Upstate New York HERC

About Cornell Alumni Affairs and Development

Cornell's Alumni Affairs and Development division, widely regarded as one of the top-performing advancement organizations in higher education, connects alumni, parents and friends with opportunities to advance the university's mission through philanthropy and engagement. As part of our team, you'll help cultivate meaningful relationships while working alongside dedicated professionals who share your commitment to excellence and educational advancement. 

The Opportunity

Join a dynamic, mission-driven team at the heart of university advancement.

We?re seeking a highly organized, proactive, and relationship-driven professional to serve as the Assistant to the Associate Vice Presidents (AVPs) for Colleges and Units within Alumni Affairs and Development (AAD). This is a critical role supporting senior leadership across a diverse portfolio of colleges and units spanning the university.

As a trusted partner to the AVPs, you will provide high-level administrative and operational support while serving as a central point of coordination for the College/Unit Leadership team. You?ll engage with senior leaders, faculty, and staff across the institution and play a key role in advancing the division?s priorities.

This position requires sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to navigate highly confidential matters with professionalism and care. If you are confident operating independently, thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy navigating complexity, and take pride in enabling others to do their best work, we encourage you to apply.

What You Will Do

Calendar & Travel Coordination:

• Coordinate complex, high-volume calendars for two AVPs, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities
• Coordinate meetings across multiple stakeholders with competing demands
• Prepare meeting agendas, materials, and follow-ups
• Plan and execute detailed travel logistics, including itineraries, briefings, and reimbursements
• Coordinate leadership meetings, events, and search committee schedules

Communications:

• Draft and coordinate internal and external communications on behalf of the AVPs and leadership team
• Provide strategic input on messaging, agendas, and meeting planning
• Handle sensitive and confidential correspondence with discretion
• Facilitate information flow across AAD and university leadership
• coordinate intranet communications for Colleges and Units

Project Management:

• Oversee division-wide projects and timelines in partnership with colleagues
• Track deliverables across colleges and units, ensuring accountability and progress
• Support initiatives such as annual work plans, stewardship reporting, and partnership agreements

Policy & Documentation:

• Maintain and update policy documents, project plans, and key deadlines
• Ensure accuracy and accessibility of essential documentation

Budget Administration:

• Assist with oversight of the Colleges and Units operating budget
• Support annual budget development, forecasting, and ongoing financial tracking

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in professional development and training
• Contribute ideas and improvements to team processes
• Support special projects and evolving departmental needs

What We Need

A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.

• Associate's degree and 4-6 years relevant experience in a high-paced office environment or equivalent combination
• Excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skills required, with a customer-service orientation.
• Needs to be able to support a welcoming atmosphere for guests.
• Strong computer skills, especially in use of the entire suite of Microsoft programs at advanced levels including PeopleSoft and Tableau.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate the flow of large volumes of work and information generated by the Associate Vice Presidents.
• Must be extremely organized and capable of prioritizing and managing multiple assignments, when faced with very tight deadlines.
• Ability to navigate and interpret data a plus.
• Ability to handle high degree of confidential and sensitive material.
• Work independently, exercise very good judgment, work well under pressure while juggling a variety of tasks, positive leadership, sensitivity in dealing with alumni, staff, and academic/unit leadership.
• Experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.

It Would Be a Bonus if you have experience providing support at the senior management and/or executive level to multiple individuals.

Important Notes About Applying

• A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.
• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role on-campus 2 days per week and remotely 3 day per week.
• There is no relocation assistance available for this position.
• There is no visa sponsorship available for this position.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role on-campus 2 days per week and remotely 3 day per week.
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell:Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Relocation Assistance is not available for this position.

Cornell is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, visit hr.cornell.edu/eeo.

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell?s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell?s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

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Most positions at Cornell will require you to apply online and submit both a resume/CV and cover letter.  You can upload documents either by "dragging and dropping" them into the dropbox or by using the "upload" icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website.

Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu.

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing mycareer@cornell.edu.

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Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual?s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans? Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.