Assistant Director, Student Support

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $79,000 - $89,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Student Support, the Assistant Director advances student success and wellbeing at the School of Professional Studies (SPS). The role oversees Disability Services accommodations, provides direct student support, identifies barriers to success, connects students with resources, and monitors progress toward resolution. The Assistant Director also supports the development of programs addressing interpersonal conflict and student re-enrollment, aligning services with institutional priorities around retention, accessibility, and student success.

Responsibilities

Disability Services & Accommodations

• Serve as primary liaison to Disability Services and support the coordination and implementation of disability accommodations for SPS students ensuring compliance with institutional policies as well as federal accessibility guidelines.
• Ensure faculty are informed of approved accommodations and supported in implementing them appropriately.
• Coordinate exam accommodations within parameters established by Disability Services, including distribution and return of exam materials, exam room reservations, and proctor requests.
• Serve as a back-up Examinations Proctor as needed.
• Develop procedures, training, and communication standards related to accessibility. Serve as the primary contact for students navigating disability-related support services.
• Escalate sensitive or complex accommodation matters to the Director of Student Support as appropriate.

Case Management & Student Support

• Provide case management and direct support to graduate students navigating accommodation processes and well-being related  concerns that include but are not limited to personal, financial, medical, mental health, and academic concerns.
• Serve as a resource for students regarding accommodation implementation, available support services, and self-advocacy.
• Maintain accurate documentation related to student support and student-of-concern cases.
• Identify gaps in student resources and expand access to financial and basic needs support.
• Aggregate programmatic data and assess outcomes to measure effectiveness and identify best practices.
• Maintain accurate and FERPA compliant records in accordance with institutional policies.
• Participate as an active member of the Student Support team, attend meetings, retreats, trainings, and provide administrative support to department-wide programs.

Programming & Initiatives

• Plan and execute co-curricular support programs, including skills workshops for over 1200 students annually, that align with the needs of the student community and enhance the student experience.
• Participate and contribute to school-wide cornerstone events including but not limited to New Student Orientation, Admitted Student Events, Graduation/Commencement, and others.
• Serve on the SPS International Student Working group to develop support programming for all international students.

SPS CARE Team

• Serves on the CARE Team on-call rotation and exercises judgment in triaging student concerns, determining appropriate referrals, coordinating follow-up with Wellbeing team and University partners, documenting actions taken, and escalating urgent, sensitive, or high-risk matters in accordance with established protocols.

Supervision and Other

• Supervise office interns and support their training and development.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned/requested.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent related experience required
• 3 years related experience

Preferred Qualifications

• 3-5 years related experience in case management and accommodation support
• Professional experience in disability services, student affairs, academic support, wellness, or a related field, preferably within a higher education setting
• Working knowledge of disability-related laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, FERPA, and related higher education accessibility practices
• Experience in a supervisory role including the training and development of staff is strongly preferred
• Master’s degree in related fields preferred Master's degree from an accredited institution in social work, counseling, higher education and student affairs, or related field
• Master’s degree in related fields preferred

Other Requirements

• Must be detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to make decisions independently and carefully manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills required
• Ability to collaborate and work well under pressure with short deadlines

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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