Associate Director of Graduate Student Affairs

Columbia University In the City of New York•New York, NY

51d•$82,000 - $85,000

About The Position

The Associate Director of Graduate Student Affairs has responsibility for creating and executing the graduate student experience from orientation to graduation for our LL.M. and JSD students in the Office of Graduate Degree Programs ("OGP"). The Associate Director of Graduate Student Affairs reports to the Director of Graduate Student Affairs and the JSD program. OGP supports Executive LL.M., J.S.D. and LL.M. students throughout their Columbia journey - from applicant through alumnus. We aim to attract leading lawyers from around the world and nurture their growth during this transformative time. We remain committed to our partnership with colleagues across the University and to our core values of connection, transparency, fairness and excellence. Through their experience at Columbia Law School, our students broaden their perspectives on legal and non-legal issues that shape who they want to be in the world.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required. J.D. or M.A. degree preferred. Must have a minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience in legal practice, law school administration or in a professional environment characterized by complex demands, large workloads, deadline pressures, diverse constituents, and high client/student expectations, preferably in (but not limited to) academic affairs, admissions, or student affairs.
Must be able to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive work environment.
Superior oral and written communication skills, including public speaking experience.
Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated experience advising and working successfully with students of diverse religions, races, ages, ethnicities, orientations, abilities, cultural backgrounds, etc.
Experience managing resources and working with technology vendors.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in the handling of sensitive and highly confidential information.
Knowledge of or a strong interest in understanding compliance standards related to student engagement in the law school context.
Affinity for collaboration and ability to work well across all levels of an organization.
Ability to multitask and be part of a collegial team, and maintain calm under pressure while balancing competing tasks and emergencies.
Organizational and analytical skills, and the ability to synthesize and meaningfully evaluate data.
Technological and computer literacy, including familiarity with or strong interest in developing knowledge of Slate, Campus Groups, and similar digital learning technologies.
A passion for and commitment to delivering exceptional customer service.
Ability to travel occasionally and work some evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Similar administrative experience at a major law school is a significant plus; international experience and/or foreign languages also strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Director and Assistant Dean, create and execute a rich, nurturing and supportive experience for graduate degree students from orientation through graduation, collaborating with the entire OGP team as well as colleagues across the Law School, including in Student Services, Registration Services, Careers, Business and Finance, and Facilities teams.
Works with senior leadership to develop and execute onboarding and orientation programs for LL.M. and JSD degree students that allow them to meaningfully engage with their peers, CU and CLS faculty, programs, centers, JD students, administrators, alumni and others;
In consultation with the Director, annually create, review, and/or update the processes, policies, messages, resources and content for relevant portals or sites that allow incoming graduate students to be informed of and complete all onboarding and matriculation requirements, including relevant bar exam information;
Monitor compliance, including follow-up, with mandatory University trainings;
Work closely with CU and CLS offices, which oversee student housing, immigration and visa issues, health insurance requirements, accommodations, access to Law School and University-wide systems and databases and other student support services to ensure smooth processes and that students have the information they need;
Collaborate with senior leadership to create and execute professional development, future-forward programs, workshops, academic programs, social and other events for LL.M. students, including in collaboration with the various CLS career offices, Student Services, the Davis Polk Leadership Initiative ("DPLI"), and other CLS initiatives and administrative offices, programs, and centers;
In consultation with the Director, create and/or facilitate participation in events that integrate all graduate students into the wider CU and CLS community, introduce them to NYC culture, and allow them to contribute their unique experiences and backgrounds to the CLS community.
Provide information on a routine basis on behalf of OGP for any academic year newsletters, such as The Gavel.
In collaboration with CLS Career offices, ensure graduate students are made aware of special post-graduate fellowships and grants from various CU, CLS, and legal organizations, committees or groups;
Gain and maintain expertise in the New York Court of Appeals rules for foreign trained lawyer eligibility, serve as the contact for students with respect to New York bar questions, serve as the internal contact for Registration and Student Services with respect to New York bar questions and review annually the list of courses offered at CLS and seek approval from the New York Court of Appeals for courses, host webinars for students on the New York bar, clean and maintain data on the bar passage rates for LL.M. students;
Serve as the primary contact and partner for the Office of Student Services with respect to Graduation Day activities as they relate to graduate degree students, including coordinating student participation, working with student speakers, coordinating student outreach and trainings (such as for the marshals), reviewing names in the programs, etc.;
Create and execute other end-of-degree events, gifts, etc. for graduate degree students and their families;
Create student feedback and data collection processes, such as surveys, throughout the year;
Serve as an academic advisor to a cohort of LL.M. students;
Attend weekly advisor team meetings; and
Under direction from the Director of Graduate Student Affairs and the JSD Program, update or develop academic advising guidelines or handbooks that help students select appropriate courses and become familiar with co- and extracurricular offerings through which they may develop leadership competencies and broaden their horizons.
Prepare for and be up to date on all recruiting presentations and participate in online and in-person recruiting and yield events as needed;
Review applications for admission, attend selection committee meetings, interview applicants, as needed, and assist in making admission and merit-based award recommendations and decisions; and
Counsel and advise admitted and confirmed students and assist with the enrollment management process.
Provide general support for the JSD program, including managing reimbursements of approved JSD student travel and conference expenses, and tracking and maintaining student study plans and dissertation progress reports and other student records.
Represent OGP at internal and external meetings and undertake other special projects as requested by the Assistant Dean of OGP or Director of Graduate Student Affairs and the JSD Program.