Program Manager, Brown Institute for Media Innovation

Edtech.com's Summary

Columbia University's Brown Institute for Media Innovation is hiring a Program Manager. This role involves managing program operations, coordinating grant and fellowship processes, organizing events, and driving communications to support the institute's mission of advancing innovative journalism and technology projects.

Highlights

Manage records and data related to program participation, grants, and fellowships, ensuring accurate reporting.
Coordinate institute events including workshops, seminars, and conferences, handling logistics and vendor services.
Develop and maintain social media presence and website content, promote initiatives and grantee achievements.
Draft correspondence, process reimbursements, and maintain office inventory.
Build relationships with faculty, staff, external partners, and stakeholders to support interdisciplinary collaboration.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; 3-5 years of related experience.
Strong organizational, communication, and multitasking skills; able to handle shifting priorities proactively.
Preferred qualifications include a Master’s degree, previous project management experience, and interest in journalism.
Salary range of $75,000 - $80,000 annually.
Position requires majority in-office presence on Columbia University campus (at least three days per week).

Program Manager, Brown Institute for Media Innovation Full Description

Job Type: Officer of Administration
Bargaining Unit:
Regular/Temporary: Regular
End Date if Temporary:
Hours Per Week: 35
Standard Work Schedule:
Building: Pulitzer Hall
Salary Range: $75,000 - $80,000

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

The Brown Institute for Media Innovation at Columbia Journalism School supports the transformation of storytelling through novel developments and applications of technology. We engage alumni, students, faculty, and staï¬ from across the University, lowering the barriers to computational approaches in journalism. We also serve a wider public by awarding nearly $1M annually in grants and fellowships to foster groundbreaking journalism and technology projects.

The Program Manager plays a key role in advancing Brownâs mission by supporting our grantees and fellows, from recruiting to project completion, ensuring that they have what they need to succeed, that we eï¬ectively monitor project deliverables, and that the innovative work they produce is highlighted in our reports and publications. Day-to-day, this means managing operations, grant and fellowship processes, coordinating events, and driving communications strategies.

The Manager works closely with the institute directors, internal and external partners, and event collaborators to create and sustain vibrant programming throughout the academic year â these programs being part of Brownâs outreach strategy to recruit grantees and fellows.

This is a full-time, 35-hour/week position that requires a majority (at least three days per week) in-oï¬ce presence on the Columbia University campus in Morningside Heights.

Responsibilities

Operations & Administration

Manage and maintain accurate records and data related to program participation, grants, and fellowships; assist with completion of annual reports and other documentation.
Manage calendars, coordinate meetings, and ensure smooth day-to-day workï¬ow for the institute directors and staï¬.
Responsible for drafting correspondence, processing reimbursements, and managing oï¬ce inventory.

Program & Event Coordination

Organize and execute institute events, such as workshops, seminars, conferences, and roundtable discussions.
Manage event logistics (e.g., scheduling, speaker invitations, vendor services, budgeting, on-site support), including events that may occasionally occur during evenings or weekends.
Liaise with co-hosting organizations, guest speakers, and internal University departments to ensure seamless planning and execution.

Communications & Branding

Develop and maintain a robust social media presence and manage the Brown Institute website, showcasing new initiatives, upcoming events, and grantee achievements.
Oversee the creation and distribution of promotional materials (digital and print) and maintain consistent branding across platforms.
Compile content for newsletters, annual reports, and institute publications, highlighting the journalism and technology innovations emerging from our grants and fellowships.

Other

Build strong relationships with faculty, staï¬, and external stakeholders to expand the instituteâs network and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
Collaborate with the directors and other team members on special projects or new initiatives, identifying opportunities to improve. existing processes, designing new solutions, and stepping into leadership roles as new projects emerge.
Seek out opportunities to enhance your technical skills in media innovation and program coordination; regularly contribute fresh ideas and insights to shape and strengthen the instituteâs programming and content.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Â Â Â Â Bachelorâs degree and/or equivalent related experience required.Â Â Â

Experience: Â Â Â Minimum 3-5 yearsâ related experience.

Other:Â Â

Demonstrated ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly, with excellent attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to interact eï¬ectively with stakeholders at all levels.
Proactive and collaborative mindset, with the judgment to handle shifting priorities.Â
This includes interdisciplinary collaboration.
Comfortable learning and using new software and technology
Ability to adopt a proactive mindset when anticipating and solving problems.
Ability to remain composed in a fast-paced setting, excel at turning challenges into opportunities for growth, and thrive in a mission-driven environment where working with a small team allows you to see the immediate impact of your eï¬orts.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree.
Previous project management experience.
Interest and awareness of the importance of journalism.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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

Original Job Description

Job Type: Officer of Administration
Bargaining Unit:
Regular/Temporary: Regular
End Date if Temporary:
Hours Per Week: 35
Standard Work Schedule:
Building: Pulitzer Hall
Salary Range: $75,000 - $80,000