Director, Sports AI Innovation Center

New York, NY, United States

Job Type: Officer of Administration

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Hours Per Week: 35

Salary Range: $115,000 - $140,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Director to build and manage the administrative infrastructure of the Columbia-Dream Sports AI Innovation Center. The ideal candidate will be responsible for implementing and developing financial and operational policies and procedures related to finance, grants management, information technology, facilities, human resources, communications, academic governance, non-academic partnerships, and workforce development.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to spearhead special projects, oversee center-wide events, and identify new initiatives to foster collaborative interdisciplinary programming. You will also represent the Center at meetings, conferences, symposia, and other events, and assist with broadening the Center's impact among public partners.

Responsibilities

(35%) Personnel, Project, and Stakeholder Management

Build and maintain strong working relationships with the Center’s sponsors and other stakeholders. Promote sponsor involvement and engagement.

Coordinate with or supervise staff members who support the Center’s financial management requirements and broader impact initiatives, including education, diversity, equity and inclusion, and knowledge transfer.

Set performance tasks and objectives, motivate personnel to achieve desired results, review work products, meet regularly for one-on-one check-ins and all-hands staff meetings, and ensure necessary staff support of faculty efforts across research, education, broadening participation, and knowledge transfer.  ensure necessary staff support of faculty efforts across research, education, broadening participation, and knowledge transfer.

Administer the Center’s fellowship and research project seed funding programs, including overseeing the proposal review process and disbursement of funds to awardees.

Facilitate the recruitment and supervision of postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate researchers, and work-study students.

Coordinate with the Administrative Assistant at the Columbia Engineering Innovation Hub on operational and office management tasks.

(25%) Finance & Operations

Work with the Engineering School and other University-wide offices to manage and report on a $2M annual operating budget of sponsored and gift funds, including monitoring seed funding recipients 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.

Oversee annual budgeting and re-budgeting activities and report on financial affairs to the sponsor on an annual and as-needed basis, and communicate sponsor requests and other updates to the Executive Committee and University partners.

(20%) Leadership Support

Staff the Center’s monthly Board of Directors and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Committee meetings, and delegate staffing duties for all other advisory and subcommittee meetings.

Ensure that Center faculty and leadership have the administrative support necessary to achieve excellence in intellectual activities, societal impact, and overall operations.

Represent the Center Director and Board of Directors goals and vision and serve as a liaison to faculty, schools, and administrative units of Columbia University, including senior University leadership and Center partners.

Coordinate the engagement, integration, and quality of reporting deliverables from all members of the Center’s team of faculty, trainees, institutional partners, and administrators.

(20%) Communications, Events & Special Projects

Spearheaded special projects as directed by the Center Director and Board of Directors, including but not limited to external communications, partnership development, event planning, new program design, and/or personnel recruitment.

Manage the Center’s internal and external communications, ensuring alignment with the Center Director and Board of Directors’ strategic priorities.

Oversee Center-wide events, including the annual meeting, industry sponsor site visits, workshops, and outreach events.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree required; graduate degree preferred, preferably in engineering or sciences, data science, business administration, and/or public administration.

At least 5-7 years of management and organizational leadership and change management experience, including a strong commitment to supervising and developing staff combined with the ability to plan and manage multiple diverse projects, work collaboratively across functions, levels, and departments toward shared objectives, and integrate resources on a timely and organized basis. Experience within a complex and matrix enterprise is a must.

Demonstrated operational and financial management experience, including formulating and executing a strategic plan in support of growing and scaling an organization in terms of staff, budget, activity, and impact.

Experience or familiarity with sponsored projects administration, including policies and guidelines.

Demonstrated ability to think strategically, anticipate future consequences and trends, and incorporate them into organizational planning processes.

Ability to effectively collaborate with diverse personnel and partners, notably those from academia and industry, with the ability to convey a vision of the Center’s strategic future.

Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, and oral and written communication skills.

Ability to consider multiple points of view and to make sometimes difficult decisions.

A working knowledge of the higher education environment and academia is essential.

Track record of handling sensitive information with the highest level of professionalism and confidentiality.

A demonstrated experience of working within a complex and matrixed enterprise is a must.

Demonstrated operational and financial management experience, expertise in managing and communicating with industry partners and other stakeholders, and the ability to anticipate future consequences and trends in organizational planning processes.

Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse personnel and partners.

Strong personal interest in natural and artificial intelligence and/or sports technology.

Familiarity with sponsored projects administration best practices.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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

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