Managing Director, Lang Center for Entrepreneurship

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $175,000 - $190,000

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


The Eugene M. Lang Entrepreneurship Center at Columbia Business School seeks a strong Managing Director to oversee strategy and ongoing operations. The Center is led by two Faculty Directors, and the Managing Director plays a critical integrative role, translating faculty vision into strategy, execution, and impact, while ensuring strong operational excellence across all areas of the Center's work.


The Lang Entrepreneurship Center is Columbia Business School's hub for entrepreneurial and VC activity, research, education, and engagement. The Lang Center supports students, faculty, alumni, and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem through curricular and co-curricular programming, research support, thought leadership, alumni engagement, and fundraising.


About Columbia Business School
For over a century, Columbia Business School has helped develop leaders and builders of enterprises who drive value for their stakeholders and society at large through our MBA, MS, PhD, and Executive Education programs. We are equally committed to cultivating new scholars and teachers, and to creating and disseminating pathbreaking knowledge, concepts, and tools which advance the understanding and practice of management through our faculty research and PhD programs. Our vision is simple: to develop ideas and leaders that transform the world - from the very center of business. Our ever-evolving curriculum, featuring pioneering courses, STEM certification, and immersive experiential learning, prepares students to excel in key areas such as digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and innovation, twenty-first century finance, the intersection of business and society, and climate and sustainability.


Position Overview
Reporting jointly to the Faculty Directors, the Managing Director (MD) is the senior operational leader of the Lang Center for Entrepreneurship. The MD is responsible for strategic planning and execution, people management, budget and resource stewardship, cross-School coordination, and external engagement. The role requires a leader who can manage complexity, align diverse stakeholders, and lead a team through change while maintaining high-quality day-to-day operations.


Responsibilities


Curriculum, Curricular Pathways, and Other Curricular Activities for Degree Students

• Partners with Faculty Directors, Divisional Chairs, and academic leadership to support curricular offerings related to entrepreneurship and venture capital.
• Oversees operational support for courses, curricular pathways, and related programming, including coordination with the Senior Vice Dean for Curriculum & Programs and other School offices.
• Manages adjunct and practitioner involvement, ensuring alignment with faculty vision and School policies.
• Supports entrepreneurship and venture capital faculty in connecting with speakers, mentors, and events across the Lang ecosystem.

Co-Curricular Activities for Degree Students

• Oversees the design and execution of co-curricular programming for degree students, including student club engagement, speaker series, competitions, and experiential learning opportunities. Works closely with the Office of Student Affairs, ensuring alignment with School practices, with the Career Management Center to ensure the co-curricular programming supports student career progress, and with curriculum coordinators to complement ongoing classes at CBS.
• Ensures coherence and quality across signature student events and initiatives.
• Evaluates and refines programming to align with the Center's evolving strategic priorities.

Faculty Research

• Supports faculty-led research related to entrepreneurship and venture capital.
• Manages Center-sponsored research funding mechanisms, such as seed funds, RFPs, or other forms of research support, in alignment with School policies.
• Coordinates research-related activities with the Vice Dean for Research and other relevant offices.

Thought Leadership

• In partnership with MarComms, oversees the Center's thought leadership strategy, including social media, publications, reports, newsletters, blogs, and digital content.
• Manages signature conferences and events that position the Lang Center as a leader in entrepreneurship and venture capital.
• Coordinates media engagement, partnerships, and external visibility in collaboration with School communications teams.
• Guides the Center's social media and digital presence to ensure consistency, quality, and strategic impact.

Alumni Engagement

• Partners with Alumni Relations to engage alumni entrepreneurs, investors, and operators in the Center's activities.
• Supports the development of an active and engaged alumni network through events, mentorship, and advisory roles.
• Ensures alumni engagement efforts align with broader School strategies and priorities.

Fundraising and Finance

• Works closely with Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) to support the Center's fundraising strategy and execution.
• In partnership with DAR and the Dean's Office, manages advisory board operations, including composition, meetings, and engagement.
• Oversees the operational execution and disbursement of the Lang Fund, the Center's flagship financial vehicle for student companies.

Leadership, Operations, and Administration

• Participates in collaboration with the Faculty Directors in long-term strategic planning for the Lang Center and its future role as the hub of entrepreneurship at Columbia Business School.
• Serves a steward for the strategic vision within the Lang Center, and is centrally responsible for translating faculty vision into clear priorities, work plans, and metrics.
• Leads, manages, and develops the Lang Center staff, fostering a high-performing, collaborative team culture aligned with School and University policies and practices.
• Oversees the Center's budget, financial planning, and resource allocation in partnership with the School's Financial Planning Office.
• Serves as the primary operational liaison between the Center and central School functions, as well as other centers and clusters.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree Required. MBA or other relevant advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7-9 years of experience across some combination of entrepreneurship, venture capital, and higher education. Familiarity with the practice of business, as well as with higher education contexts.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale projects and strategic initiatives.
• Strong operational and people management skills, including experience leading teams through change. Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Some understanding of the principles and ideas of entrepreneurship, including the role of entrepreneurs and investors, and steps such as customer discovery, minimum viable product, and so forth, is required.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran


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