• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $75,000 - $90,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director and working closely with the Sociology Department staff, the Assistant Director of the Asian American Initiative will oversee and coordinate the administrative function, budget, and programmatic projects for the newly established Initiative. The initiative's mission is to use social science research to inform our understanding of Asian Americans.

Columbia University is one of the original homes of sociology in the United States. In 1894, the university became the first in the country to create a professorship in sociology; in 1904, it became the second to create a department devoted to the discipline of sociology. Since then, the Department of Sociology has counted some of the discipline's most important figures among its faculty and students. It remains among the world's most respected and influential sociology departments.

Responsibilities

In close collaboration with the Director, the Assistant Director will:

• Provide operational support for all the public programs and events, communications, internships, fellowships, student activities, and academic programs and projects related to the Asian American Initiative.
• Manage the budget for all programmatic and academic activities related to the Asian American Initiative.
• Review monthly expenditure reports and ensure annual financial activity complies with university policy and procedures. Present bi-annual financial reports to the Director to ensure funding, fundraising, and reporting are on track.
• Manage all donor gifts and gift agreements, research projects, grants, fellowships, and student internships.
• Serve as a key contact for inquiries, interacting closely with faculty, students, administrators, alumni, donors, foundations, and other constituents of the School of Arts and Sciences and beyond.
• Coordinate with other offices on responding to questions and concerns from internal and external constituents, ensuring that all inquiries are addressed in a timely, respectful, professional, and accurate manner.
• Cultivate strong partnerships with faculty, administrators, donors, and foundations by orchestrating seamless visit arrangements, both in-person and virtual. Drive meeting organization, including scheduling, agenda development, and document preparation. Enhance event visibility through collaboration with creative teams and support effective communication strategies alongside the Director.
• Lead comprehensive planning and coordination of events and academic projects, ensuring seamless execution of all logistical components. Oversee the development of invitation strategies, attendee management, venue selection, and guest arrangements, including AV, catering, and travel. Facilitate effective communication by preparing and distributing key meeting materials, managing speaker contributions, and coordinating with relevant staff.
• Lead project management efforts and deliver project-based administrative support for the Director, encompassing initiatives like research projects, faculty partnerships, student fellowships, and internships under the Initiative. Drive key activities such as drafting impactful correspondence, facilitating meetings, establishing fellowship and internship programs, and providing concise summaries for the Director.
• Develop and manage professional communications, leveraging tools like mail merge for broader outreach, and oversee the collection, organization, and analysis.
• Manage social media communications.
• Enhance the Director's efficiency by providing comprehensive meeting scheduling and agenda-setting support.
• Boost front-line engagement with visitors and guests to support the Asian American Initiative office's operations. Oversee expense processing and ensure efficient management of office supplies, including monitoring inventory, handling procurement, and managing financial transactions such as billing and expense reimbursements.
• Participate in the process of hiring additional staff as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of two years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• While experience in Asian American studies is not required, interest in research and policy involving Asian Americans is appreciated.

Other Requirements

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills are essential, including communicating effectively, tactfully, and promptly with the Director, faculty, students, staff, administrators, donors, and alumni.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to follow through on all tasks in a timely and efficient manner are essential.
• Ability to work energetically and work both independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to exercise tact, discretion, independent judgment, and initiative.
• Ability to coordinate multiple responsibilities, often with competing priorities and deadlines, while maintaining the highest standards for work and a positive demeanor.
• Ability to effectively communicate and work with people from different backgrounds, cultures, career stages, and worldviews.
• Strong knowledge of computer applications (word processing, spreadsheets, databases, email programs, internet browsers, etc.), and the capacity to quickly learn all relevant administrative systems used by Columbia University.