Managing Director, Blockchain Research Center

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $125,000- $140,000

Position Summary

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Columbia University seeks an inaugural Managing Director ( grant funded) to oversee a new research center in the area of Blockchain and similar technologies. The Center supports the research of faculty and students at Columbia in advancing the fundamental understanding and technical development of the infrastructure layer of blockchain technology.

The Center's Managing Director will report directly to the Faculty Director, and will be responsible for strategic direction, administrative and financial operations, programs, and special projects.

Responsibilities

• 
  Strategic Leadership (30%):
  
  
  
  • The Managing Director supports the Faculty Director to advance the center's mission by planning, developing, implementing, and leading strategic efforts. Central to these efforts is the fostering of interactions and cultivation of relationships among stakeholders in academia, industry, and others to bring about high impact blockchain infrastructure research and innovation.
  • Build and maintain strong working relationships with the Center's sponsors and other stakeholders. Promote sponsor involvement and engagement.
  • Represent the Center Director and Steering Committee's goals and vision and serve as a liaison to faculty, schools, and administrative units of Columbia University, including senior University leadership and Center partners.
  • Staff the Center's Steering Committee and other meetings, and delegate staffing duties for other meetings as needed.
  • Coordinate the engagement, integration, and quality of reporting deliverables from all members of the Center's team of faculty, trainees, institutional partners, and administrators.
  
  
  
  

• 
  Research Engagement and Programming ( 30%):
  
  
  
  • Develops avenues and opportunities to engage faculty, and their students, with the purpose of cultivating a strong sense of community and fostering research synergies.
  • The Managing Director helps coordinate recruitment and appointment of researchers and visiting collaborators, facilitates undergraduate and graduate research opportunities, and assists with the coordination of proposal teams for joint research efforts and white paper collaborations.
  • The role ensures that research collaborations with industry and external partners are seamless, and improves outcomes for research programs based on metrics, reporting, and feedback.
  • Administer the Center's key research programs, including Postdoctoral and PhD Fellowships, Researchers in Residence, and Internal Research Awards
  • Oversee the recruitment and supervision of postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate researchers, and work-study students
  • Take a leadership role in planning and executing seminars, conferences, workshops, hackathons, and other convening events that advance Center goals
  
  
  
  

• 
  Finance and Administration (20%):
  
  
  
  • The Managing Director oversees the Center's administration, operating budget, and compliance with financial and administrative standards. The Managing Director is responsible for process improvements, financial and non-financial metrics and reporting, and coordinating organizational procedures for increased efficiency and productivity.
  • Work with the Engineering School and other University-wide offices to manage and report on a $2M+ annual operating budget, including monitoring faculty awards and the achievement milestones of Center partners.
  • Develop individualized trackers, summaries, and other documents to help facilitate discussions and decision-making on the Center's budget.
  • Review and approve spending and funding requests, designate the appropriate funding source for spending and purchases, and oversee complex daily, monthly, and detailed annual tracking of these expenditures by the budget officer.
  • Ensure that Center faculty and leadership have the administrative support necessary to achieve excellence in intellectual activities, societal impact, and overall operations.
  
  
  
  

• 
  Communications ( 15%):
  
  
  
  • The Managing Director will help define the Center identity and narrative and develop a communications plan to increase the visibility of Center on Columbia's campus, and beyond.
  • Oversee communications, including website, social media, print, and internal and external newsletters.
  • Represent the center at various meetings on and off campus.
  
  
  
  

• Other duties as assigned (5%)

Minimum Qualifications

• 
  

  A Bachelor's degree is required. A graduate degree in engineering, computer or data science, business, or a related field is preferred.

  
  
• 
  

  8-10 years of management and organizational leadership or supervisory experience at a university or similarly complex and matrixed enterprise is required.

  
  
• 
  

  Demonstrated operational and financial management experience, including strong analytical abilities and experience in budget management.

  
  
• 
  

  Adept at understanding the blockchain ecosystem and stakeholders in the industry, as well as communicating understanding of blockchain technology to a general audience.

  
  
• 
  

  Adept at organizing and managing multiple and diverse projects, ability to anticipate and initiate appropriate action in support of the Center's goals.

  
  
• 
  

  Demonstrated ability to provide vision, strategic leadership and implementation for organization building.

  
  
• 
  

  Ability to initiate and cultivate relationships with all levels of administrators, researchers, sponsor representatives, alumni donors, government officials, and industry experts.

  
  
• 
  

  Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

  
  

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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