Assistant Director, Summer Session Programs and Continuing Education

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $70,000 - $80,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Summer Session and Visiting Student Programs, the Assistant Director is responsible for the administration and continuous improvement of Certificate Programs and select Summer Session departments, with additional support across Visiting Student Programs, and continuing education offerings.

This role leads day-to-day program operations, academic planning, and assessment efforts, ensuring compliance with University guidelines while advancing program quality, growth, and strategic priorities. Serving as a key liaison across academic departments and partner schools, the Assistant Director builds and maintains strong relationships with faculty and departmental staff that are critical to program success and a high-quality student experience.

Responsibilities

Program Management

• Lead the administration and continuous improvement of A&S Certificate Programs (Classics, Psychology, Quantitative Studies in Finance, and Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology) and assigned Summer Session departments
• Direct program operations across academic year and summer terms, ensuring alignment with University policies, academic standards, and divisional priorities
• Serve as a primary liaison to assigned academic departments and faculty across A&S divisions, exercising independent judgment in program coordination and issue resolution
• Ensure compliance with University policies, including Provost's Office guidelines, and applicable New York State Education Department (NYSED) requirements for certificate programs
• Ensure compliance with academic policies of Summer Session courses, such as scheduling, contact hours, course descriptions, course numbers, course requirements, course points, and faculty guidelines for Summer programs.
• Manage the course proposal process for assigned Summer Session departments, including liaising with Departmental Representatives, Chairs, faculty, Directors of Academic Administration & Finance, and Committee on Instruction (COI).
• Manage instructional staffing processes, including faculty and teaching assistant nominations, and coordinate with SPS Faculty Affairs on appointments and compensation
• Lead program assessment and evaluation efforts; analyze data and trends to inform decision-making, improve program quality, and support strategic growth
• Monitor program budgets and financial activity, including reviewing trial balances and supporting reconciliations; identify variances and escalate issues as appropriate Monitor enrollments and provide recommendations to increase yield rates and decrease melt. Work with academic departments to make adjustments in course caps, waitlists, and sections.
• Collaborates with program directors to review admissions applications and conduct degree conferral audits
• Support the implementation of new program initiatives and enhancements across the portfolio, including select continuing education and Visiting Student Programs

Stakeholder Engagement and Program Development

• Serve as a key partner to internal and external stakeholders, building strong relationships to support program success and cross-school collaboration
• Cultivate relationships with Program Directors and advising teams to ensure alignment on program requirements, student support strategies, and timely resolution of any student issues
• Support the development and refinement of Focus Areas within Visiting Student Programs
• Collaborate with Student Affairs to design co-curricular programming that enhances the academic and student experience
• Collaborate with Admissions and Recruitment to support yield strategies, including leading information sessions and evaluating prospective student engagement trends
• Partner with web and communications teams to maintain accurate program information and enhance digital user experience
• Partner with departments and media teams to develop and manage strategic marketing assets (e.g., faculty features, student testimonials, multimedia content)
• May be responsible for managing/supervising the work of one (1) or more employees
• 
  Perform related duties and responsibilities as assigned/requested

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or its equivalent related experience required
• 3 years related experience
• A resume and cover letter must be submitted for consideration

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience is an academic environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office/Google suite
• Competencies in multiple areas of higher education management, including admissions, marketing & recruitment, student affairs, and budget reconciliation. Part of previous innovative program expansion
• Proficient in qualitative and quantitative data analysis
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills required
• Slate (or related database application)
• Collaboration software (Zoom, Adobe Connect, Canvas)
• Experience in a supervisory role including the training and development of staff is strongly preferred

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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