Senior Associate Director, Career Education and Advising

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $86,000 - $95,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Senior Associate Director, Career Education and Advising designs and delivers career education programs, liaises with academic Centers & Programs, and provides one-on-one and small-group career advising and executive coaching. The role is responsible for supporting the career and professional development of Columbia Business School's graduate business students and alumni.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong relationship-building skills with students, employers, and internal partners, along with excellent presentation, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

About Columbia Business School

For over a century, Columbia Business School has helped develop leaders and builders of enterprises who drive value for their stakeholders and society at large through our MBA, MS, PhD, and Executive Education programs. We are equally committed to cultivating new scholars and teachers and to creating and disseminating pathbreaking knowledge, concepts, and tools that advance the understanding and practice of management through our faculty research and PhD programs. Our vision is simple: to develop ideas and leaders that transform the world - from the very center of business.

Our ever-evolving curriculum - featuring pioneering courses, STEM certification, and immersive experiential learning - prepares students to excel in key areas such as digital transformation, entrepreneurship, AI and innovation, twenty-first-century finance, the intersection of business and society, and climate and sustainability. The CBS administration enables CBS' educational and scholarly mission through strategic and operational guidance and support, optimizing School resources through well-designed, transparent processes with a culture of respect for all.

Responsibilities

Program Management, Development and Delivery

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  Partners with colleagues across CMC and the Business School to plan, develop, and deliver career education and professional development programs, including individual presentations, speaker series, panels, company visits, and other market-facing networking & educational events. Utilizes a variety of delivery formats such as webinars, live workshops, and short-form videos.

  
  
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  Leads the planning and execution of large-scale industry and networking events in collaboration with the School and employer partners, ensuring strong representation and managing event logistics.

  
  
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  Supports School-wide events, including career fairs, career action groups, on-campus recruiting, and other programs as assigned.

  
  

Coaching and Advising

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  Provides one-on-one and small group executive coaching and career advising on topics related to internship and full-time searches, self-assessment, self-marketing, networking, interviewing, and industry-specific job strategies.

  
  
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  Advises students on broader professional development topics such as executive presence, relationship management, and key workplace success factors.

  
  

Data, Marketing, and Communications

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  Tracks job-seeking outcomes and identifies trends and patterns of candidates seeking a job change.

  
  
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  Conducts analysis of the data sets and presents findings regarding employment change trends to various business school stakeholders.

  
  
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  Manages and supports projects such as resume book production, on-campus recruiting qualification processes, and updates to online resources used by students in their job search. Also conducts one-on-one resume reviews.

  
  
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  In partnership with colleagues, develops key messages for periodic newsletters to students and alumni, highlighting upcoming programs, job opportunities, career research, and best practices.

  
  

Engagement and Relationship Management

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  Independently cultivates relationships with alumni, current students, and recruiters to source panelists for industry sessions and company visits while leveraging engagement for employer referrals. Accompanies student groups to company visits after regular business hours, when needed.

  
  
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  Builds strong working relationships with the broader Career Management Center team, Office of Student Affairs, Admissions, Dean's Office, and other relevant Business School departments to facilitate seamless integration of CBS resources for student and alumni stakeholders served by the CMC.

  
  

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  Partners with colleagues on CMC Marketing & Communications and Strategic Partnerships teams to maintain contact databases and execute email marketing programs for employer outreach.

  
  
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  Participates in ongoing professional development activities to enhance skills related to career advising and program design.

  
  
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  Other related duties as assigned.

  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required, and a minimum of 4-6 years of related experience is required.
• MBA or master's degree in counseling or higher education fields preferred.
• Strong program and project management skills with demonstrated experience in relationship development.
• Ability to excel in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and/or Google Slides, Google Sheets, and Google Docs.
• Strong professional demeanor, customer service orientation, and ability to engage with diverse stakeholders. Ability to manage difficult situations with firmness and diplomacy.
• Ability to balance independent work with a collaborative approach.
• Proactive, self-starter with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate complex situations with tact and professionalism.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation abilities.
• Ability to work some Saturdays, some evenings, and early mornings on a seasonal basis. Because CMC stakeholders include students enrolled in weekend and evening classes, some Saturday and evening work may be required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education and corporate settings, and experience working with executive-level professionals strongly preferred.
• International experience or experience working with a diverse, global student population.
• Experience in workshop facilitation and student counseling or master's level advising.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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