Project Manager for the Agents of Change (AoC) program

Job Posting

The Department of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health seeks a candidate for Project Manager for the Agents of Change (AoC) program. The mission of AoC is to empower emerging leaders from backgrounds often neglected in science and academia to reimagine solutions for a just and healthy planet. Since 2019, the AoC fellowship program has expanded national leadership in the environmental health and justice fields by training over 50 early career scientists in science communication and policy engagement through a hybrid fellowship program. The AoC program is institutionally embedded within the THRIVE Lab, which is directed by Dr. Ami Zota, Professor of EHS at Columbia University.

The AoC program is seeking a highly motivated project manager to provide organizational and analytical support for multiple aspects of the fellowship, as well as operations of the THRIVE Lab. Under the direction of Dr. Ami Zota and in collaboration with the AoC leadership team, the individual will be responsible for coordinating the day-to-day administration, and operational management of the fellowship program. The Project Manager will serve as the primary point of contact for fellows, leadership, applicants, and external partners, facilitating communication, scheduling, and coordination of program activities. The position requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage assigned responsibilities independently while working collaboratively with program leadership and members of the THRIVE Lab.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and support day-to-day operations of the fellowship program and THRIVE Lab, ensuring timely execution of program activities. (10%).

• Serve as the primary point of contact for fellows, leadership, applicants, and guest speakers, managing program communications and responding to inquiries (10%).

• Coordinate calendars, schedule meetings, distribute agendas, and provide logistical support for fellowship sessions, leadership meetings, and special events (10%).

• Coordinate in-person retreats, including travel arrangements, payment processing, reimbursements, and event planning (10%).

• Maintain and update program resources, including website content, application materials, and other program documentation (10%).

• Support grant administration by assisting with progress reports, grant proposals, financial reporting, and maintaining records for reporting requirements (10%).

• Prepare, submit, modify, and maintain human subjects research applications to Columbia University's Institutional Review Board (IRB) (10%).

• Coordinate participant reimbursement processes, including distributing incentives through platforms such as TruCentive (10%).

• Coordinate administrative onboarding and setup for research collaborators, consultants, and vendors, including establishing vendors within Columbia University's financial systems and coordinating payment documentation (10%).

• Perform other program coordination and administrative duties as assigned to support the success of the fellowship and the THRIVE Lab (10%).

• Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in education and experience, plus 3 years of related experience.

• Strong writing and communication skills.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to execute complex tasks under demanding deadlines.

• Strong interpersonal skills to interact effectively with varied internal and external collaborators.

• Detail-oriented, with the ability to multitask, prioritize, and follow up.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and standard platforms for website building.

• Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field of study (e.g., public health, environmental health sciences, project/program management).

• Familiarity with Institutional Review Board protocols, databases, etc.

• Experience developing detailed project plans to monitor and track milestones and deliverables to keep projects and staff on track.

• Experience working with project management and communications platforms such as Slack, Asana, Airtable, or Trello.

• Experience with graphic design and science communication.

• Ability to handle a diverse portfolio of responsibilities simultaneously, with speed, accuracy, and courtesy, and to exhibit exceptional levels of insightful planning.

• Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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