• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $200,000 - $227,500

Position Summary

The Data Science Institute (DSI) at Columbia University is a world-leading research and education institute advancing the field of data science. DSI’s mission is to transform all fields and sectors through the responsible application of data science.

The Managing Director, Engagement and Programs provides strategic and operational leadership for the Data Science Institute’s communications, marketing, programs, and events functions. Reporting to senior Institute leadership, this role serves as a key member of the leadership team and plays a central role in advancing DSI’s mission, visibility, and impact.

This position combines high-level strategic planning with direct management of multidisciplinary teams, ensuring excellence in execution, operational rigor, and measurable outcomes. The Managing Director oversees staff across communications, marketing, programs, and events, builds strong cross-functional partnerships, and ensures that all initiatives align with DSI’s institutional priorities and growth strategy.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Operational Management

• Develop and implement an integrated communications, marketing, programs, and events strategy aligned with DSI’s mission and long-term strategic priorities.

• Serve as a strategic advisor to Institute leadership, including the Director and the COO, on external engagement, reputation building, growth opportunities, and stakeholder positioning.

• Lead and directly manage the Communications, Programs, and Events teams, including hiring, performance management, professional development, and team culture.

• Establish clear goals, KPIs, and accountability frameworks across teams to drive operational excellence and measurable impact.

• Design and implement effective workflows, project management systems, and cross-functional coordination processes.

• Oversee and manage departmental budgets, ensuring strategic resource allocation across communications, marketing, programming, and events.

• Partner closely with faculty, research centers, administrative units, and university leadership to advance Institute-wide priorities.

• Identify opportunities to expand DSI’s national and global visibility, partnerships, and programmatic footprint.

Communications and Marketing Leadership

• Lead a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy to enhance DSI’s brand recognition, academic reputation, and global influence.

• Oversee brand strategy and ensure consistency of voice, messaging, and visual identity across all channels.

• Design and execute integrated marketing campaigns to promote research initiatives, academic programs, major announcements, and institutional milestones.

• Work closely with the content lead to ensure research communication activity highlights and translates  complex data science and AI research into compelling, accessible narratives for academic, industry, policy, media, philanthropic, and public audiences.

• Direct media relations, thought leadership strategy, executive positioning, and reputation management as it relates to communications 

• Oversee digital strategy, including website governance, social media, email marketing, multimedia production, and analytics.

• Leverage performance metrics and audience insights to continuously refine messaging and marketing effectiveness.

• Collaborate closely with Columbia University’s central communications and marketing offices to ensure alignment and amplification.

Programs Leadership and Team Management

• Provide strategic and operational oversight of DSI’s programmatic activities.

• Directly manage the programs team, establishing clear priorities, execution frameworks, and evaluation metrics.

• Develop scalable programs that strengthen mission aligned efforts and strategic positioning for the Institute. This includes project launch and set up for new initiatives out of the Institute, and ensuring smooth operational functioning of existing programs.  

• Implement program evaluation systems to assess impact, inform strategy, and ensure alignment with Institute goals.

• Ensure strong internal coordination between programs and communications to maximize visibility and institutional impact.

Events Strategy and Execution

• Provide executive oversight of DSI’s conferences, symposia, lecture series, industry convenings, and public-facing events. 

• Work closely with the Chief Strategic Alliances to ensure coordination among communications, marketing and events as it relates to external industry alliances. 

• Directly manage the Events team, ensuring excellence in planning, execution, budgeting, and post-event analysis.

• Ensure events serve both academic and strategic marketing objectives, elevating DSI’s reputation and expanding stakeholder engagement.

• Oversee event branding, audience development strategy, sponsorship engagement, and experiential design.

• Establish metrics to evaluate audience reach, engagement, partnerships, and long-term impact.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and eight years of related experience. 

• Demonstrated senior leadership experience overseeing communications, marketing, programs, and/or events in a complex academic, research, nonprofit, or mission-driven organization.

• Proven ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams with a strong management orientation.

• Experience translating strategy into operational systems and measurable outcomes.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex research for diverse audiences.

• Experience managing budgets and aligning resources with strategic priorities.

• Strong stakeholder management skills and ability to collaborate across institutional boundaries.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree preferred. 

• Familiarity with data science, AI, or related research domains preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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