Assistant Dean, Strategic Engagement

Columbia University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Assistant Dean for Strategic Engagement to drive key initiatives within the Office of Student Affairs. This role demands a seasoned professional with a strong background in higher education and strategic planning. The successful candidate will collaborate with various stakeholders to enhance the student experience for MBA and Executive MBA programs. This dynamic position requires innovative thinking, exceptional communication skills, and a commitment to inclusive engagement. Join a forward-thinking institution dedicated to transforming the educational landscape and empowering students to thrive.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in higher education or student affairs.
• Strong communication skills and data analysis capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning and project management for student initiatives.
• Manage communications and build relationships across departments.

Skills

Strategic Planning

Project Management

Communications

Data Analysis

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree (Preferred)

Tools

Maxient

Job description

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $120,000 - $150,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean and Dean of Student Affairs, the role of Assistant Dean, Strategic Engagement serves as a senior advisor and thought partner to the Dean of Students and department heads within the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). This position leads cross-functional projects that drive strategic priorities, including data-informed decision-making, communications, institutional partnerships, and student engagement initiatives. The role collaborates closely with stakeholders across Columbia Business School to ensure successful execution of efforts that enhance the experience of MBA, Executive MBA, and MS students.

This position requires occasional evening and weekend availability, particularly in support of Executive MBA programming, and the ability to design strategies that effectively engage working professional students.

About Columbia Business School:

For over a century, Columbia Business School (CBS) has helped develop leaders and builders of enterprises who drive value for their stakeholders and society at large through our MBA, MS, PhD, and Executive Education programs. We are equally committed to cultivating new scholars and teachers and to creating and disseminating pathbreaking knowledge, concepts, and tools that advance the understanding and practice of management through our faculty research and PhD programs. Our vision is simple: to develop ideas and leaders that transform the world, from the very center of business.

Our ever-evolving curriculum, featuring pioneering courses, STEM certification, and immersive experiential learning, prepares students to excel in key areas such as digital transformation, entrepreneurship, innovation, twenty-first-century finance, the intersection of business and society, and climate and sustainability. The CBS administration enables CBS’s educational and scholarly mission through strategic and operational guidance and support, optimizing School resources through well-designed, transparent processes with a culture of respect for all.

The Office of Student Affairs at Columbia Business School (CBS) supports the academic and community experience for MBA, Executive MBA and MS students by creating an environment in which all students feel a sense of belonging, agency, and partnership in co-creating their optimal student experience. The Office of Student Affairs is composed of four teams that work collaboratively to enhance the student experience: Academic Advising and Student Success, Student Life and Engagement, Programs and Events, and Operations and Student Services.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning & Project Leadership
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to the Dean of Students, supporting the design, implementation, and tracking of key initiatives aligned with office and school-wide priorities.
  • Lead cross-functional project management efforts, including timelines, stakeholder communication plans, and progress tracking.
  • In partnership with senior leaders at the Office of Student Affairs, oversee planning cycles for the academic year and communicate to CBS stakeholders.
• Strategic Communications
  • Manage and delegate student-facing, faculty, and administrative communications to ensure consistency, clarity, and alignment with CBS values and goals.
  • Maintain a comprehensive external/internal communications calendar, working in partnership with other CBS departments such as the Office of the Dean, Career Management Center, and Marketing and Communications.
  • Oversee content strategy and updates for OSA platforms, including the OSA website.
• Data Strategy & Student Experience
  • Lead the design, administration, and analysis of the annual student experience survey and related evaluation tools, translating data insights into actionable strategies and targeted team-level plans
  • Benchmark data against peer institutions and national datasets; research and incorporate best practices from the field of student affairs and business education.
• Cross-School Collaboration & Relationship Building
  • Build strong relationships across CBS centers and programs, ensuring alignment and visibility for student initiatives.
  • Collaborate closely with Executive MBA program leadership to support the unique needs of working professional students; develop innovative, flexible engagement strategies tailored to their schedules and priorities, including weekend and modular programming.
  • Develop and disseminate Student Affairs resources that Centers and Programs can leverage to proactively support students and respond to emerging needs.
• Support for Inclusive Engagement Initiatives
  • Partner with the Director of Inclusive Engagement to integrate inclusive practices across OSA programs and student-facing experiences.
  • Provide project management for inclusive initiatives and ensure alignment with institutional priorities.
• Team Operations
  • Support the cohesion and professional growth of the OSA team by coordinating internal communications, meetings, retreats, and development opportunities such as workshops, speaker sessions, and cross-functional learning experiences.
  • Manage internal systems (e.g., calendars, trackers, schedules) to support coordination and transparency.
• Strategic Crisis Response
  • Develop and implement a framework for student crisis case management using tools like Maxient to document cases, analyze trends, and inform proactive support.
  • Lead a school-wide “student of concern” reporting and response process in partnership with campus stakeholders.
  • Serve on the Crisis Management Team and participate in the evening on-call rotation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, student affairs, communications, or organizational strategy.
• Proven experience in strategic planning, project management, and communications.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with data analysis and reporting to support decision-making.
• High degree of discretion, sound judgment, and emotional intelligence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Public Administration, Business, or a related field.
• Experience working with Executive MBA or other professional student populations.
• Familiarity with benchmarking tools, national survey instruments, or institutional research practices.
• Knowledge of student development theory, inclusive engagement models, or organizational change frameworks.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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