Operations Jobs at Columbia University with Visa Sponsorship
Operations jobs at Columbia University span facilities, procurement, research administration, and campus services across one of the country's most complex academic institutions. The university has an established immigration infrastructure and regularly sponsors international candidates for Operations positions, making it a realistic target if you're on a work visa.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Office of Gift Planning partners with schools and units across Columbia to identify planned gift options that align with donors’ philanthropic aspirations and schools and units’ needs. Using our combined knowledge of estate planning, tax law, philanthropic trends, and marketing insights, we help alumni and friends maximize their assets while supporting the causes they care most about at Columbia.
Reporting to the Deputy Director of Gift Planning Operations, the Associate Director of Gift Planning Operations provides administrative and operational support to the Gift Planning team by carrying out established gift and estate administration processes and procedures in support of the teaching and research mission of Columbia University.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities
-
Administer and coordinate the settlement of Inherited Retirement Accounts in which the University has an interest, following established University processes and procedures and under the direction of the Deputy Director:
-
Document and track retirement accounts naming the University as a beneficiary.
- Coordinate with financial institution custodians to obtain the forms and documentation required to process bequests, referring substantive legal, tax, or policy questions to the Deputy Director.
- Coordinate with internal staff to complete required forms and submit them to the appropriate financial institution.
- Coordinate the transfer of securities, cash wires, and checks for inherited IRA bequests.
- Ensure all distributions to the University are processed accurately and in a timely manner.
-
Identify and address routine discrepancies using established procedures; refer non-routine, complex, or high-risk matters to the Deputy Director and maintain clear, accurate records of all settlement activities.
-
Provide administrative and operational support to the Deputy Director of Gift Planning Operations in the administration of Life Income Gifts and Trust and Estate Gifts, following established processes and procedures:
-
Create new estate records in the estate database upon receipt of a Notice of Probate.
- Prepare routine correspondence to estate attorneys or personal representatives to request documentation, coordinate follow-up, and provide contact information for Gift Planning Operations; refer substantive legal, tax, or policy questions to the Deputy Director.
- Open official estate files, ensuring all relevant information and documentation are accurately entered and organized.
- Update estate records throughout the administration process as new documents, correspondence, or distributions are received.
- Process estate distributions in accordance with established procedures, verify documentation and allocation details, and refer discrepancies or exceptions to the Deputy Director.
- Prepare and issue receipts to the estate, as well as gift transmittals for the Gift Systems team.
- Confirm and document that all distributions are processed, recorded, and reported in accordance with established University policies, procedures, and audit requirements.
-
Maintain complete, accurate, and up-to-date estate files to support proper stewardship, tracking, and reporting.
-
Other Responsibilities
-
Coordinate with internal University partners and external parties, including financial institutions, estate attorneys, and personal representatives, to obtain documentation, support timely follow-up, and facilitate gift administration under the direction of the Deputy Director.
- Identify issues related to gift and estate administration and address routine matters using established procedures; refer non-routine, complex, unusual, or high-risk matters to the Deputy Director of Gift Planning Operations or other appropriate senior staff.
- Participate in and implement established workflow improvements related to gift administration processes, documentation, and tracking under the direction of the Deputy Director.
- Perform related duties and handle other project assignments as required.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree and/or its equivalent required.
- A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience required, with demonstrated donor relations or client services experience.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Must have sound judgment, discretion and attention to detail.
- Ability to learn and apply established University procedures related to life income gifts, bequests, trusts, estates, and inherited retirement accounts, and to recognize when questions should be referred to senior staff.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with higher education, gift planning and fundraising preferred.
- Familiarity with gift planning, probate, or trust administration processes preferred.
- Ability to work in a complex environment.
- Knowledge of, or ability to learn, Word, Excel, and internal databases.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Subject to business needs, the Office of Alumni and Development supports a hybrid work arrangement for this position. Options will be discussed during the interview process.
LOCATION
New York
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $75,000 - $83,000
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.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.
INTRODUCTION
The Office of Gift Planning partners with schools and units across Columbia to identify planned gift options that align with donors’ philanthropic aspirations and schools and units’ needs. Using our combined knowledge of estate planning, tax law, philanthropic trends, and marketing insights, we help alumni and friends maximize their assets while supporting the causes they care most about at Columbia.
Reporting to the Deputy Director of Gift Planning Operations, the Associate Director of Gift Planning Operations provides administrative and operational support to the Gift Planning team by carrying out established gift and estate administration processes and procedures in support of the teaching and research mission of Columbia University.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities
-
Administer and coordinate the settlement of Inherited Retirement Accounts in which the University has an interest, following established University processes and procedures and under the direction of the Deputy Director:
-
Document and track retirement accounts naming the University as a beneficiary.
- Coordinate with financial institution custodians to obtain the forms and documentation required to process bequests, referring substantive legal, tax, or policy questions to the Deputy Director.
- Coordinate with internal staff to complete required forms and submit them to the appropriate financial institution.
- Coordinate the transfer of securities, cash wires, and checks for inherited IRA bequests.
- Ensure all distributions to the University are processed accurately and in a timely manner.
-
Identify and address routine discrepancies using established procedures; refer non-routine, complex, or high-risk matters to the Deputy Director and maintain clear, accurate records of all settlement activities.
-
Provide administrative and operational support to the Deputy Director of Gift Planning Operations in the administration of Life Income Gifts and Trust and Estate Gifts, following established processes and procedures:
-
Create new estate records in the estate database upon receipt of a Notice of Probate.
- Prepare routine correspondence to estate attorneys or personal representatives to request documentation, coordinate follow-up, and provide contact information for Gift Planning Operations; refer substantive legal, tax, or policy questions to the Deputy Director.
- Open official estate files, ensuring all relevant information and documentation are accurately entered and organized.
- Update estate records throughout the administration process as new documents, correspondence, or distributions are received.
- Process estate distributions in accordance with established procedures, verify documentation and allocation details, and refer discrepancies or exceptions to the Deputy Director.
- Prepare and issue receipts to the estate, as well as gift transmittals for the Gift Systems team.
- Confirm and document that all distributions are processed, recorded, and reported in accordance with established University policies, procedures, and audit requirements.
-
Maintain complete, accurate, and up-to-date estate files to support proper stewardship, tracking, and reporting.
-
Other Responsibilities
-
Coordinate with internal University partners and external parties, including financial institutions, estate attorneys, and personal representatives, to obtain documentation, support timely follow-up, and facilitate gift administration under the direction of the Deputy Director.
- Identify issues related to gift and estate administration and address routine matters using established procedures; refer non-routine, complex, unusual, or high-risk matters to the Deputy Director of Gift Planning Operations or other appropriate senior staff.
- Participate in and implement established workflow improvements related to gift administration processes, documentation, and tracking under the direction of the Deputy Director.
- Perform related duties and handle other project assignments as required.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree and/or its equivalent required.
- A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience required, with demonstrated donor relations or client services experience.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Must have sound judgment, discretion and attention to detail.
- Ability to learn and apply established University procedures related to life income gifts, bequests, trusts, estates, and inherited retirement accounts, and to recognize when questions should be referred to senior staff.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with higher education, gift planning and fundraising preferred.
- Familiarity with gift planning, probate, or trust administration processes preferred.
- Ability to work in a complex environment.
- Knowledge of, or ability to learn, Word, Excel, and internal databases.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Subject to business needs, the Office of Alumni and Development supports a hybrid work arrangement for this position. Options will be discussed during the interview process.
LOCATION
New York
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $75,000 - $83,000
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.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.
Tips for Finding Operations Jobs at Columbia University
Frame your credentials around U.S. equivalency early
Columbia's HR team evaluates international degrees against U.S. standards during screening. Get a credential evaluation from a NACES-approved service before you apply so your qualifications read clearly to hiring managers who aren't immigration specialists.
Target departments with recurring operational hiring
Facilities, research administration, and procurement at Columbia post Operations roles on a rolling basis. Filtering by department on Columbia's careers portal helps you identify where hiring is consistent, not just where a one-off vacancy appeared.
Understand Columbia's internal I-9 and E-Verify process
Columbia participates in E-Verify, so your work authorization must be verifiable from day one. If you're transitioning from OPT to H-1B sponsorship, flag your timeline clearly in conversations with the hiring team so HR can initiate the I-129 filing before your OPT expires.
Ask HR about cap-exempt H-1B filing directly
As a nonprofit research university, Columbia qualifies as a cap-exempt H-1B employer. That means your H-1B petition can be filed any time of year without waiting for the April lottery window, which significantly reduces your timeline risk after receiving an offer.
Browse Operations openings at Columbia using Migrate Mate
Columbia posts across multiple channels, and not every listing clearly signals visa sponsorship availability. Use Migrate Mate to filter Operations roles at Columbia that are open to sponsored candidates, so you're not wasting applications on positions that won't move forward.
Negotiate your start date around PERM or status change timelines
If Columbia is sponsoring you for an EB-2 or EB-3 Green Card alongside an H-1B, the PERM labor certification process at DOL typically runs six to twelve months. Align your start date and contract terms so you're not caught between status changes without coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Columbia University sponsor H-1B visas for Operations roles?
Yes. Columbia University sponsors H-1B visas for Operations positions and qualifies as a cap-exempt employer under USCIS rules, meaning petitions can be filed outside the annual April lottery window. This makes Columbia a stronger option than many private-sector employers if you're relying on H-1B sponsorship, since there's no random selection lottery risk.
How do I apply for Operations jobs at Columbia University?
Applications go through Columbia's official careers portal at columbia.edu/careers, where you can filter by function and department. You can also use Migrate Mate to find Operations roles at Columbia that are open to visa-sponsored candidates, which saves time if you're filtering a larger list by sponsorship eligibility before applying directly through Columbia's system.
Which visa types does Columbia University commonly use for Operations hires?
Columbia sponsors H-1B and E-3 visas for qualified Operations candidates, along with F-1 OPT and CPT for students in Columbia's own programs. For longer-term hires, Columbia also pursues EB-2 and EB-3 immigrant visa sponsorship through PERM labor certification. TN visa status is an option for Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying Operations roles.
What qualifications does Columbia University expect for Operations positions?
Expectations vary by sub-function. Research administration roles often require experience with federal grant compliance and familiarity with NIH or NSF funding structures. Facilities and procurement roles typically prioritize operational management experience in a large institutional setting. A bachelor's degree in a relevant field is standard, and roles tied to H-1B sponsorship must qualify as specialty occupations under USCIS criteria.
How long does the visa sponsorship process take after an Operations offer at Columbia?
For cap-exempt H-1B filings, USCIS standard processing runs three to six months, with premium processing available for faster adjudication. If you're on OPT, Columbia's HR team should begin the I-129 process well before your OPT expiration date. PERM-based Green Card sponsorship, if pursued, adds a separate DOL timeline of six to twelve months before the immigrant petition stage.