• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $90,000 - $100,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute (WEAI) and the Faculty Director of the Vietnamese Studies Program, the Program Manager for the Vietnam Executive Leadership Program (VELP) will manage the day-to-day operations of the Program housed within the Weatherhead East Asian Institute. VELP is a high-level policy forum co-organized by Columbia University and Fulbright University Vietnam. VELP provides a forum for high-ranking policymakers and executives to deliberate on the most significant global socio-economic trends based on up-to-date practical research, and an opportunity to discuss policy challenges for Vietnam???s development.

WEAI is a hub for the study of modern and contemporary East, Southeast, and Inner Asia at Columbia University.  It is an integrated center for research and teaching.  The Institute brings together faculty, research scholars, and students from across the university and advances knowledge and understanding of the region through academics, research programs, renowned publications series, and a robust calendar of public events.

**This is an 18-month, grant-funded position**

**Candidates must submit a resume and cover letter to receive full consideration** 

Responsibilities

Institute Operations

• ??versee the general administration of the Vietnam Executive Leadership Program, and handle the program's day-to-day operations and initiatives, ensuring the operations follow University and Institute policies and procedures.
• In close collaboration with the Directors develop strategic and operational goals.

Event Planning and Delivery

• Design and deliver a roster of events and programs in support of VELP???s goals, including:
  • Semi-annual high-level policy dialogues: Design and deliver multi-day sessions between senior government officials, private sector leaders, and university representatives from Vietnam, the United States, and Columbia University.
  • Quarterly international trips: Send delegations of CU faculty and researchers to Vietnam. Host equivalent delegations from Vietnam and the Southeast Asia region on the Columbia campus for education and training as per the developed themes of each program.
  • Monthly meetings: Craft and plan smaller-scale meetings on the Columbia campus and in Vietnam to promote dialogue and idea exchange.

Financial Operations

• In close collaboration with WEAI???s senior leadership, create and track grant budget proposals. Submit annual grant narratives and financial reports with the university SPA and SPF offices.
• Prepare regular program financial reporting as required by sponsors and support directors in donor management.
• Partner with the Institute finance office to maintain understanding and health of general Program finances.
• Create and track budgets for events and programs following the University and funder guidelines for spending on these initiatives.
• Manage financial transactions, including processing honorarium and check requests; creating purchase orders and vendors in Payment Works; drafting contracts and SOWs; processing expense reports in Concur and reconciling expenses.

 Publicity and Communications

• Maintain a robust communications presence on digital and print platforms, manage the VELP website and social media content using Columbia Sites, Adobe Creative Suite, and related tools, and track analytics for all digital platforms.
• Monitor the Program???s PR strategy and budget and provide guidance on meeting its public relations objectives following the University's PR policies.
• Maintain a cooperative working relationship with the university???s Communications and Public Affairs office.
• Exercise editorial oversight for the content and design of the Program???s website and other public interfaces, including eNewsletters, display boxes, noticeboards, and appropriate representation in scholarly and professional directories and journals.
• Responsible for the creation, curation, and distribution of fliers, press releases, news articles, videos, slide decks, and publicity materials relating to all aspects of VELP???s programming.
• Participate in the planning and implementation with faculty and staff to ensure that programs and projects are appropriately represented in the public domain.
• Draft remarks and communications and prepare talking points on behalf of the Program Director.

Academic and HR Operations  

• Act as a liaison between VELP and the wider campus community, including faculty, researchers, and students.
• Cultivate academic collaboration between the Columbia Community and institutions in Vietnam through faculty and student exchange, joint research, and fellowships.
• Work with Institute Academic Appointments offices to process instructional and research appointments for Program-sponsored fellows and researchers.
• Work with Institute finance and HR offices to hire and manage contractors and student casual workers as needed.
• Select, train, and supervise student assistants.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of three years of related work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience working in Vietnam or with Vietnamese entities.
• Prior experience in government relations or higher education administration.

Other Requirements

• Proven expertise in event and program management.
• Proficient in both written and spoken Vietnamese.
• 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.
• Working knowledge of PeopleSoft or similar enterprise HRIS, Microsoft Office, budgeting tools, and relational databases. 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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