Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $200,000-$230,000

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the Dean of the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), the Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives (ADSI) serves as a key strategic advisor and thought partner to the Dean, translating SIPA's long-term vision into actionable plans and driving execution across the School. The ADSI leads the design, research, coordination, analysis, and implementation of high-priority, cross-cutting initiatives — from new academic and revenue-generating programs to global partnerships and organizational change efforts — working closely with the Dean, senior administrative leadership, faculty, and external partners. This is a high-visibility role for a versatile, analytic and entrepreneurial leader who can move fluidly between big-picture strategy and hands-on delivery, and who thrives on bringing structure and momentum to ambiguous, high-stakes priorities.

About SIPA: The School of International and Public Affairs (https://sipa.columbia.edu) was founded in the aftermath of World War II as a leading school for educating future diplomats. Today, SIPA has flourished into an interdisciplinary hub for research, education, and engagement on global public policy challenges. SIPA offers a unique mix of academic training, skills development, and applied experiences across a wide variety of areas that prepare students to address the world's most significant policy problems. The School enrolls over 1,400 students in a variety of degree programs, including the Master of International Affairs and Master of Public Administration degrees. The School is home to several centers and institutes, covering areas such as global politics, economic development, war and peace, and global energy policy.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Execution:

• Strategy Development: Partners with the Dean, the senior leadership team, and relevant faculty leadership, to identify, define, refine, and prioritize SIPA's strategic agenda, translating institutional priorities into concrete work plans, timelines, and success metrics.
• Initiative Leadership: Leads and project-manages a portfolio of high-priority, cross-functional initiatives — including new academic programs, non-degree programs, revenue-generating ventures, global partnerships, and operational improvement efforts — from ideation through implementation.
• Special Projects: Serves as the Dean's lead on time-sensitive or sensitive special projects, convening the right stakeholders, structuring decisions, and ensuring follow-through.
• Data Analytics: Establishes dashboards and reporting mechanisms to track progress against SIPA's strategic plan, flagging risks and course-correcting in partnership with initiative owners. Collects and analyzes data to inform decision-making.
• Cross-School & University Coordination
• Internal Alignment: Works across SIPA's administrative and academic units — including Admissions, Student Affairs, Communications, Development, and the School's centers and institutes — to ensure initiatives are coordinated and mutually reinforcing.
• Internal University Partnerships: Represents the Dean's office in university-wide strategic conversations and builds relationships with counterparts in the Provost's office and peer schools to advance SIPA's priorities and identify collaboration opportunities.
• External University Partnerships: Travel domestically and internationally to explore and engage with potential and ongoing University partners.
• External Partnerships: Identifies, structures, and helps negotiate strategic partnerships with governments, NGOs, multilateral institutions, and private-sector organizations that advance SIPA's mission.

Organizational Leadership:

• Dean's Office Support: Serves as a senior member of the Dean's leadership team, helping to prepare materials, briefings, and recommendations for the Dean's engagement with faculty, trustees, alumni, and external stakeholders. Provide coverage for the Chief of Staff as needed.
• Change Management: Leads change-management efforts associated with new initiatives, ensuring effective communication and buy-in from faculty and staff.
• Team Leadership: Builds and manages a small team and/or matrixed working groups to support strategic initiatives and may oversee project or program staff as initiatives scale.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree required in public policy, international affairs, business administration, or a related field; a minimum of 7 years of related professional experience, including strategic planning and project leadership in a complex, mission-driven organization.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives from concept through implementation, ideally within higher education, government, international organizations, or a professional services environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to structure ambiguous problems and drive them to resolution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing materials for senior executives or governing bodies.
• Proven ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders without direct authority, across a decentralized organization.
• Team building and people-leadership skills, with experience managing direct reports and/or cross-functional working groups.
• Ability to manage multiple, competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in or familiarity with the culture and operations of research universities.
• Experience shaping and implementing organization-wide technology strategy, including the evaluation and adoption of AI technologies.
• Prior experience in a chief of staff, strategy, or management consulting role.
• Familiarity with global higher education partnerships and international program development.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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