Executive Director of Veterans' Center for Transition, Integration and Leadership

The School of General Studies at Columbia University is looking for an incumbent to joins its team. The Executive Director (ED) has overall strategic and operational responsibility for Columbia University Veterans’ Center for Transition, Integration and Leadership (Center). The Executive Director is expected to be a leader in the veteran transition space and will lead the Center as it plays a central role in the national conversation by building a platform that transforms the tools available to service members as they make the transition to civilian life.

Key Duties Include:

• The creation and oversight of fundraising and development activities.
• Developing strategies to achieve the Center’s mission, and ultimately grow the organization;
• Working with the School’s central administrative offices, build and manage a team within a $600,000 annual budget.

Development and Fundraising: Oversee fundraising and development activities of the Center.

• Create and grow support from foundations, individuals, government agencies and corporations.
• Lead the diversification of revenue streams beyond the current strategy.
• Plan, supervise and execute fundraising and special events.
• Ensure compliance with grants, contracts, agreements, and non-profit fundraising guidelines.
• Responsible for annual fund raising goals, including a two year, $2MM goal.

Organization Mission, Strategy and Marketing: Provide leadership in developing and implementing strategies to achieve the Center’s mission, and ultimately grow the organization.

• Lead external communications and outreach, ensuring strong relationships and information flow in the communities in which the Center works; advocate on behalf of transitioning veterans, Columbia University and the Center’s strategic partners.
• Collaborate with the management committee and staff members to ensure effective development, management and implementation of existing and new programs, including the creation of new educational content, research, and the development of new partnerships that offer best practices.
• Manage relationships with key partners, including the Veteran Service Organizations affiliated with the Center, government organizations, and other stakeholders who are part of the Center’s operating model.
• Deepen and refine all aspects of communications - from web presence to external relations with the goal of creating a strong brand.
• Participates and speaks at relevant industry/sector conferences and events.

Finance and Management: Oversee financial and operational management to ensure stability and growth of the organization with support from central School administration.

• Develop and execute a staffing plan for the new Center.  Hire, manage and retain competent, qualified staff.
• Ensure that the Center maximizes resource utilization and that it operates within the approved budget.
• Responsible for the sound financial management of the Center.
• Oversees and implements appropriate resources to ensure that the Center is meeting or exceeding performance measures.
• Ensure consistent evaluation of impact, including collecting qualitative and quantitative information on participation, and reporting on performance metrics.
• Conduct terminations if needed; adhere to all payroll, benefits and maintenance of files in accordance with university policy and federal and state laws.
• Oversees the transition of the Center to a new, dedicated 2,000 SF space on Columbia’s Morningside Campus, which is currently under construction and expected to be completed this fall.

A strong internal candidate has been identified, but we are still accepting applications. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree, preferably in business, management or finance
• Seven or more years of senior nonprofit management experience
• Seven or more years of military related experience or experience working with veteran services organizations.
• Budget management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision-making and reporting
• Strong organizational abilities including planning, delegating, program development and task facilitation
• Ability to convey a vision of the Center’s strategic future to staff, board and partners
• Knowledge of fundraising strategies and donor relations unique to the veteran’s community
• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, and oral and written communication skills required.
• Strong written and oral communications skills
• Strong public speaking ability