CS-Administrative Assistant

Columbia University in the City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Part time

Job summary

Columbia University in the City of New York is seeking a Graduate Assistant to support the University Life Engagement & Education team. The role involves coordinating student programming, assisting with orientations, and producing promotional materials for training programs.

You will work on leadership development workshops, data management tasks, and administrative support, requiring in-person presence and strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• Enrolled graduate student in New York area.
• Good academic standing and able to pass disciplinary check.
• Flexible, creative, able to work independently or in groups.
• Paid $26/hour for ~20 in-person hours weekly Oct 2026–May 2027.

Responsibilities

• Manage student inquiries through group emails, Canvas inbox, and phone calls.
• Support Education and Training programs and staff at events.
• Assist at orientations and welcome week activities.
• Create promotional flyers and event descriptions with Communications team.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Adaptability

Education

Currently enrolled graduate student

Tools

Google Sheets/Excel

Canva

Qualtrics

Job description

• Job Type: Short Term Casual
• Regular/Temporary: Temporary
• End Date if Temporary: 5/28/2027
• Hours Per Week: 20
• Salary Range: $26.00 - $26.00 per hour

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

University Life is a central division that cultivates an inclusive, connected University community across Columbia’s campuses and 17 schools. We serve as a hub for student engagement, cross-school collaboration, and coordinated University-wide initiatives that strengthen the student experience. Our work is grounded in building trusted relationships across the institution so that students can access the resources, opportunities, and support systems they need to succeed.

We strive to ensure that every Columbia student experiences a deep sense of belonging and community, empowering them to have a meaningful impact at the University through their relationships, contributions, and engagement. Guided by our core values of connection, integrity, respect, service, and continuous learning, we are committed to creating environments where students feel welcomed, supported, and equipped to succeed throughout their academic journeys.

Through close collaboration with students, faculty, and staff, University Life champions a Columbia defined by inclusion, community citizenship, and holistic support. We work toward a Columbia where every student can grow, connect, and thrive.

This position sits within the Strategic Student Engagement unit and is part of the Engagement & Education Department (E&E). E&E advances vibrant and inclusive cross-school communities by creating opportunities for students to build meaningful connections, engage across differences, and strengthen their sense of social responsibility.

We see ourselves as educators and community builders. E&E approaches co-curricular engagement as an intentional part of student learning and development, and our work is organized through an evidence-informed curricular approach. We begin by identifying what we want students to learn, then design, sequence, and assess experiences that support their development over time. This work is guided by our educational priority: through their engagement with E&E programs, students will deepen their ability to courageously connect and co-create inclusive communities as engaged global citizens. Through this approach, E&E seeks to create a coherent educational experience in which all our programs and initiatives contribute meaningfully to student learning, belonging, and development.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Leadership Development and Education, the Graduate Assistant (GA) will work on several key projects including, but not limited to, the University-wide programs and requirements, Pre-Orientation and the Community Citizenship Initiative, leadership development workshops, and additional co-curricular programming.

Responsibilities

• Communication - Assist with managing student inquiries through our communication channels (i.e. group emails, Canvas inbox, phone calls).
• Student Programming - Staff Education and Training programs such as the Community Citizenship Initiative (CCI); support logistical needs for leadership development programs and other educational workshops; and support full-time staff at signature events including on and off-campus community-building programs.
• Orientation and Welcome Week - Support the Program Administrator for Education and Training at school orientations and resource fairs.
• Marketing & Media - Create promotional flyers, event descriptions, event signage in partnership with the Program Administrator for Education and Training and the University Life Communications team as needed
• Research - Research current trends, innovations, and best practices in Education and Training and analyze data and findings to identify opportunities for improving training programs.
• Data Management - Assist with basic data management such as student list management, creating simple data reports, cleaning up data from surveys, etc.
• Administrative Responsibilities - Assist with any additional administrative tasks related to training programs, including scheduling, participant registration, and communication as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Applicants must be currently enrolled graduate students in the New York area.
• Candidates must be in good academic and disciplinary standing with their institution and agree to a disciplinary check.
• GAs may also be called upon to support other projects across the office as needed. We are looking for candidates that are flexible, creative, and have the ability to work both independently and in groups.
• Ideal candidates will have experience/interest in, and/or be studying higher education, leadership and organizational development, or related fields.
• GAs will be paid $26/hour for approximately 20 in-person hours per week throughout the academic year.
• Must be available to work in-person at the office.
• The Assistantship will run from October 2026 through May 2027, with the possibility to start earlier and/or extend to the summer and the following year.

Preferred Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of Google Sheets/Excel.
• Experience with student/client-facing email and phone communications.
• Experience using Canva (or other basic graphic design skills) is a plus.
• Experience using Qualtrics or other data collection tools is a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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