Faculty & Staff

Staff

Country registration is usually needed before Columbia University may hire staff in a foreign country. See Country Registration and Agreements  for more information.

Prior to obtaining country registration, local hiring may be done through consultancy agreements. International projects may operate without any local staff at all, but may require contracting international and/or local consultants.

Consultant

A consultant or independent contractor is an individual retained by Columbia University for his or her specialized technical, program, or administrative expertise to work on a fee-for-service basis.

Consultants are hired for a specific task and specific duration. For legal reasons, they must not be confused with staff, e.g., they must not be charged with performing duties within an established job classification, nor may they supervise staff. Nor should consultants be confused with individuals providing expertise through an arrangement between Columbia University and another entity; these are employees of the subgrantee or subcontractor agency.

The terms of the consultancy must be defined in the consultant services agreement, with distinction given to international consultants. Consultants are not entitled to benefits.