Project Officer

Position description

Columbia World Projects (CWP) is a university-wide initiative that aims to forge closer and more useful connections between Columbia University’s vast research capabilities and the needs of the world. CWP leverages and consults with colleagues and faculty to develop projects that we staff and operate with partners (governments, organizations, businesses and communities) in New York City, across the United States, and around the world. Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, CWP is dedicated to increasing diversity in its workforce and in all its initiatives in order to achieve continued excellence and align with Columbia’s commitment to create a vibrant, diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community.

The Center for Political Economy, housed at CWP, works to identify and advance the most promising and innovative post-2008 developments within economics, and to promote a new political economy with robust philosophical underpinnings, distinctive for our time, with an institutional, cross-disciplinary orientation connecting economics to, among other subjects, history, law, political science, sociology, public health, engineering, and data science. At the core of its work, the Center will develop “idea labs” to advance fresh thinking, shape research agendas, affect graduate training, and serve as intellectual and policy incubators across distinct themes in political economy.

Position Summary
The Center for Political Economy at Columbia World Projects seeks a Project Officer (PO). Reporting to the Project Director of the Center for Political Economy at Columbia World Projects, the incoming PO will support the administration of the Center’s activities in support of its goals. This includes working with the Project Director and faculty co-directors to support and advance the planning, management, and implementation of the Center’s work plans, activities and initiatives. The PO will coordinate and help design Center events, support the work of its Idea Labs and postdoctoral research scholars/scientists, and coordinate an annual faculty grants program. The PO will staff meetings of the Center’s co-directors and faculty advisory board, participate in strategic discussions of the Center’s future, and help oversee Center budgets and communications activity. The PO will also develop and maintain collaborations with key partners, stakeholders and supporters. The PO will have opportunities to engage with all CWP units and participate in project development and may be asked to participate in helping to plan key CWP events germane to the Center’s work.

Responsibilities

• Manage the advancement of new Center initiatives and projects (including developing process documents, work plans and timelines), including its Idea Labs.
• Create and administer processes and procedures that detail event planning logistics and works closely with CWP’s administration, Research and Engagement, and Communications teams in the organization of lectures, workshops, and other convenings.
• Responsible for scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, taking notes, and providing follow up to stakeholders.
• Maintain active communication with presenters, lecturers, and facilitators to ensure the successful execution of convening events.
• Liaise with Center participants (including faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) and serve as primary communication resource to address questions, issues or concerns.
• Provide administrative support for annual faculty grant competitions and postdoctoral positions.
• Maintain the Center’s mailing lists and website, regularly updating site visitors and contacts of new Center events and opportunities through these pathways, as well as additional social media channels.
• Develop and maintain the calendar of events of engagement activities related to the Center’s work and serves as the point person for the planning and managing of public events, workshops and other Center convenings.
• Support the development and management of the Center’s annual project plan and related work plans and budgets.
• Assist the Center’s Project Director in developing technical and progress reports for Center stakeholders, governance bodies, donors and supporters.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent and 2-4 years of related experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent organizational, administrative, and collaborative skills.
• Ability to use software platforms and applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Google Docs. Familiarity with MailChimp and content updates to websites helpful.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. The person should possess the presence, energy and confidence to develop and cultivate relationships with diverse constituencies, including faculty; staff; industry, nonprofit and public sector partners; and colleagues across a complex institution.
• Ability to juggle multiple projects at once.
• Ability to work successfully in a multifaceted, team-oriented environment.
• Confidence to propose ideas and strategy as work unfolds.

Hybrid Schedule

Columbia Global maintains a hybrid work environment that ensures that we preserve the important aspects of our unique in-person university campus culture that support meaningful collaboration and advancement of CG key initiatives. Colleagues will work onsite three of five work days and two virtual days.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on tendersglobal.net