Director, Columbia Global Centers | Amman

Director, Columbia Global Centers | Amman

Position Summary

The Amman Columbia Global Center Director promotes and supports the collaborative and impactful engagement of the Columbia University’s faculty, students, and alumni with the world, to enhance understanding, address global challenges, and advance knowledge and its exchange. The Global Centers were founded with the objective of connecting the local with the global, to create opportunities for shared learning and to deepen the nature of global dialogue.

The Center Director will be responsible for strategic leadership and oversight of Columbia Global’s operations in Amman, including organizational direction, country strategy development, program quality, innovation and impact, human resource management and talent development, financial and organization’s assets stewardship, fundraising, resource acquisition, and administrative operations.

The Director is expected to demonstrate progress in achieving the measures of the Columbia Global’s strategic priorities. The Director plays the leading role in managing the program and operations and continuously evolving them to become relevant, more effective, and efficient, and innovative. The incumbent will function as the most senior representative of Columbia University in the country and region and is accountable to ensure that its profile and reputation with stakeholders are strong and reflect organizational vision, principles, and priorities. The Director is the interlocutor connecting Columbia Global priorities with center specific plans. The Director is expected to work in close consultation and coordination with Columbia Global headquarter teams to fulfill the duties/responsibilities of the position.

The Director will design, plan, and execute a vibrant and dynamic portfolio of programs that advance Columbia University’s academic and research interest, scholarly exchange needs, student engagement and experience priorities, alumni engagement efforts, and thought leadership strategies.

***This role is based in Amman, Jordan.***

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Application deadline: Friday, September 30, 2022.

 

Responsibilities Include:

  • Lead the development and execution of high-quality country strategic plan relevant to the local context and reflecting the global priorities
  • Oversee program quality; ensuring quality execution of program strategy/plans, timely and quality completion of M&E processes, and efficient use of global and local resources
  • Oversee and incentivize the evolution and innovation in programs development, design, and delivery, both regionally and as part of a global network
  • Lead the development of a partnership strategy and provide oversight to strengthen and evolve strong partnership networks throughout Columbia University
  • Oversee and effectively engage advisory board and faculty steering committee bodies to advance center plans
  • Strengthen the financial sustainability of the center through vibrant resource development effort, striking healthy financial ratios, and effective budget administration
  • Design and implement a fundraising strategy to support an annual revenue targets and a strategic growth plan, in partnership with Columbia Global team and Columbia’s Alumni and Development Office.
  • Lead and oversee the grants acquisition and management effort in the country ensuring long-term health of the portfolio and achievement of annual targets
  • Execute a cutting-edge communication plan, in concert with the Columbia Global communication strategy and branding, that engages stakeholders and builds demand for Columbia University
  • Develop Columbia University’s reputation and brand among peer and partner organizations to pre-position, advocate, network, and raise profile and reputation among key influencers important to Columbia University’s interest
  • Oversee the recruitment, orientation, and performance of center staff and development of management staff; demonstrating healthy engagement, strong management teams, culture of innovation, and effective talent management
  • Ensure optimal financial, human, and physical resource allocation and management and quality standards for successful implementation of the center’s plans and monitor and report on their progress
  • Provide leadership in the development or change management of transformative initiatives in the country to enable continuous evolution of the center
  • Ensure proper use of Columbia Global’s resources in pursuit of quality programs and ensure that adequate internal controls are in place to protect financial and non-monetary assets and that they are used in accordance with organizational policies/procedures and terms and conditions
  • Effectively communicate, coordinate and execute plans and activities with Columbia Global central office staff; Ensure alignment with Columbia Global systems, process, procedures
  • Serve as counsel and advisor to Columbia Global central leadership on strategy, program, partnership, management and operational matters
  • Perform other responsibilities and manage special projects as necessary.


Minimum Qualifications

  • Advanced academic degree and training. At least ten years related experience is required.
  • Knowledge and experience leading within a large complex university system in the US, preferably Columbia University
  • Demonstrated success serving in an executive or senior leadership role, overseeing all the functions and operations of a country entity
  • Proven record of business development, resource mobilization, and partnership building in a competitive landscape
  • Proven ability to develop business and organizational vision by implementing a strategic roadmap
  • Record of accomplishment in successful networking as well as effective interactions with donors and collaborating agencies, including academic, private, public, government, and nonprofit entities
  • A deep and broad network in academic, government, and business communities in Jordan is preferred
  • Effective leadership skills and progressive people management experience, including managing through senior leaders, systems, and processes
  • Ability to effectively scope problems, anticipate and pre-empt emerging issues, and make decisions with conviction even in highly ambiguous contexts
  • Reputation as a flexible team player with the ability to forge alignment in a matrix organization and effectively collaborate across boundaries and teams
  • Record of accomplishment in creating and leading high-performing and adaptable teams across cultures and geographies and supporting faculty and students at different career stages
  • Proven ability to oversee leaders that are responsible for the conceptualization and design of projects from proposal development and fundraising strategies to program delivery and monitoring and evaluation
  • Knowledge of global subject matter trends as well as country context
  • Demonstrated emotional intelligence, discretion, and strategic agility
  • Fluent in English with excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills; and Fluency in Arabic
  • Willing to travel internationally and domestically up to 25%
  • Columbia seeks to employ a workforce that reflects the communities it serves; ideal candidates will be residents of Jordan or citizens willing to return.

 

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Application deadline: Friday, September 30, 2022.