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Associate Director, Career Management

  • 550427
  • Manhattanville
  • EIS Climate School Admin
  • Full Time
  • Opening on: Jun 27 2025
  • Grade 13
  • Job Type: Officer of Administration
  • Regular/Temporary: Regular
  • Hours Per Week: 35
  • Salary Range: $95,000- $110,000

Position Summary

Reporting to The Director of Career Management, the Associate Director plays a strategic leadership role in delivering high-Impact career services across the Climate School’s graduate programs (i.e., Master of Arts in Climate & Society, Master of Science in Climate and Master of Science in Climate Finance) This role integrates student coaching, with employer engagement and strategic planning to help drive employment outcomes and enhance the school’s career development offerings. As a key member of the leadership team, the Senior Associate Director will work with the Director to support the design and implementation of innovative strategies, cross-functional initiatives, and high-visibility events that advance student job readiness and elevate institutional career outcomes.

Other responsibilities include: developing and implementing innovative career services programming; guiding junior staff through the resumes and cover letter review processes; establishing partnerships with external employers; collecting and analyzing employment data; reporting and presenting on career outcomes; sourcing summer capstone projects from external organizations; researching relevant and emerging fields and functions; creating and curating career resources; posting jobs and events on career management system; supporting student admissions, student affairs, and alumni affairs as it relates to professional development and careers; and other projects as needed.


Responsibilities

  • Lead one-on-one and group coaching engagements with students, equipping them with tools and strategies to navigate a competitive job market and explore emerging roles in climate and sustainability.
  • Collaborate on student-alumni and alumni engagement activities (alumni talks, networking events, panels, alumni awards, etc.).
  • Gather student information and track job search progress.
  • Report on career outcomes.
  • Drive employer engagement strategy by cultivating and managing a robust portfolio of organizational partners and industry stakeholders.
  • Spearhead efforts to source and co-develop high-quality internships and full-time job opportunities aligned with students’ training and promote the candidacy of our students.
  • Conduct strategic employer outreach and exploratory partnership conversations to establish partnerships that contribute to the career outcomes for students.
  • Coordinate employer info sessions, career talks, and student-alumni networking events.
  • Help to plan and execute signature career events like the All-Ivy Career Fair and other large career networking events.
  • Serve as liaison between the Climate School and the broader Columbia career ecosystem. Build partnerships with peer schools and internal stakeholders to expand career pathways, share resources, and enhance experiential learning opportunities.
  • Other duties as assigned to support the mission of the Climate School and its career services office. 

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree and 4-6 years of related experience in career services, employer relations, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
  • Proven track record in leading high-impact career initiatives, advising graduate-level students, and managing strategic employer partnerships across sectors.
  • Experience with career coaching or student advising, or background in any of the following: recruiting (executive search experience a plus), talent development, branding and marketing, or business development.
  • Demonstrated success in designing and scaling professional development programs that support student employment outcomes in emerging sectors, particularly climate and sustainability.
  • Exceptional ability to build and leverage a diverse employer network through proactive outreach (cold calling), thought leadership, and cross-sector engagement.
  • Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience supervising staff and interns and fostering team development.
  • Adept at event strategy, execution, and program innovation across virtual and in-person platforms.
  • Skilled in using data to inform strategy, measure outcomes, and communicate impact through reports and presentations to senior stakeholders.
  • Experience establishing, documenting, and improving processes and templates.
  • Deep commitment to student success with a compassionate, equity-minded approach to advising and coaching.
  • Familiarity with (or strong interest in) the challenges and opportunities associated with the climate crisis.
  • Advanced interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated cultural competence and experience supporting international students.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully with a diverse population of students, alumni, staff, faculty, and employers.
  • Comfort with public speaking (e.g., facilitating workshops, conducting interviews, moderating panel discussions, etc.).
  • Proficient in CRM, career platforms (e.g., 12Twenty), Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint), and adaptable to new systems and tools. (Experience with 12Twenty a plus)
  • Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks with minimal supervision, with strong attention to detail.
  • Strategic thinker with a forward-looking mindset, creativity, and a collaborative spirit.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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

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