Assistant Director, Center for Institutional and Social Change

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $70,000-$75,000

Position Summary

The Center for Institutional and Social Change (“the Center”), housed at Columbia Law School, engages in action-research projects with institutional, community, and student leadership to advance just and equitable legal and social institutions by anchoring systems change in the leadership of those directly impacted by racism and mass incarceration.

Working with a high degree of independence and minimal supervision, the Assistant Director serves as the primary operational and administrative manager for the Center. In this capacity, the incumbent oversees financial management, strategic communications, event planning, and day-to-day administrative operations. The Assistant Director supports the Faculty Director and Project Directors in center-related activities, including the administration of grants focused on legal education, training, and employment for individuals directly affected by incarceration. Additionally, the Assistant Director plays a central role in managing and driving completion of complex, cross-functional projects both within and outside the Center.

The Assistant Director reports directly to the Center’s Faculty Director and works in close collaboration with Project Directors, fellows, and university stakeholders.

Responsibilities

1. Operations & Office Administration 

• Serves as the chief administrator for the Center, overseeing daily operations, project workflows, and administrative infrastructure.

• Manages the onboarding, payment processing, and administrative tracking for fellows, consultants, researchers, and student workers.

• Establishes and maintains systems for organizing research data, meeting resources, and repository files for Center projects.

• Coordinates, schedules, and attends key Center and project meetings; prepares agendas, synthesizes meeting notes, tracks follow-up deliverables, and takes required action directly.

2. Financial Management & Grant Administration 

• Manages and monitors the Center’s operating budgets and grant funds, ensuring strict adherence to budgetary limits and university financial policies.

• Supports the administration of grants supporting legal education, training, and career development initiatives.

• Prepares ad hoc and annual financial reports, including data analysis detailing budget activity, forecasts, and expenditures.

• Coordinates complex travel itineraries, accommodations, and expense reimbursements for faculty, staff, and visiting scholars.

3. Event Planning & Strategic Communications 

• Coordinates and executes Center events, including seminars, colloquia, workshops, panels, and academic conferences; builds and maintains annual event calendars.

• Develops and implements external and internal communications strategies to highlight Center projects, research, resources, and upcoming events.

• Serves as a key administrative point of contact for external partners, guest speakers, and attendees.

4. Programmatic Support & Cross-Institutional Collaboration 

• Acts as the primary operational liaison for fellows, grant recipients, consultants, researchers, faculty, and students to coordinate project compliance and acquire research materials.

• Collaborates with internal law school centers, broader Columbia University departments, and external social justice organizations.

• Drives completion of multi-disciplinary projects, maintaining project momentum and alignment with Center goals.

5. Administrative Support Relating to Teaching Duties 

• Assists professors of law in the preparation of course materials and manuscripts, correspondence, letters of recommendation and maintenance of websites relating to teaching, committee responsibilities, and research.

6.  Performs other related duties as required. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required.

• Experience: Minimum of 2–4 years of project management or progressive administrative experience (or an equivalent combination of education and experience).

• Must be able to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive work environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and comfort with adopting new digital platforms and technologies.
• Core Competencies:

  • Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

  • Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and take initiative on complex, multi-faceted tasks with minimal oversight.

  • Outstanding organizational skills and acute attention to detail, with proven ability to prioritize tasks and thrive under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

  • Tact, diplomacy, and absolute discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.

• • Must be available for evening work as needed.

• Demonstrated interest in social justice, legal education, criminal legal system reform, or working alongside directly affected communities.

• Prior experience in an academic, legal, or non-profit research environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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