Managing Director, Richman Center for Business, Law, and Public Policy

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $125,000 - $135,000

Position Summary

Reporting jointly to the Faculty Directors from Columbia Business School and Columbia Law School, the Managing Director (MD) is the senior operational and programmatic leader of the Richman Center. The MD translates faculty vision into strategy and execution, leads the Center's signature events and conferences, stewards relationships with the Center's founder and advisory board, and manages the JD/MBA student community that sits at the heart of the Center's identity. The role requires a leader who is equally comfortable working with distinguished scholars and senior external partners, managing complex event logistics, and building the institutional relationships that allow a cross-school center to thrive.

Established in 2011 with a visionary gift from Richard Paul Richman, JD '72, MBA '73, the Richard Paul Richman Center for Business, Law, and Public Policy is a joint venture of Columbia's Business and Law Schools. The Center promotes evidence-based public policy and fosters dialogue and debate on emerging policy questions where business and markets intersect with the law. It supports empirical, theoretical, and institutional research on issues at the nexus of law and markets - both domestically and internationally - and helps translate academic research into practical strategies for regulatory reform and business practice. Through conferences and symposia, case studies, decision briefs, and policy white papers, the Richman Center provides a platform for timely, rigorous exchange among scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and students, while inspiring the next generation of leaders to pursue careers at the intersection of business, law, and public policy.

Responsibilities

Faculty Partnership and Program Development

• Serve as the primary operational and strategic partner to the Faculty Directors, translating their research priorities and intellectual agenda into conferences, workshops, speaker series, and other programming.
• Assist faculty in developing program themes, identifying speakers and collaborators, and coordinating logistics and follow-through across all Center initiatives.
• Support faculty research activities affiliated with the Center, including coordination with the Vice Dean for Research and relevant offices at both schools.
• Manage visiting scholars and others affiliated with the Center, including appointments, onboarding, and programming that engages them in the Center's mission.
• Support course offerings formally affiliated with the Center and assist with other academic activities as requested by the Faculty Directors.

Conference, Workshop, and Event Leadership

• Plan and execute the Center's full portfolio of events - including full and half-day conferences, evening and lunchtime panels, debates, and distinguished speaker series - in close collaboration with the Faculty Directors.
• Develop event concepts, agendas, and programming; oversee all aspects of organization and implementation, including vendor coordination, speaker arrangements, travel, and communications.
• Where appropriate, partner with other school partners on event logistics to ensure seamless coordination with relevant Columbia offices for both on- and off-campus programs.

JD/MBA Student Community

• Lead the Richman Center's engagement with the JD/MBA student community, including signature events such as the welcome lunch, end-of-year reception, and annual JD/MBA alumni dinner.
• Coordinate mentorship opportunities and networking events that connect JD/MBA students with alumni and practitioners.
• Partner with the JD/MBA committee, student affairs, and academic advisors at both schools to support curricular and co-curricular initiatives for the joint degree community.

Thought Leadership and Communications

• Oversee the Center's communications strategy, including the website, newsletter, social media presence (LinkedIn, Twitter/X, YouTube), and other channels.
• Support the dissemination of research produced by Center-affiliated scholars, including event reports, decision briefs, and policy white papers.
• Track and report on Center impact, including event attendance, publications, media mentions, and alumni engagement.
• Identify grant and external funding opportunities and prepare proposals in support of the Center's research and programming.

Strategic Engagement, Fundraising, and External Partnerships

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with the Center's founder, advisory board members, and senior advisors; work with these stakeholders to pursue programming aligned with their priorities and the Center's mission.
• Manage all aspects of the Advisory Board, including meeting schedules and agendas, presentations, minutes, committee coordination, and governance documents such as bylaws and committee charters.
• Partner with each school’s development teams to manage and expand alumni outreach and engagement, including identifying alumni for advisory board roles and integrating alumni into Center programming.
• Cultivate external partnerships with law firms, think tanks, academic institutions, foundations, government agencies, and other organizations to expand programming and research collaboration opportunities.
• Work closely with Development and Alumni Relations at both schools to support fundraising strategy and explore corporate and law firm co-sponsorship of Center programming.

Operations and Administration

• Oversee day-to-day administrative operations of the Center, including budgeting, financial transactions, reimbursements, and reporting.
• Ensure effective coordination of Center activities across Columbia Business School and Columbia Law School.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for faculty, visitors, and external partners affiliated with the Center.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required. Minimum of 4-6 years of relevant experience, with a track record of managing complex programs, events, or initiatives in a professional, academic, or policy environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior faculty, executives, and external partners across multiple institutions or organizational contexts.
• Strong event management experience, including large-scale conferences and high-profile public programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience producing external-facing content such as newsletters, reports, or policy materials.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and deliver with a high degree of care and quality.
• Experience supervising staff and coordinating across teams.
• Must be able to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive work environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, a think tank, a policy organization, or a professional services environment with exposure to legal or regulatory issues.
• Familiarity with the intersection of business, law, and public policy.
• Experience supporting advisory boards, fundraising, or donor relations.
• Advanced degree (JD, MBA, or relevant graduate degree) preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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