Senior Project Manager, Space Information

Columbia University Facilities & Operations; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia University Facilities & Operations seeks a Senior Project Manager, Space Information (SPM-SI) to lead the space information program, ensuring data integrity for approximately 16 million square feet across five campuses. You will supervise space data, CAD drawings, and reporting, collaborating with academic and administrative units, consultants, and IT partners.

The role requires a strong background in space management, data systems, and project leadership, with the ability to drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and 7+ years in facilities planning, space management, or higher education administration
• Advanced experience with IBM Tririga, AutoCAD, and Excel required
• Strong technical, analytical, and data management skills are essential
• Proven project management ability coordinating multiple priorities across a large organization
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to influence outcomes and collaborate across organizational boundaries

Responsibilities

• Lead the university's space information program and ensure data integrity across campuses
• Manage ~2,000 AutoCAD drawings and space information records in Tririga
• Coordinate space inventory surveys and data collection with departments and consultants
• Provide guidance on space classifications, room numbering, and area measurements
• Oversee space information systems and evaluate system enhancements and report capabilities
• Develop reports, dashboards, and analyses to support planning and decision-making
• Support compliance with space classification guidelines and regulatory reporting
• Serve as liaison to departments on space inventory, occupancy, and reporting matters
• Assist planning and capital project teams with floor plans, CAD support, and space assignments

Skills

IBM Tririga

Autodesk AutoCAD

Microsoft Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

IBM Tririga

Autodesk AutoCAD

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: $120,000 - $130,000

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 Director of Planning & Space Information, the Senior Project Manager, Space Information (SPM-SI) serves as the primary operational lead for Columbia University's space information program and is responsible for the integrity, maintenance, analysis, and reporting of the University's space inventory encompassing approximately 16 million square feet across five campuses, including academic, residential, administrative, leased, and off-campus facilities. The SPM-SI provides technical leadership and subject matter expertise in support of campus planning initiatives, capital project implementation, space utilization studies, regulatory reporting requirements, and strategic University initiatives involving the management and use of physical space. Working collaboratively with academic departments, administrative units, Facilities & Operations staff, consultants, and technology partners, the position ensures the accuracy, consistency, and accessibility of critical space information and related facility documentation.

Responsibilities

Space Information Program Leadership:

• Serves as the primary operational resource for the University's space information program, maintaining the integrity, accuracy, and consistency of campus space inventory data, floor plans, room assignments, and space classifications across multiple campuses
• Leads the development, maintenance, quality control, and ongoing improvement of approximately 2,000 AutoCAD drawings and associated space information records maintained within the University's Integrated Workplace Management System (IBM Tririga)

Space Surveys & Data Management:

• Coordinates and manages University-wide space inventory surveys and data collection efforts with academic departments, administrative units, consultants, and Facilities stakeholders
• Oversees the preparation, validation, and input of space-related information and building documentation to ensure timely and accurate database updates
• Provides guidance regarding space classification standards, room numbering conventions, area measurements, and data management practices to support consistency across the University

Systems Leadership and Process Improvement:

• In partnership with Facilities Information Technology and Planning leadership, serves as the lead functional resource for the University's space information systems, including IBM Tririga and related AutoCAD applications
• Guides the evaluation, testing, recommendation, and implementation of system enhancements, process improvements, reporting capabilities, and database customizations that improve operational efficiency and data quality
• Identifies opportunities to leverage technology and business process improvements to support evolving University planning and space management needs

Planning, Reporting & Analysis:

• Provides technical leadership and analytical support for planning studies, facility assessments, capital projects, strategic space utilization initiatives, and other projects involving campus facilities and space resources
• Develops, prepares, and presents reports, analyses, dashboards, graphic summaries, and space utilization information to support operational, planning, and decision-making activities
• Extracts, interprets, and organizes space information data for use in institutional reporting, planning initiatives, and special projects

Compliance & Regulatory Reporting:

• Ensures the University's space inventory information is maintained in accordance with applicable University standards, federal reporting requirements, and FICM space classification guidelines
• Serves as a key contributor in supporting indirect cost recovery reporting requirements and the preparation of space information used in federal negotiations and related reporting activities
• Monitors data quality and reporting compliance while implementing corrective actions and process improvements as needed

Stakeholder Engagement & Capital Project Support:

• Serves as a primary liaison to academic and administrative departments regarding space inventory, occupancy, classification, and reporting matters
• Fosters collaborative relationships across the University to support space inventory management, reporting initiatives, and institutional planning efforts
• Supports Planning & Capital Project Management staff, consultants, and project teams by providing floor plan documentation, room numbering standards, CAD support, space assignments, and related information necessary for planning, design, and construction activities

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Facilities Management, Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Information Systems, Project Management, or a related field
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in facilities planning, space management, capital project support, institutional data management, or higher education administration
• Advanced experience with IBM Tririga, Autodesk AutoCAD, and Microsoft Excel. Strong technical, analytical, and data management skills required
• Demonstrated project management experience, including the ability to coordinate multiple priorities, manage complex workflows, and collaborate effectively across a large and diverse organization
• Excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, organizational, and problem-solving skills are required
• Must be capable of exercising sound judgment, building collaborative relationships, influencing outcomes across organizational boundaries, and operating effectively in a client-focused environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with database reporting tools, business process improvement, and facilities-related information systems is strongly preferred
• Familiarity with FICM standards, space classification methodologies, and higher education facilities environments is preferred

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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