- Job Type: Officer of Administration
- Regular/Temporary: Regular
- Hours Per Week: 35
- Salary Range: $70,000 to $75,000
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 Associate Director of Graduate Admission Operations, the Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of graduate admissions with a high degree of autonomy. This role involves supervising at least one full-time Admissions Operations Officer and is critical in managing the operational aspects of the admissions process. The Assistant Director collaborates with the Associate Director to implement admissions policies and procedures, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow from application to enrollment.
The Assistant Director plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the admissions process and supports data analysis for enrollment management across all traditional Engineering programs. This position also manages all facets of the Slate CRM and associated business systems, including design, implementation, testing, enhancements, integration, and ongoing maintenance. Adhering to best practices, the Assistant Director works collaboratively with the Office of Graduate Admissions, Columbia Video Network, Student Affairs, Academic Departments, IT, Registrar, Specialty Program Leaders, and Institutional Research.
Responsibilities
- (50%) CRM Management: * Lead and manage projects throughout the admissions process lifecycle, from project inception through to implementation, maintenance, and analysis. * Develop and manage the Slate instance, ensuring the configuration of rules, decisions, dashboards, campaigns, and messaging aligns with institution-wide processes. * Manage and spearhead the creation of bespoke application systems for external offices within the School of Engineering, including but not limited to the Science Honors Program, Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE), and Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). * Serve as the primary liaison between the Graduate Admissions office and various School departments, ensuring alignment of technological solutions with department-specific requirements. This includes regular consultation to understand and integrate departmental priorities into the application systems effectively. * Supervise staff providing first-level support for all application and system-related inquiries, ensuring effective collection of details and triage of issues for resolution. * Demonstrate extensive subject matter expertise in Slate and related systems, acquired through proactive learning. Show a high level of analytical skill, commitment, curiosity, and creative problem-solving. * Independently solve complex business challenges, formulating solutions that align with the School's strategic objectives and demonstrate innovative thinking. * Oversee the documentation of all Slate configurations and related integrations, including data mapping, system requirements, architectural diagrams, environment setups, policies, and procedures. Maintain high standards for troubleshooting, support, and maintenance documentation.
- (25%) Admissions Operations: * Coordinate the graduate application reader review process, interfacing between admissions staff and external offices/departments. This includes reviewing graduate applications, assigning and distributing files for review, and making informed admissions decisions and recommendations. * Develop and administer a streamlined admissions operations workflow that captures initial prospects, facilitates application submission, and ensures prompt processing of applications and decisions. This role also supports the onboarding and enrollment of all new students. * Implement structured email communication schedules to maintain consistent contact with applicants throughout the admissions process. * Collaborate on the development and enforcement of admissions policies and procedures in consultation with the graduate admissions team, utilizing Slate for efficient application processing. * Provide guidance and training to the Operations team, ensuring that all team members are effectively cross-trained and can handle multiple responsibilities seamlessly for optimal coverage. * Act as a proactive and collaborative member of the Graduate Admissions team, actively participating in recruitment and yield activities, open houses, and other admissions-related events. * Hire and manage seasonal operational staff
- (20%) Recruitment and Student Engagement * Representing the School of Engineering at international and domestic events and forums to attract top-tier candidates. * Manage the negotiation and formalization of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreements with partner institutions, enhancing academic and cultural diversity. * Plan and execute both on-campus and off-campus admissions events, including open houses, information sessions, and other recruitment activities, ensuring they are executed flawlessly and effectively engage prospective students. * Collaborate with the Student Affairs department to support and improve student group activities, aiming to enhance student engagement and leadership development. * Work closely with student groups to understand their goals and assist in the implementation of activities that promote community building and professional growth among students.
- (5%) Other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and/or its equivalent required.
- A Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.
- Minimum 3-5 years of related experience required.
- Advanced knowledge of CRM systems (e.g., Slate) and other admissions-related software.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Experience with data management and reporting tools.
- Experience with Slate Technolutions is strongly preferred. Experience with a university Student Information System (SIS) is beneficial.
- Supervisory experience is preferred.
- Proficiency with SQL, systems/technology integration, spreadsheets, database applications, programming/scripting, desktop/hardware support, html, xml, and other web technologies.
- Ability to track multiple projects, set priorities, and meet deadlines under pressure and with frequently changing priorities.
- Ability to manage time effectively.
- Strong communication skills, both spoken and written; excellent proofreading and writing skills.
- Great organizational and interpersonal skills with meticulous attention to detail.
- Demonstrated commitment and ability to maintain compliance with established guidelines, policies, and procedures in order to ensure consistency.
- Ability to clearly and effectively convey complex information to individuals or groups of people of varying experience levels.
- Must have the ability to exercise good judgment while working collegially in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.