Education and Convergence Project Manager

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building: Morningside
• Salary Range: $67,300 - $78,000

Position Summary

This position reports to LEAP's Managing Director, with a dotted line to the Chief Convergence Officer and Education Director, reflecting the role's dual focus on Center convergence and education program coordination.

The Education and Convergence Project Manager plays a key role in advancing LEAP Science and Technology Center’s mission to connect cutting-edge climate research, artificial intelligence, data science, and education. Reporting to the Managing Director and working closely with the Chief Convergence Officer and Education Director, the Project Manager coordinates cross-functional initiatives that bring together researchers, faculty, students, educators, and external partners.

 The Project Manager leads the planning and implementation of LEAP’s education and workforce-development programs, including the Momentum Climate Data Science Bootcamp, REU, Momentum Fellowship, and Lectures in Climate Data Science. The role manages programs from recruitment and onboarding through implementation, stakeholder coordination, evaluation, and continuous improvement.

In addition, the Project Manager supports Center-wide convergence initiatives, develops and maintains strategic partnerships, tracks project milestones and outcomes, and identifies opportunities to strengthen collaboration across research, education, data and computation, and knowledge transfer. This is an ideal opportunity for a highly organized, collaborative, and proactive professional who enjoys managing complex projects, building relationships, and helping innovative ideas move from concept to execution.

Learning the Earth with Artificial Intelligence and Physics ( LEAP)  is a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center (STC) reimagining how we project the future of Earth's systems. By fusing cutting-edge AI with physical climate science, LEAP is building the next generation of tools for adapting to changes in the Earth’s systems. Learn more at leap.columbia.edu. Recently renewed for five more years of NSF funding, the Center is now seeding a new wave of cutting edge research projects. It's an exciting moment to join, with innovative science, partnerships, and programs underway.

What makes an STC different from a typical research center is its broad mandate. LEAP is charged not just with doing groundbreaking research, but with pairing it with innovative education and knowledge transfer. That means the people, ideas, and resources flowing through LEAP's research, education, and outreach teams converge to have maximum impact

This role sits right at that intersection. The project manager will help weave together LEAP's research, education, and knowledge-transfer work streams, ensuring they reinforce each other and advance the Center's strategic priorities  all while working alongside an interdisciplinary team based in Columbia Engineering, with collaborators across Columbia's schools and external partner institutions.

Responsibilities

Education and Research–Education Integration (50%):

• Manage the planning, coordination, and implementation of LEAP's education and workforce-development programs, including:

• Momentum Climate Data Science Bootcamp

• Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

• Momentum Fellowship

• Summer Institute for primary school teachers

• Course access and registration initiatives

• Other emerging education and training programs

• Manage programs throughout their full lifecycle, including:

• Program planning and timeline development

• Recruitment and outreach

• Information sessions and applicant communications

• Application management and selection processes

• Identification and coordination of instructors, project leads, faculty, and mentors

• Participant onboarding and orientation

• Development and coordination of training and program materials

• Scheduling and communications

• Professional development and community-building activities

• Program logistics and day-to-day implementation

• Data collection, assessment, and evaluation

• Post-program follow-up and continuous improvement

• Partner with the Education Director and other LEAP leaders to assess program needs, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop new education initiatives.

• Coordinate faculty, researchers, staff, students, mentors, and external partners involved in education programs to ensure effective communication and timely completion of deliverables.

• Develop and maintain program calendars, project plans, participant communications, and tracking systems.

• Monitor program milestones and proactively identify and resolve logistical or operational issues.

• Collect and analyze program feedback and outcomes to inform future programming and support reporting requirements.

• Lectures in Climate Data Science

• Lead the planning and execution of the Lectures in Climate Data Science series, coordinating the full event lifecycle from speaker identification and invitation through post-event follow-up.

• Coordinate with faculty and Center leadership to identify and engage distinguished speakers and emerging leaders in climate data science.

• Manage speaker logistics, including biographies, abstracts, presentation information, schedules, travel coordination, and communications.

• Coordinate event logistics, including space reservations, catering, room setup, technology, calendars, invitations, and communications.

• Supervise and coordinate student assistants supporting the lecture series.

• Develop processes to evaluate attendance, engagement, and other measures of program success.

Center Convergence and Strategic Coordination (30%):

• Partner with the Chief Convergence Officer and Managing Director to coordinate initiatives that advance LEAP's research convergence, research–education integration, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge-transfer priorities.

• Coordinate meetings, working groups, and committees, including developing agendas, preparing materials, documenting decisions, tracking action items, and monitoring progress against established goals and timelines.

• Support the Convergence Committee and Research Thrust/Groups by coordinating meetings, collecting progress updates, tracking deliverables, and facilitating communication across teams.

• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, tracking tools, and other mechanisms to monitor progress across convergence-related initiatives.

• Track key outcomes, indicators, milestones, and stakeholder engagement activities and prepare updates for Center leadership.

• Serve as a liaison among Education, Knowledge Transfer, Research, and Data and Computation teams to facilitate collaboration and identify opportunities for cross-program integration.

• Coordinate Education and Knowledge Transfer teams' engagement with LEAP's data and computation resources, including Pangeo-related programs, activities, and the Data Catalog.

• Work with the Manager of Data and Computation to coordinate training opportunities and develop or adapt relevant training and onboarding materials.

• Identify potential academic, educational, industry, and community partners and support outreach and relationship development.

• Help identify opportunities to expand LEAP's reach and impact through new collaborations, programs, and strategic partnerships.

• Provide project management support for emerging initiatives and special projects aligned with the Center's strategic priorities.

Center Operations and Program Support (20%):

• Coordinate operational needs associated with LEAP visitors, interns, students, research trainees, and other program participants.

• Support facility, guest access, technology, and service requests in coordination with appropriate University offices.

• Coordinate internal meetings, workshops, seminars, and Center events.

• Support onboarding activities for visitors, interns, fellows, and research trainees.

• Develop and maintain efficient administrative and project-management processes that support the Center's growing portfolio of activities.

• Identify opportunities to incorporate AI-enabled tools and technologies into routine workflows to improve efficiency, communication, project tracking, and program administration.

• Collaborate across the LEAP team to ensure effective coordination of shared resources, information, and priorities.

• Perform other related responsibilities and special projects as assigned by the Managing Director, Chief Convergence Officer, or Education Director.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent experience required.

2–4 years of relevant experience in project management, program administration, education, research administration, nonprofit or academic program management, or a related field.

Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects, programs, events, or initiatives simultaneously, preferably in a complex academic, research, or mission-driven environment.

Strong organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to establish priorities, manage timelines, track deliverables, and follow through on multiple concurrent initiatives.

Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with faculty, researchers, students, staff, and external partners.

Strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and initiative.

Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary team.

Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships and coordinate effectively across organizational units and with diverse stakeholders.

Proficiency with productivity and collaboration tools, including Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; strong proficiency with Excel/Google Sheets and presentation software.

Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities and short deadlines.

Ability to identify problems, develop solutions, and proactively move projects forward with limited supervision.

Must be able to work both independently and collaboratively in a hybrid environment.

Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications are preferred but are not required. LEAP welcomes applicants from a variety of professional and academic backgrounds who are interested in its mission.

Experience working in higher education, scientific research, climate science, data science, artificial intelligence, or a related field.

Experience managing education, workforce-development, fellowship, research, or professional-development programs.

Experience coordinating interdisciplinary initiatives involving faculty, researchers, students, and external partners.

Familiarity with data science, computational research, AI, or climate-related research and education.

Experience developing partnerships or stakeholder engagement initiatives.

Experience using project-management, survey, event-management, or collaboration platforms.

Interest in leveraging emerging technologies, including AI, to improve program operations and organizational effectiveness.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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