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Founding Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Columbia University

Sr Administrative Manager

New York, NY · On-site

$101K - $116K/yr

Position Summary Reporting to the Chief of Staff to the Founding Director, the Senior Administrative Manager will be responsible for providing high-level support to the Founding Director as well as ...

Rox

Founding Director of Partnerships

San Francisco, CA · On-site

About the Role This is a founding-level Director of Partnerships role for someone to sit directly alongside our Sales organization, acting as the ecosystem expert, a deal strategist, and the co-sell ...

Columbia University

Senior Director, Research

New York, NY · On-site

$195K - $275K/yr

The incumbent will also assist the Founding Director with setting and aligning strategic research priorities with CGEP's core strategic mandate. Responsibilities * Lead the day-to-day management of ...

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Founding Director information

What is the difference between Founding Director vs Program Manager?

AspectFounding DirectorProgram Manager
Required CredentialsTypically advanced degrees, leadership experience, industry knowledgeRelevant bachelor’s or master’s degree, project management certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentLeadership role in startup or new organization, strategic planningOversees specific projects within organizations, operational focus
Employer & Industry UsageFounding organizations, startups, nonprofitsVarious industries, including nonprofits, corporate sectors, government

The Founding Director is a high-level leadership role responsible for establishing and guiding a new organization or initiative, often requiring strategic vision and industry expertise. In contrast, a Program Manager focuses on managing specific projects within an organization, ensuring they meet goals and deadlines. While both roles require strong organizational skills, the Founding Director has broader responsibilities related to organizational development and leadership.

What is a Founding Director?

A Founding Director is an individual who plays a key role in establishing an organization, company, or non-profit from its inception. They are typically responsible for setting the vision, mission, and strategic direction of the entity, as well as overseeing its initial operations and governance. Founding Directors often help secure funding, build the core team, and ensure compliance with legal requirements. Their leadership is critical in shaping the culture and long-term success of the organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Founding Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Founding Director, you need strong leadership skills, strategic vision, and a solid background in business development or a relevant industry, often supported by advanced degrees or entrepreneurial experience. Familiarity with budgeting software, project management tools, and legal compliance systems is typically required. Exceptional communication, resilience, and the ability to inspire and motivate teams are standout soft skills in this role. These capabilities are crucial for setting organizational direction, driving growth, and establishing a strong foundation for long-term success.

What are some of the unique challenges a Founding Director faces when building and leading a new organization?

As a Founding Director, one of the main challenges is balancing strategic vision with hands-on operational duties, since you are often responsible for both setting long-term goals and managing daily operations. Building a strong team from the ground up and establishing a positive organizational culture require significant effort and adaptability. Additionally, securing funding and cultivating stakeholder relationships are crucial in the early stages, often demanding persistent networking and resourcefulness. Founding Directors also need to be comfortable adapting quickly to change, as early-stage organizations frequently pivot in response to market feedback or unforeseen obstacles.
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What are the most commonly searched types of Founding jobs? The most popular types of Founding jobs are:
What states have the most Founding Director jobs? States with the most job openings for Founding Director jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Founding Director jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Founding Director jobs are:
Founding Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Founding Director job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 29% Full Time, and 70% Part Time. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution.
Sr Administrative Manager

Sr Administrative Manager

Columbia University

New York, NY • On-site

$101K - $116K/yr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

  • Job Type: Officer of Administration
  • Bargaining Unit:
  • Regular/Temporary: Regular
  • End Date if Temporary:
  • Hours Per Week: 35
  • Standard Work Schedule:
  • Building:
  • Salary Range: $101,400-$116,700

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
Reporting to the Chief of Staff to the Founding Director, the Senior Administrative Manager will be responsible for providing high-level support to the Founding Director as well as implementing and managing a specific portfolio of critical work in support of the mission of the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. Furthermore, they will serve as a central point and resource for coordination between the Founding Director's office and senior-level staff across CGEP, and manage important partnerships with administrative offices of key partners (e.g., high-level government officials, CEOs, etc.) for the Founding Director. The Senior Administrative Manager will also oversee all administrative matters related to the Founding Director's office, including generating reports, managing processes, and facilitating coordination meetings. The responsibilities of this role encompass essential organizational and administrative functions, including project management and execution, strategic planning support, and implementation for key organizational initiatives.
A particular focus for the organization is the impact of issues of racism, environmental justice, gender equality, and inclusion in our energy system. The Center supports a culturally diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment, reflected across our staffing, leadership, scholarship and operations.
Responsibilities
The Senior Administrative Manager will:
  • Hold ultimate responsibility for all the organizational and scheduling needs of the Founding Director, working closely with the Chief of Staff to the Founding Director to maximize the best use of their time.
  • Provide recommendations to the Chief of Staff for aligning the Founding Director's time with identified priorities; serve as a primary coordination point and workflow manager/router for scheduling. Proactively flag major conflicts and risks related to time allocation and misalignments.
  • Working as a leader amongst Founding Director's office staff, ensure appropriate staffing is assigned for the Founding Director, under the direction of the Chief of Staff and with advisement from special assistants.
  • Scope out preparation and decision-making timelines aligned to major meetings, engagements, and deliverables for the Founding Director in order to ensure adequate resourcing and planning.
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for addressing the Founding Director's immediate needs; communicate and coordinate across the Founding Director's office team and the CGEP leadership team to ensure the Founding Director is appropriately prepared and positioned to best represent the work of CGEP.
  • Oversee and/or perform administrative support activities duties related to the Founding Director's Office and CGEP.
  • Coordinate performance evaluations for the leadership team, under the direction of the Chief of Staff and Founding Director.
  • Maintain and manage relationships with administrative/front offices of high-level government officials, foundation and business CEOs, donors, and other important stakeholders; independently draft thoughtful, clear, and diplomatic communications, assessing contextual and political factors accurately.
  • Interface with CGEP's senior staff and their teams on meeting and meeting preparation with the Founding Director.
  • Research and conduct background on engagement opportunities for the Founding Director.
  • Advise the Chief of Staff on key priorities and decision points for the Founding Director and his office; follow up on action items on behalf of the Founding Director and Chief of Staff.
  • Supervise an Executive Assistant to ensure that the Founding Director is prepared for travel (e.g., travel, accommodations, technology, business cards) and that the Founding Director's physical briefing and travel books are complete.
  • Directly manage an Executive Assistant who is responsible for day-to-day scheduling and travel arrangements, monthly travel and expense reconciliation, and other administrative functions for CGEP's research scholar(s); oversee, ensure, and be accountable for timely reconciliation.
  • Manage sensitive matters with a high level of confidentiality and discretion.
  • Organize documents and briefing memos as needed for the Director's meetings.
  • Support the execution of special projects as directed. Such projects may include, but are not limited to, the following:
    • Executive committee meetings of the CGEP advisory board (in collaboration with the Assoc. Dir. of Strategy and Board Operations)
    • Capital campaign committee meetings
    • Advisory committee meetings across research areas (e.g., natural gas, carbon management, power sector, international security, etc.)
    • Leadership team meetings, retreats, and development opportunities for senior staff
  • For special projects, the incumbent will be responsible for managing the short-term deliverables and long-term objectives, with guidance and supervision from the relevant senior leadership team member (e.g., Executive Director, Senior Director of Development, Research Director, etc.) Specific actions are likely to include, among others:
    • determining deliverables
    • setting and managing deadlines
    • tracking progress
    • facilitating cross-functional meetings as needed to involve relevant staff
    • regularly and clearly communicating project status and decision points to CGEP leadership.
  • Support the Center's strategic planning process, working closely with the Chief Strategy Officer, Research Director, and Executive Director, and their teams.
  • Support and foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.
  • Participate in other ad-hoc initiatives/projects as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree.
  • Minimum of four years of related experience.
  • The ability to handle complex situations and multiple responsibilities that mix long-term deadlines with immediate demands.
  • The ability to deal with highly confidential information and act as a liaison between key stakeholders, both internal and external.
  • The skills to collaborate with and achieve actionable results in partnership with others.
  • The ability to build strong and sustainable relationships.
  • The capability to interact effectively with all levels of an organization.
  • Excellent communication skills-written and verbal
  • Computer fluency and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and G-Suite.
  • Interest in the Center's mission and areas of focus.
  • Some night and weekend availability is essential.
  • Ability to foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.

Preferred Qualifications
  • 10+ years of related experience.
  • Master's degree.
  • Experience in an academic setting.
  • Experience with an organization focused on energy and climate issues.
  • Familiarity and functional competency with Salesforce, Concur, Google Workspace, Project Management Tools (e.g., Monday.com, Asana), and Zoom.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

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