• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $150,000 - $170,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Dean, Career Education and Advising the Executive Director, Career Education and Student Engagement, is responsible for leading industry-specific career education programs and liaison relationships, professional club engagement, and academic partnerships.

The Executive Director manages professional staff who provide industry-focused programming in partnership with CBS’s 80+ professional student clubs and affinity groups. Overseeing the Career Management Center (CMC) liaison relationships with internal stakeholders including the Office of Student Affairs and Centers & Programs, and providing strategic oversight for career programming for Master of Science (MS) degrees in Financial Economics, Accounting & Fundamental Analysis and Marketing Science.

Given the strong global presence within the MS student population, the Executive Director partners with the Director of Career Education and Advising to develop training and relevant programs that address the unique career management needs of both international students and professional staff.  They also cultivate relationships with  international MBA/MS recruiters, alumni, and hiring organizations. 

The Executive Director will represent Columbia Business School at relevant external School and corporate programs, act as a spokesperson on international student issues with media outlets and participate at conferences presented by peer professional groups.  As an expert and key leader in the international and industry-focused career education, they contribute to the School’s evolving international and specialized masters programs’ strategies in collaboration with senior administrative leadership and faculty. 

About Columbia Business School
For over a century, Columbia Business School has helped develop leaders and builders of enterprises who drive value for their stakeholders and society at large through our MBA, MS, PhD, and Executive Education programs. We are equally committed to cultivating new scholars and teachers, and to creating and disseminating pathbreaking knowledge, concepts, and tools which advance the understanding and practice of management through our faculty research and PhD programs. Our vision is simple: to develop ideas and leaders that transform the world—from the very center of business. 

Our ever-evolving curriculum - featuring pioneering courses, STEM certification, and immersive experiential learning -prepares students to excel in key areas such as digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and innovation, twenty-first century finance, the intersection of business and society, and climate and sustainability. The CBS administration enables CBS’ educational and scholarly mission through strategic and operational guidance and support, optimizing School resources through well-designed, transparent processes with a culture of respect for all.

Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Relationship Management

• Supervises and mentors a team of 5 Associate and Senior Associate Directors in the development and delivery of career education workshops programs. 

• Builds and maintains strong relationships with professional student clubs, affinity groups, Centers and Programs, and affiliated student leaders. Oversee organization-wide liaison relationships with internal stakeholders.

• Partners with Business School liaisons of the Columbia International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO), immigration attorneys and consulates to stay informed of visa requirements and  international job search strategies. 

• Ensures key internal stakeholders - including the Dean and Offices of Student Academic Affairs, and Admissions, are updated on visa-related challenges impacting international students. 

Program Development & Strategic Planning

• Collaborates with the Assistant Dean to define goals, metrics, and strategies for career education initiatives, ensuring alignment with student needs and market trends. 

• Oversees the development of curriculum, marketing, and evaluation plans for education sessions. 

• Provides strategic oversight for MS career programs, partnering closely with faculty and program directors.

• Serves as senior advisor to Career Education & Advising staff on international student career concerns. 

• Conceptualizes, plans and presents workshops and informational seminars for non-U.S. and domestic MBA students focusing on international or non-home country internships and full-time positions. Ensures international student job search resources are up to date and impactful.

• Leads the creation, implementation, and continuous improvement of career education content development for industry-focused career education offerings across student populations including programs, seminars, and events.

• Ensures ongoing training and professional development for CMC advisors, coaches, and fellows 

• Delivers relevant education programs and seminars to enhance student career readiness.

Career Coaching & Advising

• Provides personalized coaching to MBA/MS students on a wide range of career planning and job search strategies. 

• Collects and analyzes data to inform advising strategies and program effectiveness

• Assists with administrative tasks as needed to support advising and program delivery.  

External Representation

• Represents CMC in interactions with a wide range of internal and external constituents,  including faculty, Dean’s office, Executives-in-Residence, administrators in other departments, professionals from the private and public sectors, and counterparts at peer schools as needed.  

• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, graduate degree highly preferred and minimum of 7-9 years of in-depth industry expertise across multiple relevant sectors in domestic and international settings.

• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver workshops in corporate or academic settings. Accomplished presenter comfortable speaking and delivering workshops in front of students, corporate representatives and senior school leadership.  

• Strong knowledge of software including MS Excel  and PowerPoint; familiarity with CRM tools a plus. 

• Ability to travel when requested (up to 5% of time).  

• Exceptional interpersonal, relationship management, communication, and writing skills., 

• Previous advising, mentoring experience, teaching and/or presentation skills a must. 

• Strong customer service  orientation and proven ability to excel in a high-volume environment. 

• Ability to balance both  independently and collaboratively in a team setting.  

• Experience managing others in a customer-focused environment. 

• Ability to work flexible, long hours and early mornings/late evenings on a seasonal basis to meet student needs; some evening and  weekend work may be necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• 8 plus years of experience.
• Previous leadership experience in higher education or business settings.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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