• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: 85,000-94,400

Position Summary

The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) is seeking an Operations Associate to provide mid-level cross-cutting operational support to the Center?s management and research teams, with particular emphasis on supporting the Director and the Director of Organizational Development and Strategy. The Operations Associate will play a key role in ensuring the Center?s smooth functioning, efficient coordination, and effective implementation of its strategic goals and programmatic activities.

The ideal candidate will be exceptionally detail-oriented, proactive, flexible, and solutions-oriented, with strong organizational and communication skills, and a capacity to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Prior professional experience in operational support is required, and the incumbent will be expected to advance tasks with minimal support and guidance.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct operational and administrative support to the Center?s Director and the Director of Organizational Development and Strategy, to ensure effective communication and timely implementation of priorities. Manage tasks independently and proactively, allowing the Director and the Director of Organizational Development and Strategy to rely on needs being met efficiently, to standard, and without additional intervention.
• Track and support timely follow-up from high-level engagements, including meetings with funders and partners. Prioritize tasks effectively and ensure important items are advancing in a timely manner.
• Support grant administration and tracking, including grant proposal preparation, documentation, deliverables, and reporting to sponsors. Independently coordinate inputs from all relevant staff so that interim and final deadlines are met.    
• Support the development, dissemination, and maintenance of Center-wide policies and practices related to operations, communications, and knowledge management. Contribute to process refinements over time, with an eye to increasing efficiency and minimizing time required of other staff.
• Draft and edit correspondence, briefings, and other materials on behalf of the Director and senior staff, ensuring consistency, professionalism, and a high standard of work
• Provide research, analytical, or organizational support for special initiatives of the Director or the management team, as needed and with minimal guidance.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and contribute ideas for strengthening Center-wide coordination and impact, including incorporating AI or other tech tools effectively. Opportunities might include identifying new tools, systems, or processes to achieve these outcomes.  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent.
• Minimum of 2 - 4 years related experience.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines with efficiency and discretion. 
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate needs, solve problems proactively, and work effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment. 
• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills. 
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively across diverse teams. 
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and handle confidential information. 
• Interest in sustainable development, global affairs, or related fields. 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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