spectrum
MANAGING BOARD LEVEL
SPECTRUM EDITOR
The Spectrum editor leads Columbia University’s most innovative service journalism initiative, Spectrum. (S)he, working with the Publisher and Editor in Chief, is a thought-leader for creative, multi-platform packages that addresses the needs of Columbia students. To achieve this, the Spectrum editor must have a solid product mind, manage and facilitate collaborations with other Business & Innovations directors and managers, and work closely with the deputies to determine how content should be packaged within or as products, events, and marketing campaigns.
The Spectrum editor is responsible for thinking about how to target specific user experiences and audiences through meaningful, well-packaged service content. (S)he does the final read/round of edits on all content before it is presented to CB and must be present in the office during production nights. (S)he also plans and executes staff training and provides regular feedback to all staff members, as well as leads content planning meetings during the day.
As a member of the managing board, the Spectrum editor is a member of Spectator’s editorial board.
DEPUTY LEVEL
DEPUTY SPECTRUM EDITOR
Deputy Spectrum editors oversees the daily operations of Spectrum and is responsible for being a thought-leader for a subsection of content, a zone, that is geared toward addressing major issues, such as lifestyle and health and wellness. The deputy also oversees a pod of staffers, which may consist of B&I product designers and developers and Spectrum content creators, who collaborate in order to make high-impact content. Spectrum deputies also work with other sections to ensure that content is as beautiful, accurate, and well-marketed as possible.
Deputy editors meet regularly with the Spectrum editor to report back on pod activity, plan pitches ahead of pitch meetings, plan staff development initiatives, and collaborate on feedbacking published content. From an editorial perspective, they do the first-round of edits on pieces, websave articles, and schedule social media posts twice a week with the editor. In pitch meetings, are responsible for curating comprehensive story ideas from their specific zone and ensuring that staff members are contributing and executing stories properly.
From a staff management perspective, the deputy editor is responsible for leading and training their staff and imbuing staffers with a thorough understanding of the Spectrum mission.
ASSOCIATE LEVEL
SPECTRUM staff writer
Spectrum staff writers make creative digital projects come to life, while also building a strong foundation in front-end development, design, reporting, and digital media. Spectrum staff writers work with designers and developers in pods centred around beats. Within each pod, they are responsible for the written content of all projects and work with their pod, deputy editor, and editor to create high-quality content packages. Spectrum staff writers manage long-term projects that require in-depth reporting, research, and pod collaboration, as well as occasional shorter-form pieces.
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revenue
MANAGING BOARD LEVEL
Director of Revenue
The Director of Revenue is responsible for generating the majority of Spectator's annual revenue. (S)he generates revenue through advertising sales, securing full value of our portfolio of publications, products, and events, and through fundraising from Spectator's alumni and friends. (S)he optimizes how Spectator's portfolio is monetized, thinks critically about delivering maximum value to our clients, and outlines and implements new initiatives to sustain student revenue growth year over year. The Revenue Director is responsible for securing the capital backing behind Spectator's long-term expenditures, such as funds for work-study and SpecTech. As part of his/her alumni relations duties, the Revenue Director plans the Columbia Daily Spectator Annual Awards Dinner and directs alumni engagement initiatives.
In addition to operational duties, the Revenue Director is responsible for developing his/her staff. The Revenue Director helps managers develop capabilities in management, strategy, goal-setting, and workflow design; helps associates master interpersonal skills, develop business sense, and improve judgements; and helps trainees develop core skills. As a leader, the Revenue Director is responsible for embodying and spreading Spectator’s mission, building staff culture, establishing values, and planning bonding for the Revenue section. As a member of the Managing Board, the Revenue Director attends Managing Board meetings and sits on the Editorial Board.
DEPUTY LEVEL
Senior Sales Manager
In addition to the responsibilities of a Sales Manager, a Senior Sales Manager is responsible for launching initiatives across the organization which can generate large sums of revenue. (S)he must have excellent motivational capabilities to rally individuals behind initiatives and projects which can benefit the organization. (S)he is responsible for Spectator's relationships with its extensive alumni network as well as all fundraising activities. (S)he devises strategies for cultivating our alumni base to strengthen the Spectator community and facilitate mentorship between alumni and current staff. (S)he plans structured, goal-driven fundraising campaigns, soliciting donations from both Spec alumni, Columbia alumni, and any other relevant parties. The Senior Sales Manager is responsible for helping Sales Managers and Associates improve their brainstorming, critical thinking, attention to detail, and communication skills.
Sales Manager
The Sales Managers are the primary drivers of operational revenue, and they ensure operational excellence within their team. They are responsible for developing strategies for outreach priorities and pitch development for their assigned sectors, products, and/or events. Managers should establish a strong sense of camaraderie among their associates and should show a strong attention to detail. (S)he also must be able to problem solve, adapting pitches and sales methodologies to overcome any changing trends in the industry or specific difficulties that may arise.
In addition to operational duties, the Managers are responsible for helping his/her associates and trainees master interpersonal skills, develop business sense, and improve judgements. Sales managers are responsible for cultivating a strong sales culture with clear values that reflect the team’s personality and Spectator’s mission.
ASSOCIATE LEVEL
Sales Associate
The Sales Associate comprise the specialized task force that lives and breathes advertising sales. A Sales Associate should be an expert in pitching, requiring a strong mastery of persuasive techniques and an understanding of Spectator's ad products to optimize packaging.
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spectator brand studios
deputy LEVEL
spectator brand studios manager (1-2 Positions available)
The Spectator Brand Studios Manager is responsible for leading SBS meetings and guiding the team to ideate and create excellent sponsored content pieces. (S)he has excellent interpersonal, time management, and content-creation abilities, and ensures that SBS pieces satisfy our client's, our audience's, and the SBS team's expectations. SBS Managers will be responsible for working directly with SBS stakeholders (CB, Product, and Revenue), to ensure that pieces are created and uploaded in a timely manner.
ASSOCIATE LEVEL
Spectator brand studios associate
Spectator Brand Studios Associates are responsible for ideating and creating sponsored content pieces. (S)he is responsible for working with clients both individually and with other SBS members to quickly draft content ideas and elements which would best highlight the client––without creating "written ads."
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engagement
managing board level
director of engagement
The Director of Engagement takes ownership over the reach and usage of Spectator's publications, products, and events and manages the Spectator brand. (S)he skillfully uses data about how our users and readers interact with Spectator to make informed decisions to develop Spectator's audience and to provide feedback to content producers to improve our services. In short, the Director of Engagement not only maximizes the reach of Spectator's work, but (s)he also ensures that each interaction our readers and users have with our products are highly engaging. (S)he also handles recruitment of new staff at the beginning of each semester. As a member of the Managing Board, the Staff Director sits on Spectator's Editorial Board.
deputy level
Engagement Manager
The role of Engagement Manager is a generalist role that takes responsibility of organizing and leading projects in each of the three Engagement sections: Marketing, Audience Insights, and Data Analytics. They are expected to plan and lead meetings, conduct one-on-one check ins with associates and trainees, and prepare a training program for incoming trainees. They will work closely with the Engagement director or equivalent and should be prepared to work with deputies of other sections.
associate level
engagement senior analyst
Engagement Senior Analysts are required to have at least 2-3 semesters of experience in Engagement. They have developed a deep interest in their specialty and are seeking independence in leading and executing projects in their field and across sections. Senior Analysts effectively communicate with MB/DB to update them on their projects and make requests for any associate staffers they may need.
engagement analyst
Engagement Analysts are equipped as generalist analysts in the areas of Marketing, Audience Insights, and Data Analytics. They analyze both strategic and data-based problems in marketing our events and products, understanding our audiences, and deriving insights from data. From this work, they develop a deeper understanding of the Columbia community and their interests, needs, and habits. They staff a variety of team-based projects and have the critical skills needed to approach and tackle ambiguous or broad tasks.
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Spectech
MANAGING BOARD LEVEL
Head of Product
The Head of Product is responsible for envisioning and managing the product side of the platforms and technologies that Spectator uses to deliver information and services to the Columbia community. (S)he is fully responsible for delivering the best possible user experience to the Columbia and Barnard community through an understanding of its needs, and oversees conceptualization of all new tools and services. As the chief executive on the product end, (s)he is therefore involved in every step of product management, including conceptualization, planning, execution, and quality assurance. (S)he serves as the liaison between the product team and the rest of the Managing Board whenever any sort of changes need to be made to our digital platforms, and sources from the expertise of other section leaders to create the best products possible. The Head of Product oversees Product Management and Product Design. As a member of the Managing Board, the Head of Product sits on the Editorial Board.
Head of Engineering
The Head of Engineering is responsible for architecting and delivering the technological side of the platforms and technologies that Spectator uses to deliver information and services to the Columbia community. (S)he is fully responsible for making sure our products are both feasible in terms of technology and manpower and engineered in a maintainable, scalable, and reliable manner, through an understanding of the entire technology stack used at Spectator. As the chief technology expert of Product, (s)he is involved in every step of the product pipeline, including conceptualization, planning, execution, and quality assurance. (S)he works closely with the Head of Product as well as other section leaders to ensure success on the technological side of Spectator's digital platforms. The Head of Engineering oversees Engineering Management and Engineering teams. As a member of the Managing Board, the Head of Engineering sits on the Editorial Board.
DEPUTY LEVEL
Product Manager
The Product Manager spearheads the ideation and design of Spectator’s technical initiatives, such as site migration, SBS, The Shaft, and Vergil+. (S)he should have a strong understanding of the Columbia and Barnard user base, a broad sense of UI and UX, and be able to align designers, developers, and other stakeholders on a clear vision of a product. (S)he is the main driver of the product vision, and incorporates feedback from the campus community and members of Product and other sections to ensure our products are serving the needs of the Columbia and Barnard communities. (S)he will, alongside the engineering manager, serve as the main point of communication for product stakeholders.
Engineering Manager
The Engineering Manager spearheads the development of Spectator’s technical initiatives, such as site migration, SBS, The Shaft, and Vergil+. (S)he should have a strong technical background and extensive knowledge of the MERN stack, Javascript, React, HTML/CSS, and the Arc Publishing stack, and (s)he should be able to lead a team of developers to enact a clear vision of a product. (S)he is the main technical point person in the conceptualization of products, and is responsible for bringing these products to life. (S)he will, alongside the product manager, serve as the main point of communication for product stakeholders.
LEAD PRODUCT DESIGNER
The Lead Product Designer interacts with the other sections of Spec Tech to create intuitive designs for Spectator products. (S)he is responsible for coordinating a team of designers to design all web apps and mobile applications, as well as pages for the CDS website and interactive content. (S)he will coordinate with technical leads to ensure that designs are technically feasible. (S)he will also assume responsibility for coordinating visuals for certain CDS-facing initiatives, like interactive content, liaising with design and photo as appropriate.
LEAD DEVELOPER
The Lead Developer spearheads Spectator’s technical initiatives, such as The Shaft, Vergil+, and the Columbia Daily Spectator site. (S)he should have a strong technical background and extensive knowledge of MEAN stack, Javascript, React, and more, and (s)he should be able to lead a team of developers to enact a clear vision of a product. (S)he is the main technical point person in the conceptualization of products, and is responsible for bringing these products to life. (S)he will also be the main point of communication for product stakeholders.
ASSOCIATE LEVEL
PRODUCT DESIGNER
The Product Designer is expected to work to develop mockups for all Spectator services. Product Designers will usually be assigned to work on one product for a long period of time, developing a close relationship with that individual product. They will balance the priorities of giving each of Spectator’s products a unique visual identity with an understanding of Spectator’s larger visual coherence.
Senior Product Designer
The Senior Product Designer is expected to fulfill the responsibilities of Product Designers. However, they are also expected to serve as mentors for other Product Designers as well as Product Design trainees.
ASSOCIATE DEVELOPER
The Associate Developer works on projects of choice within Spec Tech. They will be able to choose or jump between projects within SpecTech as they choose, and as demands necessitate. This position is best for someone who is still developing their skills as a programmer, and wants to learn about a number of different areas or hone their skills in one.
Senior Developer
The Senior Developer is expected to fulfill the responsibilities of Associate Developers. However, they are also expected to serve as mentors for other Associate Developers as well as SpecTech trainees.