Columbia Global, Columbia University
<div class="prose-job-description“>
Position description
Established in July 2022, Columbia Global (CG) brings together major initiatives from across the university to advance knowledge and foster global engagement in addressing complex global challenges. Through interdisciplinary research, education, collaboration, and directed action, Columbia Global fosters groundbreaking scholarship, facilitates leadership development, advances cutting-edge thinking, and implements projects designed for social impact.
Columbia Global operates a dynamic international portfolio that spans the New York campus and a network of Global Centers around the world. Our Finance Unit serves as the operational backbone that enables this work — ensuring that every dollar is managed with rigor, every transaction is compliant, and every partner is supported with the expertise they need to execute high-impact projects across diverse regulatory and geographic environments.
Position Summary
Columbia Global is seeking a talented and motivated Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Project Officer to play a pivotal role in shaping how one of the world’s leading universities measures and communicates its global impact.
In this role, you will sit at the intersection of data, strategy, and storytelling; building and refining the systems that help Columbia Global understand what is working, why it matters, and how to improve. You will manage monitoring databases, design compelling dashboards, support learning across the organization, and translate complex data into narratives that inspire donors, partners, and decision-makers.
Reporting to the Director of MEL and embedded within a mission-driven, internationally focused team, you will contribute to an emerging and dynamic MEL function at an institution with genuine global reach (spanning Columbia’s New York campus and a network of Global Centers around the world). This is an exceptional opportunity for an early-career professional to grow their MEL expertise, shape systems from the ground up, and make their mark on high-impact international work.
Key Responsibilities
Data Management and Dashboarding
- Maintain and continuously improve Columbia Global’s monitoring database, ensuring data integrity, usability, and relevance across all reporting cycles.
- Lead the entry, validation, and quality review of qualitative and quantitative data submitted by teams throughout the year.
- Design, iterate, and enhance interactive visual dashboards that make data accessible and actionable for diverse audiences.
- Lead biannual and ad hoc data analyses, producing graphics and written reports that synthesize findings and support decision-making across units.
Coordination & Administration
- Serve as a key coordination hub, facilitating regular meetings with Columbia Global teams and MEL points of contact to advance impact data collection, strengthen reporting processes, and translate findings into organizational learning.
- Provide hands-on guidance and capacity-building support to Columbia Global staff on monitoring and evaluation best practices, helping embed a culture of evidence-based learning.
- Research, draft, and contribute to compelling MEL case studies, learning briefs, and data-driven reports that document Columbia Global’s programmatic achievements and lessons learned.
- Craft persuasive data narratives and visual stories that bring Columbia Global’s impact to life for fundraising, communications, and strategic engagement with donors and stakeholders.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required with 2-4 years of monitoring and evaluation, biostatistics, statistics, or related experience required.
- *Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume. **
Preferred Qualifications
- Proficiency in word processing, database management, intranet platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.
- Proficiency in Power BI or comparable data visualization tools.
- Demonstrated experience designing and maintaining dashboards for monitoring and reporting purposes.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; comfortable working independently and collaboratively within a diverse, mission-driven team.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
- Growth mindset with genuine enthusiasm for continuous learning, systems improvement, and building something new.
- Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy and quality.
Application instructions
Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on geopolist.com
To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your cover/motivation letter where (geopolist.com) you saw this job posting.
