• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: 94,000 - 104,000

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Veteran Career Transition at Columbia University’s Center for Veteran Transition and Integration (CVTI) will develop and coordinate strategic, operational, and advisory efforts to enhance career outcomes for student veterans at Columbia University. The Associate Director serves as a key liaison between CVTI, industry partners, and internal University stakeholders to design, deliver, and manage career transition initiatives tailored to promote stronger career outcomes and opportunities for Columbia’s student veteran population. In addition to providing robust support for job-seeking student veterans, this role will partner with employers who seek to strengthen their own recruiting efforts, professional development, and cultures of support for veterans.

Responsibilities

Career Services and Student Advising (35%)

• Provide individualized career counseling to student veterans, assisting with career exploration, job search strategies, resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, etc.
• Design and implement veteran-specific workshops, networking events, and employer engagement activities.
• Maintain regular advising appointments and drop-in hours to provide accessible career-related support.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert on veteran career transition for students, staff, and faculty at Columbia University and beyond.

Industry and Employer Engagement (25%)

• Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with employers across key industries, including finance, technology, consulting, non-profits, and NGOs.
• Facilitate employer participation in CVTI-hosted events and programs with an emphasis on veteran hiring such as networking events, roundtables, and recruitment partnerships.
• Develop pipelines for internships and full-time employment opportunities tailored to student veterans.
• Lead initiatives to promote veteran readiness among employers and help bridge cultural understanding between student veterans and civilian hiring managers.

Program Development and Management (20%)

• Create, implement, and assess veteran-focused career transition programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing veteran employment outcomes.
• Manage logistics and marketing for workshops, panels, and events.
• Collaborate with University-wide partners to integrate services across career and veteran support offices.
• Audit and enhance existing systems for tracking student veteran employment outcomes both immediately post-graduation and beyond.
  
  

Internal Collaboration and Integration (10%)

• Partner with the Columbia University School of General Studies, student veteran organizations (MilVets), and other University stakeholders to ensure coordinated support.
• Collaborate with and provide additional support for existing veteran-specific employment initiatives across the University (Veteran Career Initiatives (VCI), Columbia Career Education (CCE), etc.).
• Serve as a liaison for CVTI to campus-wide veteran initiatives and committees.
• Contribute to the effective functioning of CVTI’s internal initiatives and day-to-day operations. This includes assisting with the coordination and execution of office programming, maintaining organizational workflows, and ensuring the smooth implementation of internal projects and processes.
  
  

Market Research and Resource Development (10%)

• Analyze labor market trends and hiring data to inform programming and advising.
• Develop and maintain a library of targeted career resources (e.g., resume guides, interview tips, job search strategies) specifically for veterans.
• Build an accessible digital repository of career materials and employer contacts.
• Foster active relationships with veteran service organizations that focus on veteran employment (Hire Heroes USA, 50strong, etc.)
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• A minimum of 5–7 years of related experience in career services, employer relations, student advising, workforce development, or veteran support programming.
• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver career development programs, events, and advising services.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present to diverse audiences and engage effectively with students, faculty, alumni, and employers.
• Strong organizational, project management, and interpersonal skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven experience building and maintaining professional networks and institutional partnerships.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Proficiency with career services platforms (e.g., Handshake), CRM systems, or comparable data management tools.
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, and judgment when handling sensitive information.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in higher education, counseling, public administration, or related field.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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