Manager of Finance and Operations

Columbia University (Staff Jobs)

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building: Morningside
• Salary Range: $90,000 - $105,000

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 Columbia Center of Advanced Electrification (CCAE) in the Department of Electrical Engineering seeks an experienced and highly resourceful manager to provide senior-level financial, operational, and programmatic leadership for a dynamic interdisciplinary research center. CCAE advances technologies in energy conversion, power electronics, motor drives, energy management, and control systems that enable the large-scale electrification of transportation and energy systems.

Reporting to the Center’s Founding Director, the Manager of Finance and Operations serves as the principal operational advisor to the Center, with broad responsibility for developing, implementing, and evaluating administrative, financial, and operational strategies that advance the Center’s research and programmatic priorities. The incumbent independently manages the Center’s administrative infrastructure and sponsored research portfolio, develops and monitors financial strategies, evaluates operational needs, and advises the Director on matters affecting resources, priorities, compliance, and organizational effectiveness.

The position operates with substantial independence and discretion in determining priorities, developing solutions, interpreting University policies and procedures, allocating administrative resources, and establishing approaches to complex and evolving operational matters. The incumbent represents the Center in interactions with departmental, School, and University leadership and administrative offices, as well as external academic and industry partners, and exercises independent judgment in resolving issues and advancing Center priorities.

The successful candidate will be expected to anticipate operational needs, assess competing priorities, develop recommendations, and independently lead projects and initiatives from conception through implementation and evaluation.

Responsibilities

Financial and Sponsored Research Administration (35%):

• Provides senior-level financial and sponsored research leadership for the Center and serves as a strategic financial advisor to the Founding Director. Develops and recommends budgetary priorities, resource strategies, financial controls, and approaches to support the Center’s research portfolio, programmatic objectives, and long-term growth.

• Leads the development and ongoing refinement of multi-year financial projections, budget models, forecasts, and scenario analyses to inform strategic planning, resource allocation, staffing decisions, sponsored research activity, and other Center priorities.

• Independently evaluates the Center’s financial position, funding trends, expenditures, commitments, revenue, and resource utilization; identifies financial risks and emerging issues; and develops strategic recommendations and corrective actions to strengthen financial performance, sustainability, and stewardship.

• Provides senior-level oversight of pre-award and post-award administration for the Center’s sponsored research portfolio, partnering with departmental, School, and University research administration offices, including Sponsored Projects Finance (SPF), to ensure effective, compliant, and strategically aligned administration of proposals and awards.

• Leads the development and review of complex proposal budgets, financial components, supporting documentation, and related materials. Exercises independent judgment in evaluating budget structure, cost considerations, resource requirements, allowability, effort, sponsor restrictions, and institutional requirements and recommends appropriate approaches to faculty and Center leadership.

• Interprets and applies University and sponsor requirements to complex sponsored research and financial matters, determining appropriate administrative approaches and identifying matters requiring institutional review or escalation.

• Evaluates the financial and administrative implications of new awards, funding changes, staffing needs, cost structures, and other Center initiatives and advises the Founding Director regarding financial feasibility, risk, resource allocation, and operational impact.

• Develops and implements financial management practices that promote effective stewardship across multiple awards, projects, funding sources, and Center priorities..

• Post-Award Administration-

• Manages the post-award financial administration of the Center’s sponsored research portfolio in coordination with SPF, faculty, and staff.

• Reviews Notices of Award, sponsor terms and conditions, and other award documentation and coordinates the establishment of awards, project budgets, chartfields, and effort allocations in accordance with approved budgets and University requirements.

• Monitors sponsored project expenditures, available balances, commitments, and budget activity throughout the award lifecycle. Reviews monthly financial activity and reconciliations to identify discrepancies, unusual activity, compliance concerns, and potential budget issues.

• Advises faculty and staff on appropriate grant spending, budget availability, and applicable University and sponsor requirements and recommends appropriate courses of action when issues arise.

• Coordinates award modifications, budget transfers, cost transfers, extensions, and other post-award changes, determining when matters require escalation or additional institutional review.

• Oversees project closeout activities, including review of outstanding expenditures, commitments, payroll allocations, and other financial requirements, to support timely and accurate award closeout.

• Assists faculty with annual effort certification and works with appropriate University offices to resolve questions or discrepancies related to effort allocation and certification.

• Interprets sponsor requirements and University policies as they relate to sponsored research activity and advises the Director and Center affiliates regarding compliance and appropriate administrative practices.

• Evaluates award activity and develops recommendations to address budgetary, compliance, and operational issues throughout the award lifecycle.

• Prepares and presents financial analyses, projections, reports, reconciliations, and recommendations for the Director and other stakeholders to support informed resource decisions.

• Develops approaches for managing financial and administrative resources across multiple awards, projects, and Center priorities.

Center Administration, Operations, and Strategic Planning (20%):

• Provides senior administrative and operational leadership for the Center and develops, implements, and continuously evaluates administrative frameworks that support its research, financial, programmatic, and organizational objectives.

• Serves as a principal administrative advisor and strategic partner to the Founding Director on financial, operational, organizational, and administrative matters and develops recommendations that inform Center-level decision-making and long-term planning.

• Translates Center priorities into operational strategies, establishing administrative priorities, timelines, resource requirements, and implementation approaches for complex and high-impact initiatives.

• Leads the design, implementation, and evaluation of administrative processes, procedures, and internal controls to strengthen operational effectiveness, accountability, financial stewardship, risk management, and compliance.

• Serves as a senior administrative liaison between the Center and departmental, School, and University offices. Independently interprets institutional requirements, resolves complex operational matters, and determines when issues require additional institutional review, consultation, or escalation.

• Leads complex, cross-functional, and high-impact initiatives that advance the Center’s research and programmatic objectives, including developing project strategies, establishing milestones, coordinating resources, managing dependencies, and evaluating outcomes.

• Anticipates emerging operational, financial, and organizational needs and develops proactive solutions and recommendations to address risks, improve processes, and support the Center’s continued growth.

• Represents the Center in administrative and operational discussions with senior internal and external stakeholders and communicates the Center’s priorities, needs, and objectives with appropriate authority and discretion.