Columbia University

Executive Assistant to the University Secretary

Columbia University • $125K — $140K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required.
  • Minimum five years of executive support or administrative operations experience in a large organization.
  • Proven track record of managing complex office operations and prioritizing competing demands.
  • Experience with budget development and reconciliation for operational resources.
  • Exceptional judgment in analyzing complex issues and making practical recommendations.
  • Strong skills in project management, communication, and interpersonal interactions at senior levels.
  • Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and database management.

Responsibilities

  • Provides comprehensive executive support to the University Secretary and drives administrative priorities.
  • Oversees operations and workflow in the Office of the University Secretary, addressing complex administrative issues.
  • Prepares and coordinates essential executive materials like reports and presentations for meetings.
  • Manages logistics for University Trustees and governance-related activities, ensuring smooth operations.
  • Coordinates complex calendars for scheduling and prioritizing meetings of the University Secretary.
  • Acts as a liaison with various stakeholders, maintaining discretion in high-visibility matters.
  • Arranges travel and meetings, ensuring compliance with University policies and authorization procedures.
  • Leads administrative projects from planning through implementation, managing timelines and deliverables.
  • Develops and evaluates office procedures to enhance operational efficiency.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and wellness packages.
  • Retirement plan options with employer contributions.
  • Generous paid time off and holiday schedule.
  • Opportunities for professional development and training.
  • Flexible work arrangements as required by position responsibilities.
Full Job Description
  • Job Type: Officer of Administration
  • Regular/Temporary: Regular
  • Hours Per Week: 35
  • Salary Range: $125,000 - $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

Reporting to the University Secretary, who also serves as an Advisor to the President, the Executive Assistant provides comprehensive executive support and serves as a senior administrative resource to the Secretary. The incumbent supports the Secretary in carrying out responsibilities associated with both roles, including the administrative coordination and follow-through related to the Secretary's advisory responsibilities to the President.

The Executive Assistant anticipates needs, independently manages competing priorities, resolves complex issues, and coordinates activities across multiple University offices. The incumbent interfaces with Trustees, senior executives, faculty, staff, and external partners, exercising exceptional judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.

The position manages the administrative operations of the Office of the University Secretary; develops and improves office procedures and workflows; participates in planning with some budget management responsibilities; and leads assigned projects and initiatives from concept through completion.

Responsibilities
  • Provides comprehensive executive support to the University Secretary and independently drives the administrative activities and priorities of the office.
  • Oversees the administrative operations and workflow of the Office of the University Secretary, evaluates requests and communications, resolves complex administrative matters, and determines matters requiring the Secretary's attention.
  • Prepares and coordinates executive correspondence, reports, presentations, briefing materials, research, and other information required to support meetings, decisions, and institutional activities.
  • Provides high-level administrative coordination for University Trustees and other governance-related activities supported by the Office of the University Secretary, including meeting preparation, logistics, communications, and follow-up.
  • Manages complex and demanding calendars for the University Secretary and coordinates Trustee schedules, resolving conflicts and accommodating competing priorities.
  • Serves as an office liaison with Trustees, senior executives, faculty, staff, students, alumni, external organizations, vendors, and other constituents, using sound judgment and discretion in managing sensitive and high-visibility matters.
  • Coordinates domestic and international travel, executive meetings, and related logistics, providing administrative approval in accordance with University policies and established authority.
  • Leads assigned administrative projects and initiatives from planning through completion, establishing timelines, responsibilities, resources, and deliverables; monitors progress and addresses risks and obstacles to successful implementation.
  • Develops, implements, and evaluates office policies, procedures, workflows, and administrative practices consistent with University requirements, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, service, communication, and operational effectiveness.
  • Performs other related duties and special assignments as directed by the University Secretary.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree required.
  • Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in executive support, administrative operations, higher education administration, governance support, or a related area within a large, complex organization.
  • Demonstrated experience providing executive-level support to senior leadership, managing complex office operations, improving administrative processes, coordinating competing priorities, and ensuring timely completion of assignments.
  • Experience developing, monitoring, and reconciling operating budgets and managing office resources, along with demonstrated ability to lead complex administrative projects from planning through completion.
  • Exceptional judgment and demonstrated ability to independently analyze complex issues, evaluate alternatives, assess implications, and provide practical recommendations to senior leadership.
  • Strong organizational, analytical, interpersonal, problem-solving, project management, and leadership skills, with excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to prepare executive correspondence, briefing materials, reports, presentations, and meeting documentation.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively across organizational boundaries and communicate with senior executives, Trustees, faculty, staff, external partners, and other stakeholders in a high-volume, fast-paced, collaborative environment.
  • Strong service orientation, discretion, and confidentiality, with the ability to handle sensitive executive, governance, financial, personnel, and institutional information.
  • Advanced Microsoft Office skills with a good understanding of database management.
  • Must be available to work early mornings, evenings, and weekends as necessary to support the Secretary's responsibilities, Trustee activities, and time-sensitive University events.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Advanced degree desirable.
  • Experience working in a complex higher education environment and supporting senior university leadership is preferred.
  • Understanding of University governance, academic administration, and the role of a university governing board is preferred.
  • Experience with executive project management, operational planning, budget development, and process improvement is preferred.
  • Formal supervisory experience and experience developing administrative staff are preferred.

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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