Columbia Housing Summer Operations Manager | Graduate Internship Program

Columbia Housing Summer Operations Manager

Graduate Internship Program

Internship Description 

The Columbia Housing team is responsible for all aspects of customer service and business operations within undergraduate Housing. The Summer Operations Manager will serve as a graduate student intern who will support us in providing excellent customer service, cross-functional project management, data analysis, and designing thoughtful and scalable solutions with an emphasis on Conference Housing. 

Our Team is looking for graduate students interested in learning and developing outside of the classroom. Selected candidates will join a team of talented and innovative undergraduate Columbia University students from a variety of disciplines. Graduate Interns will also be expected to provide daily supervision, guidance, and leadership to this team. Columbia Housing Summer Interns will focus on supporting all areas of Housing including Guest Services, Assignments, Operations & Systems, and Conference Housing.

All interns must successfully complete training on Columbia Housing systems and processes. Training will focus on policies and procedures related to managing Housing operations and Conference Services. Each candidate will work a minimum of 35 hours per week.

Dates of Employment

• 18 Candidates for 12 Weeks:
  • Start: Monday, May 19, 2025
  • End: Saturday, August 9, 2025
  • Full availability is required during the 12 weeks
•  Assigned shifts will include daytime, evening, weekends, and holidays.

Eligibility

• Must currently be enrolled in a graduate program 
• Prior experience or interest in Operations Management, Higher Education, or Hospitality

How to Apply

In addition to this Handshake application, all candidates must complete this required form for consideration: Columbia Housing | Summer Internship Interest

Benefits

• Pay Rate: $670 per week
• Weekly Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Daily Schedule: 8-hour shift including 1-hour break
• Two free meals daily
• Free laundry 
• Free Gym access
• Free on-campus housing is provided and required

Expectations

• Problem solving mindset, critical thinking, detail oriented, and organized
• Ability to work with a diverse population of domestic and international student and conference populations on campus
• Observe, document, and effectively communicate findings to peers and management team 
• Collect, clean, and analyze data to help improve operations 
• Have a positive attitude and willingness to learn
• Assist and support during emergencies
• Schedule is subject to change depending on operational needs

Roles & Responsibilities

• Assists Columbia Housing with summer operations including but not limited to building checks, room checks, inventory checks, and vendor delivery management
• Act as primary escort and liaison to vendors working in housing portfolio
• Assist with guest Check-In and Check-Out event planning and execution
• Provide excellent customer service and create memorable guest experiences
• Perform other duties and tasks as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Experience with and a commitment to working in a diverse, multicultural environment
• Proficiency in modern business tools and technology or a willingness to learn
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• A professional appearance with a positive attitude and the ability to interact in a cordial and thoughtful manner via phone, text, chat, and in person
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience working in a support, operations, or customer service role
• Experience working with project management and collaboration software (Office365, G Suite, Asana, Slack, etc.) 
• Conscientious team player comfortable with tackling ambiguous business problems
• Fluency in other languages