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Columbia University

Assistant Director, Communications & Operations

🇺🇸 New York, New York 🕑 Full-Time 💰 $68K - $75K 💻 Communications 🗓️ September 20th, 2026
Marketing

Edtech.com's Summary

Columbia University is hiring an Assistant Director, Communications & Operations to lead outreach and data operations for Columbia College's Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement (UGE). The role builds and executes multi-channel marketing campaigns, creates newsletters, social media, and web content, and coordinates study abroad fairs, info sessions, and other UGE events. It also manages data systems like Terra Dotta and Salesforce Advisor Link, building reports and dashboards that guide program decisions.

Highlights
  • Leads development and execution of multi-channel marketing campaigns to promote global programs and boost student participation
  • Creates newsletters, social media content, web copy, and digital signage across UGE's editorial calendar
  • Acts as liaison between UGE and Columbia's central marketing and communications offices, maintaining brand alignment
  • Tracks campaign analytics and generates reports to guide ongoing marketing optimization
  • Plans and coordinates UGE events such as study abroad fairs, info sessions, and orientation workshops
  • Builds promotional campaigns that drive event attendance via email, social media, and university calendars
  • Serves as the point of contact for external events requiring UGE participation
  • Administers and customizes higher-ed systems including Terra Dotta, Salesforce Advisor Link, and ARC/FDS
  • Designs reports and dashboards that support departmental decision-making and trend analysis
  • Develops survey instruments and program evaluations to drive continuous program improvement
  • Pays $68,000–$75,000 annually
  • Requires a bachelor's degree and 2–4 years of experience in marketing, communications, or higher education operations

Assistant Director, Communications & Operations Full Description

Position Summary
The Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement (UGE) seeks a dynamic, detail-oriented professional to drive our outreach, digital marketing, and data systems. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role is responsible for executing multi-channel marketing campaigns, managing data analytics and reporting systems (including Terra Dotta and Salesforce), and supporting the coordination of key events to elevate UGE’s global opportunities across the Columbia community.

Responsibilities
Marketing & Strategic Communications
  • Campaign Strategy & Execution: Lead the development and implementation of multi-channel marketing strategies to promote global programs and boost student participation.
  • Content Development: Drive the editorial calendar and create high-quality collateral across digital and print mediums, including newsletters, social media, web content, and digital signage.
  • Brand Identity & Outreach Liaison: Act as the main point of contact for communications between program teams and the University's central marketing and communications offices. Maintain alignment with established branding protocols, ensuring that all UGE marketing collateral consistently represents the official identity.
  • Performance Tracking: Maintain campaign analytics, generate regular progress reports, and continuously optimize marketing efforts based on data-driven insights.
Event Planning & Coordination
  • Event Logistics: Develop and maintain annual events calendar. Coordinate logistics for internal and external UGE events (e.g., study abroad fairs, info sessions, orientation workshops) in collaboration with internal teams and vendors.
  • Event Promotion: Build and execute targeted promotional campaigns to drive attendance, leveraging email, social media, and university event calendars.
  • Central Events Coordination: Ensure UGE events are communicated to internal and external stakeholders. Serve as the central point of contact and coordinator for external events that require staff input, engagement, and/or participation.
Data Management, Analytics & Assessment
  • Systems Management: Assist in the administration, customization, and maintenance of key higher education technical applications, specifically Terra Dotta, Salesforce Advisor Link, and ARC/FDS.
  • Reporting & Dashboards: Design and maintain routine reports and interactive dashboards to support departmental decision-making, trend analysis, and leadership reporting.
  • Program Evaluation: Develop and deploy survey instruments and program evaluations; collate, analyze, and distribute findings to drive continuous program improvement.
  • Data Stewardship: Establish and maintain a centralized repository for UGE program data, ensuring data integrity and streamlining ad-hoc reporting requests.
Other responsibilities as assigned

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent related experience required.
  • 2–4 years of relevant experience in marketing, communications, or higher education operations.
  • Demonstrated experience with higher education technology platforms (e.g., Terra Dotta, VIA TRM, Salesforce, or similar CRM/study abroad software).
  • Strong data management skills, including proficiency in Excel and experience building reports/dashboards.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a keen eye for detail.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience studying, living, or working abroad, or a background in international higher education.
  • Familiarity with Columbia University central systems (ARC/FDS) or academic workflows.
  • Experience with data visualization applications, business intelligence and analytics Software such as Tableau.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.