Director, Special Projects

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $130,000 - $150,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Special Projects will oversee a range of strategic, administrative, operational, and confidential matters involving staff, faculty and researchers, and University partners. This role will act as a key partner to the executive team, providing high-level project development and implementation, leading cross-functional initiatives, stakeholder management, and internal communication facilitation to ensure initiatives are executed effectively and aligned with our organizational goals. The Director, Special Projects will play a pivotal role in managing complex projects from inception to launch, ensuring streamlined operations, clear communications, and positive stakeholder relationships across the Institute and its partners.

Data Science Institute (DSI) at Columbia University is a world-leading institute in research and education in the theory and practice of the emerging field of data science. The Data Science Institute's mission involves advancing the state of the art in data science; transforming all fields, professions, and sectors through the application of data science, while ensuring the responsible use of data for the benefit of society.

Responsibilities

• Project Management & Coordination
  
  
  
  • Lead cross-functional projects, ensuring timelines, budgets, and deliverables are met.
  • Coordinate with project owners and teams to monitor progress, remove obstacles, and maintain alignment on objectives.
  • Develop and oversee project plans, ensuring each phase aligns with organizational priorities.
  • Track, analyze, and report on project performance, ensuring timely identification of issues and escalation as needed.
  
  
  
  
• Stakeholder Management
  
  
  
  • Act as a central point of contact for internal and external stakeholders of the Institute, fostering positive relationships and clear communication.
  • Develop a deep understanding of the vision and mission of the Institute and work with key stakeholders to build, design and launch projects, test new ideas, execute and implement while ensuring alignment with Institute leadership goals and objectives.
  • Lead regular stakeholder updates, capturing feedback, and ensuring concerns are addressed proactively, and escalating issues that need to be addressed to the leadership table.
  
  
  
  
• Project Launch Coordination
  
  
  
  • Facilitate end-to-end project launch, coordinating cross-functional resources and ensuring that all team members are aligned on project goals, timelines, and responsibilities.
  • Manage the preparation and organization of project launch activities, ensuring a successful transition from planning to execution.
  • Collaborate with departments to define launch requirements, success metrics, and post-launch evaluation criteria.
  
  
  
  
• Internal Communication
  
  
  
  • Develop and execute internal communication strategies that enhance clarity, transparency, and alignment around key projects and initiatives.
  • Ensure timely, effective updates on project progress, milestones, and outcomes to the Director and the leadership team of the Institute.
  • Collaborate with the executive team to produce and distribute communications that reflect organizational values and objectives.
  
  
  
  
• Strategy and Planning
  
  
  
  • Provide strategic and operational support to the executive team, assisting in prioritizing key initiatives and organizational objectives.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to the leadership team, supporting decision-making, planning, and problem-solving.
  
  
  
  
• Performs related duties & responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field required; MBA or equivalent experience is a plus.
• 6-8 years of experience in project management, operations, or a similar role, ideally in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven experience leading and coordinating cross-functional teams and managing complex projects.
• Exceptional communication skills, with an ability to distill and convey complex information to diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, and lead through influence.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP or other project management certifications.
• Prior experience in an academic, higher education setting.
• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Jira, Trello) and communication platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams).
• All applications will require a cover letter for serious consideration.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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