Assistant Director of Academic Affairs

Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director for Academic Affairs, the Assistant Director will support the academic administration of the academic programs – both existing and new – at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). This role will manage academic operations, coordinate cross-university partnerships, and ensure effective curricular governance and compliance with university policies.

The Assistant Director will work closely with faculty directors, faculty committees, the University Registrar, other University Schools, relevant departments, and the Provost’s Office to develop and sustain the academic infrastructure necessary to support academic administration.

This position requires independent judgment, cross-unit coordination, and oversight of complex academic processes.

• Support the academic administration of new academic initiatives, including milestone planning and execution
• Develop and maintain administrative frameworks for a variety of programmatic needs including but not limited to foundational courses, electives, focus areas, and capstone workshops
• Coordinate implementation with faculty leaders, committees and additional relevant governance bodies
• Monitor enrollment caps and support strategic resource planning
• Assist in developing scalable processes to support new program growth

• Manage curriculum approvals through SIPA faculty governance processes, University policies, as well as related governance bodies
• Coordinate the creation and maintenance of course codes, cross‑listings, and scheduling in partnership with the University Registrar
• Ensure accurate academic program information in Stellic, the School Bulletin, and University systems
• Maintain compliance with University and SIPA academic policies
• Prepare materials and documentation for internal faculty committees and governance review

• Serve as an administrative liaison between SIPA Academic Affairs and other Columbia schools and academic units, the University Registrar, and additional governance bodies
• Coordinate interschool course offerings and shared academic initiatives
• Align program timelines with various academic calendars and governance cycles

• Support academic planning related to course sequencing, staffing, and classroom scheduling
• Maintain data dashboards and reporting tools to support enrollment monitoring and program review
• Oversee operational support for honors distinctions and capstone workshop administration

Supervises multiple graduate student assistants.

• Bachelor’s degree and/or its equivalent
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of related professional experience in academic program management or academic affairs in higher education
• Demonstrated ability to support the oversight of academic programs or curricular initiatives
• Strong understanding of academic governance structures
• Ability to manage complex academic initiatives
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as Google Workspace applications and institutional database systems

• Advanced degree in higher education administration, public policy, or a related academic field
• Experience working directly with faculty leadership
• Experience navigating cross‑school or interfaculty academic collaborations
• Experience with long‑term academic planning, enrollment management strategy, or program review processes

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