Program Manager, Academic Planning

Columbia University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia University is seeking a Program Manager to oversee the MA in Climate and Society, reporting to the Senior Director of Academic Programs. You will manage day-to-day operations of the program, advise students, coordinate scheduling and instructional support, and ensure alignment with university policies.

The role supports cross-program initiatives and new academic projects within the Climate School. The position requires a Bachelor’s degree, 2–4 years of related experience, strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required; 2–4 years related experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required.
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel.
• Must have strong customer-service orientation and high tact, discretion, and diplomacy.
• Occasional weekend and evening work; ability to work with a broad range of campus partners.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of the MA in Climate and Society program, ensuring delivery of academic, curricular, and co-curricular activities.
• Interpret academic policies and registration procedures to resolve student, faculty, and operational issues.
• Advise students on academic requirements, registration, enrollment, and university policies; coordinate referrals to campus partners.
• Coordinate student communications, course scheduling, registration, instructional support, and program timelines.
• Monitor student progress, support SAP and degree certification processes, and coordinate instructional-related hiring.
• Identify operational challenges and implement workflow improvements to enhance program effectiveness.

Skills

Verbal and written communication

Customer-service orientation

Independent work

Organization and time management

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

• Job Type: Officer of Administration


• Bargaining Unit:


• Regular/Temporary: Regular


• End Date if Temporary:


• Hours Per Week: 35


• Standard Work Schedule:


• Building:


• Salary Range: $80,000 - $85,000

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 Director of Academic Programs, the Program Manager manages key operational components of the Academic Planning team's educational mission, supporting the student enrollment lifecycle across current and future Columbia Climate School academic programs. The incumbent is responsible for the day-to-day administration, coordination, and continuous improvement of the MA in Climate and Society program, exercising independent judgment in interpreting program requirements, resolving operational issues, and ensuring the effective delivery of academic and co-curricular programming.

The Program Manager serves as a primary resource for students, faculty, and university partners, independently managing program operations, communications, registration processes, instructional support, and academic milestones while ensuring compliance with School and University policies. The role also contributes to cross-program initiatives, special projects, and the development and implementation of new academic and student success initiatives across the Climate School.

Responsibilities

Academic Program Management & Student Services

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the MA in Climate and Society program, ensuring the effective delivery of academic, curricular, and co-curricular activities


• Exercise independent judgment in interpreting academic policies, program requirements, and registration procedures to resolve student, faculty, and operational issues, escalating complex matters as appropriate.


• Serve as the primary resource for students by advising on academic requirements, registration, enrollment, and University policies while coordinating referrals to campus partners when needed.


• Coordinate student communications, course scheduling, registration, instructional support, and program timelines to ensure efficient program operations.


• Monitor student academic progress, support satisfactory academic progress (SAP) and degree certification processes, and coordinate instructional-related hiring, including teaching and course assistants.


• Identify operational challenges, recommend process improvements, and implement workflow enhancements that improve program effectiveness and the student experience.

Cross-Program Academic Affairs Support

• Collaborate with Academic Planning colleagues to develop and execute student programming, professional development activities, and major School events, including Orientation and Class Day.


• Support the implementation of new academic initiatives and special projects through cross-functional coordination with faculty, staff, and University partners.

Operational & Administrative Management

• Manage operational processes, project timelines, and administrative workflows to ensure timely completion of program priorities and compliance with School and University policies.


• Monitor program budgets and expenditures, maintain accurate records and reports, and recommend operational improvements that enhance efficiency and service delivery.

Other Duties

• Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned in support of Academic Planning and the Climate School's strategic priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and/or its equivalent required. 2 - 4 years related experience.


• Excellent verbal and written skills required. Goals, procedures, and parameters will be established through regular weekly supervision, but the program manager must be able to work independently.


• Must be knowledgeable and adept in working with Microsoft Office programs, with a focus on Word and Excel.


• Must have a strong customer-service orientation and demonstrate a high degree of tact, discretion, and diplomacy.


• Occasional weekend and evening work, as well as school-wide and university-wide service expected.


• The successful candidate will be an outgoing self-starter with exceptional interpersonal skills, as a large part of the job requires interacting with and advising students and supporting faculty.


• Excellent organizational, time management, financial management, and written/oral communication skills are essential.


• Must be extremely detail-oriented and able to manage multiple projects with ease, while maintaining quality and accuracy, and attention to deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree preferred.


• Preference will be given to candidates who have familiarity/experience in higher education, and an interest in environmental, climate and/or sustainability issues.


• Commitment to sustainability and addressing climate change is desirable.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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