Program Support Specialist II

Position Summary

The Student Research division within Medical Education at Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) fosters a dynamic environment that supports the development, execution, and evaluation of student-led scholarly activities.

The Program Support Specialist II provides administrative and operational support to the Global Pop and Student Research programs within the Office of Medical Education. This role plays a key part in ensuring effective program coordination, student engagement, and data tracking to advance education and research initiatives.

Responsibilities

Program Coordination & Administration:

• Supports Global Pop, Student Research, and NIH Summer Research programs with logistics, communications, and basic database management.
• Assists in the coordination of the Global Pop summer research program, including:
• Communicating with mentors and distributing applications.
• Supporting application review and participant selection.
• Processing stipend requests and tracking expenses.
• Provides logistical support for annual student research events, including the Dean’s Research Fellowship, MD/MS Research Symposium, and Student Research Day.
• Assists in the preparation of materials and reports for program evaluation and donor stewardship.
• Maintains shared program resources such as inboxes, drives, and websites.

Data Management:

• Tracks student research participation and maintains accurate records for reporting.
• Assists in preparing data summaries and program reports for leadership review.
• Ensures compliance with data collection requirements related to program funding and reporting.

Assessment Administration:

• Assists in developing and distributing assessment tools to measure program effectiveness and participant experience.
• Collects, compiles, and analyzes survey and evaluation data.
• Prepares reports summarizing assessment findings and makes recommendations for program improvements.
• Works with leadership to ensure assessment methods align with program goals.

Application Process Support:

• Supports the coordination of the MD/MS dual-degree program application process.
• Assists with processing applications, tracking submissions, and ensuring compliance with program requirements.
• Oversees portions of the Global Pop summer research program application process, ensuring deadlines are met and applications are reviewed efficiently.
• Maintains application records and ensures accurate documentation for reporting purposes.

Grant Renewal and Tracking:

• Assists with collecting data for grant applications and renewals.
• Tracks key student demographic data to support funding efforts.

People:

• Serves as a point of contact for students, providing accurate information on program requirements.
• Coordinates communications between students, faculty mentors, and institutional stakeholders.
• Provides guidance to federal work-study students or junior administrative staff as needed.

Other:

• Stays informed on best practices in medical education and student research.
• Participates in professional development opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned by leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

• 3 years related experience
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in education and experience required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education or research program support.
• Familiarity with event planning and program evaluation methods.
• Knowledge of survey tools and data visualization platforms.

Other Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education and experience.
• Three years' experience or equivalent combination program administration, education, research support, or related field.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ensuring clarity and professionalism in all interactions.
• Strong organizational skills to effectively manage complex workflows and prioritize competing responsibilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to handle sensitive student information with discretion and sound judgment.
• Capable of managing multiple tasks, setting priorities, and working independently to consistently meet deadlines with reliability and efficiency.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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