• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $145,000-$175,000

Position Summary

The Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) seeks a strategic and detail-oriented Managing Director, Research Affairs to support the growth and operational excellence of CGEP’s research program. Reporting to the Senior Director of Research, this position plays a critical role in strengthening CGEP’s research infrastructure, supporting the effective execution of grant-funded projects, and ensuring strong coordination across the Center’s academic, administrative, and external activities.

The Managing Director, Research Affairs will manage and streamline administrative functions across CGEP’s research units, build and oversee effective systems for project delivery, and partner closely with both research and operations staff to enable the Center’s strategic goals. This position will also help develop and implement staffing and operational frameworks that ensure consistency, accountability, and high-impact delivery across CGEP’s approximately 50-person research enterprise.

Responsibilities

In collaboration with the Senior Director of Research, the Managing Director, Research Affairs will:

Administrative and Operational Leadership

• Oversee the day-to-day administrative operations of CGEP’s research team, including internal systems, project tracking, and logistics.
• Develop and maintain work plans and internal processes to support the execution of research priorities.
• Supervise and support research staff, fostering a culture of coordination, accountability, and high performance.
• Support the integrity of CGEP’s research by ensuring compliance with university policies, including managing disclosures and liaising with the University’s Conflict of Interest Committee, as needed.

Grants and Budget Management

• Manage the pre-award process for grants, including preparing and submitting proposals, budgets, in coordination with the development and finance teams, as well as post-award support around reporting in collaboration with the finance team.
• Track and coordinate grant deliverables, timelines, and compliance in partnership with CGEP’s finance and development teams.
• Support the annual and mid-year budget planning processes for research, including tracking expenses and allocating research resources.

Staffing and Personnel Management

• Lead the administrative process for research hiring, including drafting job descriptions, coordinating recruitment efforts, and onboarding new staff in collaboration with the operations team.
• Develop systems for integrating new hires into the research community and ensuring alignment with CGEP’s goals and operating culture.
• Partner with HR and CGEP leadership to support performance management, team development, and employee engagement.

Strategic Planning and Cross-Team Coordination

• Serve as a key partner to the Senior Director of Research and Founding Director in developing long-term strategies to enhance research delivery, growth, and impact.
• Coordinate with CGEP’s publications, events, and communications teams to ensure research outputs are effectively supported and disseminated.
• Represent the research administration function in cross-functional working groups across SIPA and Columbia.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 7-9 years of relevant experience in research administration, academic operations, program management, or a related field. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex administrative processes with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with excellent attention to detail and ability to juggle multiple priorities.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across teams and levels.
• Experience supporting budget development, financial reporting, and grant compliance in a university or nonprofit setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Knowledge of and interest in energy, climate, or public policy preferred but not required.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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