budget and Reporting Assist DFA in monitoring, analyzing, and reporting to the Dean's Office the tuition share that needs to be transferred for each academic year (e.g. MSBA and MS-MS&E degree partners with Columbia Business School) with assistance from the Data Analyst. Support DFA in providing Academic and admission data for program rankings (MSFE: Quantnet, Risk). Oversee student data collection/reporting processes. 5% Other related duties, as assigned. Minimum Qualifications A bachelor's degree required, graduate degree strongly encouraged. A minimum of 4-6 years of progressively responsible experience in student/academic affairs and 2-3 years in a direct managerial or supervisory role required. 2-3 years of admissions experience with experience leading a team of multiple professional staff preferred. Candidates must demonstrate a strong track record of team leadership, performance management, and strategic direction setting within an academic environment. The successful candidate must have substantive and demonstrated experience in graduate admissions beyond academic advising, including responsibilities such as application processing, evaluation, yield strategy development, admissions data analytics, and outreach or marketing. Experience managing or collaborating on domestic and/or international dual-degree admissions processes is highly desirable. Must have direct experience working with a medium-to-large student population at the university or college level, preferably within a large research university setting. Candidates should demonstrate experience in supporting diverse student populations, including international students, underrepresented groups, and students with varied academic and professional backgrounds. Familiarity with and appreciation for student and academic affairs, departmental program curriculum and requirements, and administrative systems is essential. Strong computer literacy is required: candidates must be proficient in the Google Suite, MS Office, and familiar with student information systems, admissions software, CRM platforms, and other academic/student affairs technology tools. Experience leading or supporting automation or system enhancement projects is a plus. Must be able to prioritize multiple tasks independently and under pressure with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. Strong communication skills, discretion, sound judgment, and a demonstrated commitment to student support and wellness are essential. Candidates must exercise good judgment and flexibility, with a student-wellness mindset. Positive, collaborative, mission-oriented, forward-thinking attitude and sense of humor a must. Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.