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Executive Staff Assistant III, OVPRI

About The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) creates an environment that unifies and advances Cornell's scholarship, research, and discovery through state-of-the-art core facilities, domain expertise, and partnership to enable innovation and impact. We leverage external funding and partnerships, enable interdisciplinary research, and ensure regulatory compliance. We collaborate to successfully translate and commercialize research through companies, startups, and entrepreneurship. OVPRI is committed to the goal of inclusive excellence. Learn more here: https://research-and-innovation.cornell.edu/.

The Opportunity

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation is seeking a dedicated and experienced administrative professional to provide high-level, confidential executive support to the Vice President for Research and Innovation (R&I) and manage administrative priorities and workflow of the Office. This role demands a strong customer service orientation, exceptional communication skills, excellent organizational and time management abilities, and a knack for analysis and problem-solving.

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, you will serve as a key liaison to internal and external stakeholders. Research & Innovation is a cross-campus unit with a university-wide scope that encompasses the Ithaca campus, Cornell Tech, and Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City and significant externally facing activities. You will handle highly confidential and sensitive matters, represent the VP and OVPRI, and coordinate closely with various offices and senior leadership across Cornell and with state and federal agencies, peer institutions, and private industry. Your initiative and professional demeanor will help foster the responsive and effective collaboration that is vital to our mission.

Key Responsibilities:

Executive Administrative Support

• Provide comprehensive executive support to the Vice President on a wide range of projects and tasks.
• Act as a liaison on sensitive and highly confidential matters, meeting with individuals on behalf of the VP.
• Manage complex calendar scheduling and workload for the VP, ensuring seamless coordination with internal and external audiences, including Advisory Boards and Board of Trustee meetings.
• Participate in the development and implementation of R&I and university strategies, procedures, initiatives, and special projects.
• Coordinate closely and routinely interact with offices of the president and provost, deans and senior leadership in Ithaca, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Cornell Tech.
• Regularly interact and communicate with senior research officers of the Ivy+, directors of federal agencies, such as the National Academies, NIH, and NSF, and directors of scientific research boards, such as Brookhaven Labs.
• Interact with University Relations and Alumni Affairs and Development to support philanthropic activities, donor opportunities, and external engagement activities with both internal and external partners.
• Facilitate and arrange national and international travel for the VP, preparing detailed itineraries and managing expenses.
• Coordinate and organize projects, including researching relevant topics, practices/policies, and precedents.
• Develop presentation materials, draft content, conduct research, and compile data for reports and executive summaries.
• Serve as staff secretary for the Board of Trustees Committee on Research and Innovation (CoRI), managing deadlines, coordinating meeting logistics, and preparing minutes and summaries.

Office Management

• Provide comprehensive support for the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, handling inquiries with tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
• Oversee daily administrative activities, improving processes and services to enhance efficiency.
• Proactively research and respond to inquiries independently, triaging and escalating requests, drafting and editing correspondence, and replying as appropriate on behalf of the VP.
• Coordinate and oversee multiple high-visibility events throughout the year, ensuring seamless execution.
• Serve as a key liaison for campus units in support of research and innovation, partnering with the communications team to disseminate division-wide information.
• Provide training, guidance, and mentorship to the Senior Admin Support and Events Coordinator.
• Serve as a senior executive support resource for the Chief Administrative Officer and three Associate Vice Provosts for especially sensitive or complex matters.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in projects and special assignments, including travel and attendance at evening or weekend events in support of the VP and the Office.

If you are an administrative professional with experience supporting executive level staff and are passionate about making a positive impact at the center of Cornell's research and innovation, we encourage you to apply. Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter detailing their qualifications and interest in the position.

Required Qualifications

All applicants must include a resume and cover letter for full consideration.

• Associate's degree; with at least 5 years of experience in high-level executive support, preferably in higher education, or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Proven ability to work with highly sensitive information, exhibit discretion, and maintain confidentiality.
• Flexibility and availability to work or respond to issues outside of normal business hours when needed; able to travel 2-3 times/year to New York City and other off-campus locations.
• Highly detail oriented with experience working on multiple projects and managing competing priorities both independently and collaboratively; must meet deadlines while working collegially in a fast-paced, complex, high-pressure environment.
• Excellent Microsoft Office suite and calendaring skills, with a strong technical aptitude for learning new technologies; proficient in Teams or ability to learn.
• Strong customer service orientation and the ability to interact with others at a variety of levels using tact and diplomacy.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to compose letters and other written communications with minimal oversight and the ability to edit written documents provided by others.
• Ability to foster a professional work environment and interact effectively with senior leaders, faculty, staff, students, and the public.
• Proven planning, coordinating, and organizational skills. Ability to delegate, work collaboratively, and respond quickly and effectively to multiple priorities and situations.
• Passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and wellbeing.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with faculty, staff, students, and community members.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a research-related organization.
• Advanced skills in word processing, spreadsheets, calendaring, presentations, and collaboration platforms.
• Familiarity with university policies and procedures.
• Experience with Cornell systems is helpful.
• Familiarity with Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell Tech
• Experience navigating NYC would be helpful.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is based in Ithaca, New York, and is fully on site.
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.
• 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: https://hr.cornell.edu/benefits-pay.
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: https://hr.cornell.edu/jobs/your-total-rewards.
• 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.
• 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.

No visa sponsorship or relocation assistance is available for this position.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, 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. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

Familiarize yourself with Cornell's COVID-19 workplace guidance as well as the university's COVID-19 services and information.

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• Unique applicable skills

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EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, 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. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

EEO Statement: Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Minimum Salary: 31200.00 Maximum Salary: 31200.00 Salary Unit: Yearly