Senior Program Manager

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35.00
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $105,000.00 $115,000.00

Position Summary

The Senior Program Manager will independently lead and manage the administrative, operational, and research activities of the Stakeholders in Translational Research (STAR) Ambassadors Program, a signature initiative integrated across the Irving Institute's research infrastructure. The Senior Program Manager will play a key role in advancing the field of community-engaged translational science through recruitment, training, coordination, and ongoing support of STAR Ambassadors.

Responsibilities include supporting the design and implementation of research studies, developing and facilitating community outreach and engagement activities, contributing to data collection and dissemination efforts, including publications and presentations, and overseeing a broad range of programmatic and administrative functions. The successful candidate will work closely with faculty, staff, students, community partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen community engagement in translational research and enhance the impact of the Institute's programs.

Responsibilities

Program Management & Operations

• Manage the STAR Ambassador membership process, including application review, selection, and participant communications.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate onboarding and training programs to prepare STAR Ambassadors for research advisory roles.
• Coordinate STAR Ambassador meetings, including scheduling, agenda development, facilitation, documentation, and follow-up on action items.
• Maintain program records and reporting systems, track grant deliverables, and document outreach, engagement, and dissemination activities.
• Collaborate with Institute leadership, program managers, and research administration teams to advance strategic priorities and support institution-wide initiatives.

Community Engagement & Stakeholder Partnerships

• Serve as the primary liaison for researchers, staff, community partners, and other stakeholders seeking to engage STAR Ambassadors in research and Institute initiatives.
• Manage the consultation request process, facilitating connections among STAR Ambassadors, community organizations, and Columbia investigators.
• Foster partnerships that strengthen community participation in research, including supporting community stakeholders as collaborators on grant-funded projects.
• Support community education and engagement programs in partnership with Columbia Community Partnerships for Health (CPH), including COMPASS and related initiatives.
• Coordinate referrals, scheduling, and participant engagement for community-based programs and services.
• Partner with Communications, Stakeholder Relations, and Institute leadership to integrate STAR Ambassadors across Irving Institute programs, services, and initiatives.

Research Support & Grant Development

• Advise and support researchers in effectively incorporating community perspectives into grant applications, research studies, and engagement activities.
• Collaborate on the development and administration of community-informed funding opportunities, including proposal criteria, review processes, and award recommendations.
• Support community members and organizations in participating as research partners, co-leads, and co-investigators on grant-funded projects.
• Facilitate collaboration between STAR Ambassadors and research teams throughout the development and implementation of research projects.

Regulatory Compliance, Evaluation & Scholarly Dissemination

• Prepare and manage IRB submissions, amendments, continuing reviews, and related regulatory documentation.
• Develop and oversee program evaluation activities, including data collection, management, analysis, and reporting in collaboration with the Evaluation and Continuous Quality Improvement (ECQI) Unit.
• Lead the development of presentations, progress reports, manuscripts, and other dissemination materials for internal and external audiences.

Perform other tasks as required and assigned within the scope of work.

Minimum Qualifications

Requires bachelor's degree or equivalent in education and experience, plus four years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public health or a related field.
• Minimum of six years of experience in community-engaged research, community outreach, stakeholder engagement, or a related field.
• Demonstrated program management experience, including project oversight, stakeholder coordination, and staff supervision.
• Experience designing, conducting, and evaluating qualitative and/or mixed-methods research studies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to prepare reports, manuscripts, presentations, and other professional communications.
• Experience developing grant proposals and supporting grant-funded programs.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with academic, community, and institutional stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision while contributing effectively as a collaborative member of a multidisciplinary team.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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