Assistant Director, Student and Academic Services

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $75,000-$85,000

Position Summary

The Department of Statistics at Columbia University is seeking a motivated and organized professional to serve as Assistant Director of Student and Academic Services for the MA program in Statistics. This role provides operational support for academic administration, student services, and student engagement initiatives. The Assistant Director independently manages day-to-day student-facing responsibilities, supports admissions and enrollment processes, assists with academic programming, and enhances the student experience by facilitating communication, providing event support, and serving as the primary contact for the MA program, supporting a population of over 600 students.

The Department of Statistics at Columbia University is an intellectually vibrant and interdisciplinary hub, committed to pioneering research, rigorous training, and broad impact across theory, methodology, and application. The department hosts world-class faculty and students working in probability, statistical theory, computational methods, data science, and interdisciplinary domains, supported by a range of centers, including the Applied Statistics Center and the Center for Applied Probability. The programs, spanning undergraduate, master's, and PhD levels, are designed for flexibility, rigor, and real-world relevance, equipping graduates to pursue careers in academia, industry, and beyond.

This position follows a hybrid schedule of three days on-site and two days remote. During periods of peak activity or operational need, additional on-site presence may be required.

Responsibilities

Student Engagement & Event Planning

• Provide leadership, planning, and execution support for professional development, alumni networking, and industry relations events, including major department-wide programs (e.g., MA Orientation, admissions visit days, and holiday events), smaller-scale initiatives (e.g., scholarship dinners, networking social hours, MA lunch series, study breaks, and graduation-related activities), and student representative-led events.
• Coordinate and support an ongoing Student Representative mentoring and engagement program, including facilitation of monthly meetings and year-round advising and coordination.
• Contribute content to the program website, newsletters, and social media, ensuring accurate, up-to-date information for students.
• Support student engagement efforts for the undergraduate program (e.g., open house events, graduation celebration, etc.) as well as help with room scheduling.

Academic & Student Services

• Serve as a primary point of contact for a large student population (600+ current and prospective students), responding to high volumes of inquiries and providing timely, accurate program guidance.
• Support program surveys and quality-of-life initiatives by compiling, analyzing, and synthesizing large datasets for leadership review and decision-making.
• Manage student engagement and support programs, including Peer Study Sessions, student representative initiatives, and weekly MA social and networking events.
• Oversee ordering, tracking, and inventory management of departmental promotional materials and swag to support recruitment and engagement efforts.
• Provide high-level administrative and operational support to the Associate Director of Academic Affairs across multiple concurrent initiatives.

Admissions & Recruitment Support

• Independently prescreen and organize a high volume of applications (600+ per cycle), ensuring documentation aligns with academic records.
• Maintain and enhance a large-scale recruitment database supporting high-volume applicant tracking, reporting, and data integrity.
• Support virtual and in-person information sessions, summer engagement activities, and other recruitment events.

Other Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with the MA program staff to ensure the smooth delivery of academic and student services.
• Assign responsibilities and tasks to higher education interns supporting student engagement efforts.
• Provide administrative support for special projects and departmental initiatives as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

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

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree preferred.
• Experience working with international students.
• Familiarity with admissions, recruitment, and scholarship processes.
• Experience coordinating student events and mentoring programs.
• Knowledge of academic policies, student engagement practices, and higher education procedures.

Other Requirements

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain high confidentiality and professionalism with a client focus.
• Strong multi-tasking, prioritization, and organization skills.
• Attention to detail, research, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Self-starter, a fast learner who can work independently under limited supervision.
• Work well in an interactive team environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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