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Columbia University

Outreach Program Manager

🇺🇸 Morningside, NY

🕑 Full-Time

💰 $75K - $82K

💻 Other

🗓️ August 8th, 2025

Canvas K-12 LMS

Edtech.com's Summary

Columbia University is hiring an Outreach Program Manager. The role involves managing the educational, logistical, operational, and communication activities of outreach programs that support STEM students across various levels. It requires program facilitation, event coordination, grant management, and collaboration with faculty and community partners.

Highlights
  • Manages large-scale and smaller outreach programs including STEM education for high school to faculty levels.
  • Leads program planning, event execution, student recruitment, and supervises graduate assistants and summer staff.
  • Develops and maintains outreach communications, social media, newsletters, and website content.
  • Handles data reporting, grant support, compliance, financial records, and billing management.
  • Requires proficiency in Google Suite, Excel (including pivot tables and formulas), PowerPoint, publishing software, social media platforms, and experience with Canvas LMS, Columbia SDR/SSOL/SIS, Mailchimp, and Slate is a plus.
  • Minimum qualifications include a bachelor's degree with 2-4 years of relevant experience in program management, marketing, event management, or related fields.
  • Experience working with NYC schools, pre-college programs, or summer programs for diverse high school students is required.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, confidentiality, independent and collaborative work abilities, and sound ethical judgment are essential.
  • Must be willing to work occasional evenings and weekends to support program needs.
  • Salary range is $75,000 to $82,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.

Outreach Program Manager Full Description

  • Job Type: Officer of Administration
  • Regular/Temporary: Regular
  • Hours Per Week: 35
  • Salary Range: $75,000 to $82,000

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
This position will be responsible for Outreach Program facilitation with a direct reporting line to the Outreach Executive Director. Part of the Engineering Student Affairs Team, Outreach serves students in STEM fields and encompasses: high school STEM education, undergraduate, graduate, postdoc, and faculty engagement; general public events; research grant activities directly related to the school’s strategic vision and faculty enhancement.

The Outreach Program Manager is responsible for the educational, logistical, operational, and communications activities for a dynamic portfolio of outreach programs and projects. This position will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the office; providing leadership for website content and social media, model policies/protocols, and other written outreach materials; grant management and reports; and program management. Together with the Office of Outreach, this position contributes to overall program administration and budget management pertaining to the programs.

Responsibilities
(50%) Program Management: Manages large-scale program planning and leads small- and medium-scale programs; executes program activities and special events. Leverage collaborations with SEAS faculty, student groups, and other key volunteers to create high-quality programs. Providing supervision of staff and students during on-site programming is essential. More specifically, aligning the project management plans between SHAPE and the Science Honors Program is a priority in order to operate more effectively so students/faculty have consistency and a high-standard experience. Additionally, attending seven to nine pre-college fairs in the tri-state region per year to recruit students will be necessary.

Optimizing ways for students to move through the pipeline for SHAPE, SHP, ENG, and other CU programs is a priority. The candidate will ensure students are tracked through the application processes and supported as they move across programs. Working with the Associate Director of Outreach on enrollment and registration processes to ensure all students are prepared for the first day of classes. Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the office. This includes managing the Outreach inbox to answer questions from students and parents, and managing the attendance process.

Supervises graduate assistants supporting outreach operations year-round, including hiring, onboarding, and performance oversight. Delegates programmatic and logistical tasks; mentors assistants on administrative and communication best practices; and ensures timely completion of assignments in alignment with program goals. Responsible for hiring, onboarding, and training temporary summer staff, including Summer Student Leaders (SSLs) and Residential Advisors (RAs). Coordinates recruitment, interviews, selection, onboarding, and pre-program training to ensure effective staffing for all summer residential and academic components.

To better account for supplies for SHP and SHAPE, the candidate will implement an improved process for ordering, tracking, and delivering supplies to faculty and staff in a timely way.

(20%) Outreach and Communications: Responsible for collaborating with the outreach team and partners to develop, implement, and evaluate multiple outreach efforts simultaneously. These efforts range from single-session speaking engagements to multi-day activities on campus or off-site. In conjunction with this responsibility, the candidate will also work with the communications team to develop a strategy for promoting outreach opportunities through social media, an online newsletter, and in-person presentations with faculty and at conferences. Manage meetings, events, conferences, program lab visits, and speaker series. Maintain and update website information regularly, and collaborate with the Dean’s office for website design. Responsible for all program and event publicity (written and electronic formats), and outreach activities, including the online newsletter. 

Also engages partners across campus to create opportunities and build relationships between the university and the local community. This includes working directly with schools to develop an ongoing presence so strong ties are maintained while also providing technical guidance to K-12 teachers implementing Outreach programs.

(10%)  Data and Compliance Responsible for producing, analyzing, and creating multi-faceted reports and presentations. Supports faculty engaged in the development of centers and research grants with broader impact applications. Involved with program operations such as volunteer screening and compliance with the protection of minors, as well as managing billing, payments, and any other items deemed necessary, such as developing and providing financial reports and presentations. Manages directories, rosters, and mailing lists.
 
(10%) Performs other related tasks, duties, and responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
  • A bachelor's degree is required; graduate-level work is preferred. Minimum of 2-4 years of related experience required in program management, program evaluation, marketing and social media, and/or event management.
  • Experience working with NYC schools, afterschool programs, or comparable pre-college programs is required. In addition, working with summer programs for high school students from a wide range of backgrounds is highly desired. 
  • Sound ethical business judgment and experience or familiarity with the higher education and K-12 cultures, as well as the regulatory and economic realities of a not-for-profit university.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to handle confidential information with excellent judgment and discretion are required.
  • Must be capable of working independently, as well as collaboratively, and take a proactive approach and anticipate the team’s needs. Demonstrated ability to set priorities and work with diplomacy and efficiency in a high-demand environment is essential.
  • Strong technical competency is required; demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of student services database software and online resources, and the willingness and enthusiasm to respond to the needs of students in an increasingly technologically dynamic society.
  • Proficiency with Google suite of products, Excel (intermediate – e.g., pivot tables, formulas), PowerPoint, publishing software, social media, etc. Experience with Canvas LMS, Columbia SDR/SSOL/SIS, and marketing platforms (such as Mailchimp) or admissions platforms (specifically Slate) is a plus.
  • Must be willing to work on occasional evenings and weekends on a needed basis to support the Office of Engineering Student Affairs.
  • Possess excellent interpersonal and administrative skills.
  • Ability to work independently and under pressure, with a high level of attention to detail. Candidate must exercise good judgment and flexibility.
  • Must be able to prioritize multiple tasks with minimal supervision. Must be able to communicate effectively and tactfully with staff, faculty, students, alumni, and other key constituents in small and large group settings.
  • Ability to analyze and work with a large volume of student, course, and other types of data.
  • Financial aptitude is necessary. Prior experience with grant budgeting and maintaining financial records is desirable.
  • Experience with graphic design, website development, and posting across social media channels is required.
  • Must be able to prioritize multiple tasks with minimal supervision. Must be able to communicate effectively and tactfully with staff, faculty, students, employers, and alumni in small and large group settings.
  • Positive, mission-oriented, forward-thinking attitude and sense of humor are a must.

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