• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $100,000 - $110,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of INCITE, the Project Director will provide leadership in the direction, coordination, and execution of all Incite projects and grants. The Projects Director is pivotal in prioritizing, organizing, and implementing strategic initiatives to advance the institute's mission. The Projects Director will oversee the grants process, supervise project staff, and ensure the successful delivery of initiatives within the Director's portfolio. The Projects Director plays a key role in advancing the Institute's mission through strategic planning, program development, and stakeholder engagement, overseeing a broad range of programs, ensuring their alignment with organizational objectives, and fostering partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders.

INCITE is an interdisciplinary institute at Columbia University. We produce knowledge for public action. We do so by joining with people and organizations within and outside the university to rethink our understanding of what knowledge is, how it's created, and how it can be used.

A strong internal candidate has been identified for this position, however, we are still accepting applications from other qualified candidates.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies that align with the Institute's mission, fostering organizational growth by designing community-led initiatives and mission-driven programs. Drive innovation to enhance the Institute's impact and reach.
• Oversee a diverse portfolio of more than 20 active programs and projects simultaneously, ensuring they are effectively managed, aligned with the organization's strategic objectives, and achieving their desired outcomes.
• Support the Institute's Director in conceptualizing and developing new programs consistent with the organization's mission. Collaborate closely with the advisory committee and staff to ensure the smooth development, execution, and evaluation of both existing and new programs, centers, and research projects.
• Lead the conceptualization, development, and launch of new Institute initiatives, focusing on those that attract external funding and partnerships. Coordinate with the Director of INCITE on strategic communications and outreach activities to build and sustain strong relationships.
• Ensure clear information flow within the communities in which the Institute operates, serving as an advocate for community members, Columbia University, and strategic partners.
• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with key partners, including foundations, affiliated members of the Institute, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, government agencies, and other stakeholders. Actively manage these relationships to enhance the Institute's work and support collaborative opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with the Director, DFA, and various Principal Investigators (PIs) to develop and execute a comprehensive staffing plan for the Institute and its projects.
• Participate in the recruitment, hiring, and ongoing management of staff, ensuring that all Institute initiatives are supported by highly qualified team members who can effectively advance program objectives.
• Provide direct oversight and support to Project Managers and Coordinators to ensure all logistical processes are followed, program deliverables are met on time, and operational workflows are streamlined. Offer guidance and mentorship to staff to drive efficiency and adherence to program timelines.
• Oversee the allocation and management of resources to guarantee the successful launch and sustainability of projects, ensuring that they meet or exceed defined performance measures. Implement strategies for continuous evaluation of impact, including collecting qualitative and quantitative data on program participation and regularly reporting on performance metrics to assess effectiveness and inform future programmatic decisions.
• Take on additional duties as required to support the Institute's evolving needs and priorities. This may include special projects, contributing to long-term strategic planning, and providing ad-hoc support to various Institute-led initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required and a minimum of 4 years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Degree.
• Proven experience managing projects in an academic, research, or not-for-profit setting.

Other Requirements

• Ability to gather, synthesize, and analyze information on different issues and clearly and accurately communicate findings.
• Strong research and writing skills.
• Excellent multi-tasking and organizational skills, particularly in an environment with multiple and conflicting priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to handle complex and confidential information with discretion.
• Proficiency in using a variety of computer software programs, including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases such as Salesforce.