BERC Program Manager

About the role

The Black Education Research Center (BERC) at Teachers College, Columbia University is seeking a Program Manager to oversee specified components of BERC’s research-related initiatives. The role involves close collaboration with various university departments to ensure research needs are met and budget and grants management align with BERC’s mission and goals.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing, implementing, and enforcing center policies, workflows, and procedures.
• Execute day-to-day financial transactions, including processing expenses, reimbursements, purchase orders, and timely payments for vendors, consultants, and external partners under budget and grant constraints.
• Manage operational onboarding, training, and administrative coordination of incoming personnel.
• Lead logistical planning and execution of center-wide meetings, guest speaker events, and internal workshops, including room reservations, catering, and travel arrangements.
• Coordinate and maintain team meeting agendas; attend sessions to record, distribute, and archive official meeting minutes and track action items for accountability.
• Maintain a centralized digital archive of the center’s historical research reports, past project data, templates, and administrative workflows to preserve institutional memory.
• Manage the BERC calendar, website, email account, and other external communications.
• Manage and track research and community-based projects.
• Contribute social media content.

Requirements

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in education, business administration, or a related field.
• At least five years of experience in academic program management or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in budget development, management, and office administration.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master’s degree.
• Previous experience working with Teachers College systems and operations.
• Experience with Banner, ChromeRiver, and UniMarket.

Pay

$75,000 – $80,000 per year.

Schedule

Hybrid work modality, with employees expected to live within a 150-mile radius of the College.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance plans.
• Flexible and hybrid work schedules.
• Tuition remission.
• Life insurance; short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Employer retirement matching program.
• Health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA).
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).