Associate Director, Food Pantry Operations and Partnerships

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Salary Range: $75,000-$85,000

Position Summary

University Life is a central division that supports all Columbia students by fostering a connected University community across Columbia's 17 schools and campuses. We serve as a hub for student engagement, cross-school collaboration, and coordinated University-wide initiatives that strengthen the student experience. Our work is grounded in building trusted relationships across the institution so that students can access the resources, opportunities, and support systems they need to succeed.

We advance student well-being, belonging, and personal development through programs, policies, and partnerships that encourage connection, leadership, and dialogue across diverse experiences and perspectives. Guided by our core values of connection, integrity, respect, service, and continuous learning, we are committed to creating environments where students feel welcomed, supported, and empowered throughout their academic journey.

Through close collaboration with students, faculty, and staff, University Life champions a Columbia defined by community, citizenship, and holistic support-one where every student can participate fully in campus life and contribute meaningfully to our shared University community.

The Center for Student Success & Intervention (CSSI) delivers a comprehensive, 360 model integrating Student Conduct, Case Management & Student Support, and Operations/Training. CSSI partners with all Columbia schools to triage referrals, provide clear process guidance, and remove barriers to student persistence through basic-needs support and developmentally focused interventions. Grounded in evidence-based practice and its core values of student success, integrity, accountability, and community engagement, CSSI upholds community standards while advancing equitable student outcomes.

Reporting to the Director, Strategic Operations & Engagement, the incumbent partners closely with the Center's team, schools, and campus partners to support a 360 review of student behavior to best support students managing complex situations, particularly students needing additional support. In partnership with Columbia's 18 schools, this provides strategic leadership of multi-site Food Pantry services, including fresh food distribution, data management, and technology systems administration. will serve as a point of contact for members of the University community to support students' food insecurity initiatives.

Responsibilities

Food Pantry Operations:

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  Manage multi-site pantry operations, including daily functions, inventory control, seasonal planning, and academic calendar-aligned distribution adjustments.

  
  
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  Lead the fresh food program, including vendor coordination, MOU oversight, delivery logistics, and high-volume distribution scheduling.

  
  
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  Develop and maintain relationships with food partners and community organizations, and represent CSSI with colleagues, community partners, and stakeholders.

  
  
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  Oversee the daily operations of the food pantries and serve as the point of contact for the student board and community resource partnerships.

  
  
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  Develop, maintain, and evaluate food pantry services at the University's locations across Columbia's campuses.

  
  
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  Provide direct oversight and fiscal management of the program budget, in collaboration with the University Life Finance Team, related grants and/or foundation sponsorships, and make recommendations regarding allocation of resources and expenditure of funds.

  
  
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  Oversee the full deployment, documentation, and training of the volunteer program. Recruit, interview, hire, and train part-time student staff, federal work-study students, and volunteers to work in the college food pantries and/or assist with additional administrative tasks as needed or assigned.

  
  
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  Supervise student leadership board lifecycle; recruit, interview, onboarding, shadowing and succession planning.

  
  
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  Serve as webmaster for the Food Pantry website in collaboration with the Associate Director of Operations and Outreach and the University Life Communications Team.

  
  
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  Provide expert, consultative guidance in highly complex food insecurity cases, leading multi-departmental and external partnership coordination to ensure continuity, equity, and sustainability of access to food resources.

  
  

Programming and Outreach:

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  Design and implement data-informed basic needs programs, workshops, and initiatives that incorporate culturally responsive practices and proactive support models to empower students in achieving sustained food security.

  
  
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  Plan, coordinate, implement, and assess university-wide programs and services designed to identify and meet the needs of high-need students.

  
  
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  Organize and participate in campus and community outreach opportunities.

  
  
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  Lead campus-wide donation campaigns such as Cans-giving and Giving Tuesday.

  
  
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  Plan and implement Student Support activities and events (e.g., National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week).

  
  
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  Cultivate donors to support the food pantry operations and initiatives, including, but not limited to, Columbia Giving Day.

  
  

Systems, Data, and Reporting:

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  Serve as the lead administrator for the food pantry and related software, hardware, including configuration, system enhancements, appointment policies, and integration with CU systems.

  
  
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  Serve as administrator for software (Pantry Soft) and food pantry assessment and data collection.

  
  
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  Coordinate development of technology solutions as needed for expansion of services.

  
  
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  Produce regular and ad hoc reports (mid-year, annual, strategic), including trend analysis, forecasting, and stakeholder briefings.

  
  
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  Develop and manage assessment instruments and surveys (Qualtrics); analyze results to drive service improvements.

  
  
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  Monitor utilization patterns and emerging basic needs trends, including demographic and site-level insights.

  
  

Administrative Operations, Budget, and Communication:

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  Manage high-volume communications across platforms, including sensitive or escalated messages; ensure timely, accurate responses and routing.

  
  
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  Coordinate digital outreach and branding needs with University Life Communications; support media requests as needed.

  
  
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  Research external funding opportunities to support emergency support services and basic needs programming.

  
  
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  Lead budget planning, forecasting, and expenditure tracking for pantry operations and the fresh food program.

  
  
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  Manage vendor contracts, grant tracking/utilization, and multi-year forecasting in support of program sustainability and growth.

  
  
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  Must meet the department's core values, as well as promote a strong sense of collaboration, transparency, respect, accountability, and trust.

  
  
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  Support the implementation of projects overseen by the Associate Director, the Director, or the Associate Vice President.

  
  

Other duties as assigned.

This position will require some evening hours during the week, and occasional weekend work to support the Food Pantry operations.

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor's degree is required, and 4 - 6 years of related experience in the areas of operations, program administration, logistics, and/or basic needs/food access services. Knowledge of how to support students and communities who need additional support within a university or college setting, particularly low-income and historically marginalized student communities. The Associate Director must possess excellent analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills as well as the ability to exercise superior judgment and discretion. Strong communication and leadership skills; this position requires the ability to interact and communicate with staff, student board, volunteers, and community partners (including program participants, pantry clients, and donors). Proven ability to work as part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

An advanced degree is preferred in higher education, student personnel administration, public health, non-profit management, social work, or a related field. The applicant has demonstrated the ability to handle multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of professionalism and attention to detail. The applicant will be comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced, and detail-oriented environment. Experience with budget and grant tracking, vendor/partner management, supervising student staff and volunteers, and using data systems for reporting and assessment (example: PantrySoft, Qualtrics, Maxient, or similar) is preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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