Overview

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.

Columbia World Projects seeks a Project Officer (PO) for its groundbreaking new Center for Political Economy at Columbia World Projects. The Center’s mission is 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.

Reporting to the Project Director of the Center for Political Economy at Columbia World Projects, the incoming PO will support the implementation of the Center and its strategic growth. 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 work to maintain/advance established collaborations with key partners, stakeholders and supporters. The PO will work independently and collaboratively on matters of research, analysis, coordination, development of programming and administration. 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

  • Develops and maintains 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.
  • Maintains active communication with presenters, lecturers, and facilitators to ensure the successful execution of convening events.
  • Creates and administers processes and procedures that detail event planning logistics and works closely with CWP’s administration, Research and Engagement, and Communications teams for the delivery of lectures, workshops, and other convenings.
  • Manages the advancement of new Center initiatives and projects (including developing process documents, work plans and timelines).
  • Responsible for writing reports, memoranda, convening agendas and other related documents.
  • Liaises with Center participants (including faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) and serves as primary communication resource to address questions, issues or concerns.
  • Supports the development of the Center’s annual project plan and related work plans and budgets.
  • Supports the development and management of the Center’s overall budget.
  • Assists the Center’s Project Director in developing technical and progress reports for Center stakeholders, governance bodies, donors and supporters.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

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

Preferred Qualifications

  • Ability to effectively synthesize research and analysis into written reports and documents; proficiency with research, data collection, review, analysis and documentation;
  • Ability to use software platforms and applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Google Docs, etc.;
  • Excellent interpersonal, organizational 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; and
  • An advanced degree (i.e., Master’s Degree).

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