Associate Director of Student Engagement

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $115,000 - $125,000

Position Summary

Columbia Law School (CLS) is seeking a collaborative Associate Director of Student Engagement to lead student engagement and programming at the Center for Law and Economics. Reporting to the Center’s Director, this role is a key contributor to a growing, high-visibility center. The Associate Director will cultivate a nationwide network of students and scholars, ensuring the Center’s initiatives are executed with intellectual precision as the Center expands.

This role requires a highly collaborative mindset, as all significant programmatic decisions—such as the selection of research award recipients and the curation of student-focused events—are made in concert with Center leadership and faculty. As the Center’s budget and scope grow, the Associate Director will also be responsible for directing the efforts of staff, student workers, and fellows to ensure the continued excellence of the Center’s student-facing mission.

Responsibilities

1. Lead the creation and management of the Center’s nationwide student-facing initiatives, including the development of intellectual workshops and a student speaker series.
2. Administer the solicitation and review of student research awards, working closely with the Director and faculty to adjudicate submissions through a collective decision-making process.
3. Monitor trends in legal and economic research to identify new opportunities for student engagement and academic contribution.
4. Develop and sustain meaningful relationships with law schools, student organizations, and faculty across the country to broaden the Center’s institutional footprint.
5. Oversee the drafting of scholarly communications, newsletters, and award announcements, ensuring they reflect the standards of Columbia Law School.
6. Act as a central liaison between fellows, faculty, and diverse student constituencies to ensure programs are aligned with the Center’s broader goals.
7. Provide guidance and oversight to administrative staff, student workers, or fellows as the Center’s personnel needs evolve alongside its programmatic growth.
8. Refine and oversee the organizational systems required to manage a growing student network and respond to high-level inquiries from the academic community.
9. Support the financial health of the Center’s student initiatives by drafting budgets and tracking expenditures as resources expand.
10. Performs other duties as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors' degree.
• Minimum of 4 years of related work experience.
• A proven ability to work independently within an entrepreneurial academic setting while maintaining a strong commitment to teamwork.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a focus on precision and clarity.
• A detail-oriented approach to problem-solving, with the capacity to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive work environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A law degree or other advanced degree is highly desirable.
• 5+ years of experience within legal, academic, or organizing sectors.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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