Executive Director and Registrar

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $160,000 - $175,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Students and Registration Services, the Executive Director and Registrar serves as the lead administrator for the Office of Registration Services (ORS) at Columbia Law School. The Registrar leads a dedicated team of higher education professionals responsible for academic policy implementation, registration operations, recordkeeping, exam administration, grade tracking, graduation clearance, and strict regulatory compliance (including ABA standards, NYS Bar requirements, and FERPA). Working closely with the Office of the Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, the Office of Student Services, the Office of Graduate Degree Programs and other Law School and University partners, the Registrar ensures data integrity across institutional databases while driving digital transformation to enhance student-facing and administrative workflows to ensure a positive, efficient, and professional student learning experience.

Responsibilities

Academic Operations & Registration Management (30%)

• Lead biannual registration, course lottery allocations, cross-registration (including Columbia Graduate Schools such as Columbia Business School (CBS) and the School for International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and the Columbia/NYU Exchange Program)), and add/drop processes.
• Manage course setup and scheduling in partnership with the Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, overseeing classroom assignments via EMS and bulk course uploads into Columbia University’s Student Information System (SIS) and Vergil platform.
• Reconcile student enrollment data between internal systems (BORIS/LawNet) and University SIS engines to ensure complete accuracy for billing, residency tracking, and degree audits.
• Consult with University registrar’s office and law school stakeholders to draft academic year calendars, pre-registration and add/drop calendars.
• Respond to inquiries for various reports. Ensure records are accurately transmitted to the University Registrar.

Compliance, Bar Admission & External Reporting (25%)

• Serve as the Law School’s primary authority on compliance with ABA Standards (including credit hour verification, distance learning limits, and annual questionnaire filings).
• Direct the certification process for student character, fitness, certificate of attendance, and degree completion for state bar examiners across US jurisdictions, with primary oversight of New York State Bar filings.
• Facilitate data collection and reporting for ABA Student & Bar Passage Questionnaires and internal institutional research in coordination with other Law School units (including the Business Office and Professional Affairs).

Exam Administration, Grading & Degree Clearance (20%)

• Oversee year-round examination administration for J.D., ELL.M., and LL.M.degree programs, ensuring full system integrity, anonymous grading protocols, and accommodation workflows in collaboration with the Office of Disability Services (ODS) and Law School disability liaisons.
• Direct the timely collection of faculty grades, grade curve enforcement, issuance of honors and academic awards.
• Oversee the final J.D., ELL.M., LL.M., and J.S.D graduation clearance process and diploma audits.

Departmental Leadership & Strategic Systems (15%)

• Manage daily office operations, set departmental goals, and handle budget administration for the office.
• Manage, mentor, and evaluate a team of direct reports within Registration Services.
• Partner with CUIT and Law School IT to audit, modernize, and automate registration technologies (BORIS, LawNet, Vergil).
• Collaborate closely with Student Services, Financial Aid, J.D. and Graduate Program Admissions teams, and Career Services to support seamless student services.
• Serve on ex-officio administrative and curriculum committees at request to evaluate policy feasibility and academic calendar development.

Departmental Support & Other Duties (10%)

• Lead cross-office collaboration during high-volume periods (registration, exams, orientation, and graduation).
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Associate Dean to maintain institutional priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Advanced degree (Master’s, J.D., or equivalent) strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 7 to 9 years of progressive management and supervisory experience in a higher education registrar’s office or academic administration environment (law school setting preferred).

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of Student Information Systems (SIS, Banner, or equivalent), registration allocation engines, exam management platforms (e.g., Exam4, ExamSoft), and reporting tools.
• Deep understanding of ABA accreditation requirements, state bar certification rules, and FERPA regulations.
• Exceptional attention to detail, strong oral and written communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to thrive in a high-volume, fast-paced environment while managing competing deadlines.
• Must be able to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive workplace environment.
• Some evening and weekend work is required during peak operational cycles, specifically during examination periods, add/drop cycles, and bar certification windows

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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