Columbia University

Assoc Director-Admissions Ops

Columbia University$80K — $90K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required.
  • 3-5 years of admissions or related experience.
  • Experience in compliance and operational leadership essential.
  • Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
  • Commitment to exceptional customer service and teamwork.

Responsibilities

  • Implement and maintain day-to-day graduate admissions procedures under supervision.
  • Oversee the full lifecycle of admissions decision processes across programs.
  • Communicate effectively with faculty and departmental administrators on admissions matters.
  • Ensure timely release of decisions and accuracy of applicant details.
  • Lead admissions compliance processes and policy adherence.
  • Coordinate daily admissions operations during peak cycles and enhance efficiencies.
  • Develop and maintain admissions policies and process documentation.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work model with both remote and on-site opportunities.
  • Collaborative work environment within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
  • Opportunities for professional development and training.
  • Involvement in high-level compliance and operational decision-making processes.
  • Exposure to new technologies in admissions and data management.
Full Job Description
  • Job Type: Officer of Administration
  • Bargaining Unit:
  • Regular/Temporary: Regular
  • End Date if Temporary:
  • Hours Per Week:
  • Standard Work Schedule: Hybrid (Remote and On-Site Work)
  • Building:
  • Salary Range: 80,000 - 90,000

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

Reporting to the Director of Admissions Operations in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), the Associate Director of Admissions Operations serves as the operational leader for day-to-day admissions decision processes and operational workflows. This role is responsible for ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of admissions decisions and for overseeing data integrity and compliance-related processes across all programs. The incumbent exercises significant independent judgment and acts as a close partner to the Director of Admissions Operations.

Responsibilities

Admissions Decision Management and Execution (35%)
  • Under the general supervision of the Director of Admissions Operations, implements and maintains day-to-day graduate admissions procedures.
  • Oversees the full lifecycle of admissions decision release processes across all programs.
  • Partners the Director of Admissions Operations in liaising with internal user population of 300+ faculty and departmental administrators, and ensures consistent, accurate, diplomatic, and timely communications.
  • Oversees application statuses to ensure the timely release of decisions and verifies the accuracy of applicant details.
  • Ensures timely, accurate, and consistent decision execution in coordination with departments and school leadership.
  • Administers the admissions application security process to ensure appropriate user access.
  • Exercises independent judgment to manage and resolve applicant inquiries and departmental difficulties based on admissions policies and procedures.

Compliance and Risk Oversight (30%)
  • Leads admissions compliance processes including credential verification standards, audit workflows, and policy adherence.
  • Oversees high-risk cases, including fraud escalations and exceptions requiring independent judgment.
  • Ensures adherence to institutional and regulatory requirements.
  • Enforces institutional guidelines, policies, and procedures surrounding graduate student admissions.
  • Ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations regarding admissions and applicant data.

Operations Coordination and Data Stewardship (20%)
  • Coordinates daily admissions operations during peak cycles.
  • Ensures the efficient processing of admission applications by developing and administering policies, procedures, and systems.
  • Maintains proficiency with new technologies and techniques that assist in enhancing the system's capabilities or improving office workflow efficiency.
  • With the assistance of the GSAS IT office, ensures timely and accurate flows of data between the GSAS on-line application system and the University student information system.
  • Coordinates system audits to ensure data integrity and accuracy; works with on-line vendor and the Office of the Registrar to resolve data issues.
  • Oversees data input, verification, record matching, and data cleaning.
  • Prepares and analyzes reports and compiles admissions data for various reporting requirements.
  • Executes annual retention policies in collaboration with the Director of IT.

Policy and Process Development (10%)
  • Develops and maintains library of admissions policies and procedures.
  • Performs analyses, identifies problems and recommends solutions to optimize operations workflows; identifies process inefficiencies and implements improvements.
  • Maintains documentation and training materials related to compliance and decision workflows.

Other (5%)
  • Performs other related duties as assigned by Director of Admissions Operations or senior leadership.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree.
  • Minimum of 3-5 years of admissions or related experience.
  • Demonstrated experience in compliance, decision-making processes, and operational leadership required. Strong analytical, organizational, and written and verbal communication skills essential.
  • Strong commitment to exceptional customer service, a collaborative orientation, and outstanding interpersonal skills essential.
  • To be successful in this role, the Associate Director should demonstrate a high degree of professional maturity and operational effectiveness; and an ability to work collaboratively and independently in an academic setting.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with application management systems and email management software (such as SLATE and/or FRONT) is preferred.
  • Prior experience in a graduate admissions office and supervisory experience preferred.

Other Requirements
  • Interested individuals must supply a résumé and cover letter to be considered.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhattan, Columbia is the oldest institution of higher education in New York and the fifth-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. It is one of nine colonial colleges founded prior to the Declaration of Independence, seven of which belong to the Ivy League. Columbia is ranked among the top universities in the world by major education publications. Columbia was established by royal charter under George II of Great Britain. It was renamed Columbia College in 1784 following the American Revolution, and in 1787 was placed under a private board of trustees headed by former students Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. In 1896, the campus was moved to its current location in Morningside Heights and renamed Columbia University. Columbia scientists and scholars have played a pivotal role in scientific breakthroughs including brain-computer interface; the laser and maser; nuclear magnetic resonance; the first nuclear pile; the first nuclear fission reaction in the Americas; the first evidence for plate tectonics and continental drift; and much of the initial research and planning for the Manhattan Project during World War II. Columbia is organized into twenty schools, including four undergraduate schools and 16 graduate schools. The university's research efforts include the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and accelerator laboratories with Big Tech firms such as Amazon and IBM. Columbia is a founding member of the Association of American Universities and was the first school in the United States to grant the MD degree. The university also annually administers the Pulitzer Prize. With over 14.5 million volumes, Columbia University Library is the third-largest private research library in the United States.
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