Chair’s Assistant, Department of Natural Resources

About the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: natural and human systems; food, energy and environmental resources; and social, physical and economic well-being.

About the Department of Natural Resources

The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment is a world leader in scholarship addressing social and ecological dimensions of natural resources and the environment to improve environmental sustainability, promote the well-being of communities, and ensure access to sustainable energy and environmental resources.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented administrative professional to join our team in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment in the role of Chair’s Assistant. In this role, you will play a key part in supporting the efficient functioning of our department by managing calendars, scheduling meetings, and handling a variety of administrative tasks. Your ability to maintain discretion with sensitive materials and communications, coupled with your dedication to the success of our faculty and building positive relationships, will be essential in contributing to our success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage calendars and schedule meetings, ensuring effective coordination of department activities.
• Respond to inquiries about the department’s numerous programs with professionalism and efficiency.
• Handle highly sensitive and confidential materials, maintaining discretion in all written and verbal communications.
• Act as a liaison between the Chair and department faculty, graduate students, visitors, and various College and University offices.
• Coordinate and track academic personnel actions in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Facilitate interactions between the Chair and external entities, including state and federal officials.
• Oversee the implementation of academic personnel visa paperwork for incoming and continuing visitors and foreign national academics.
• Support academic searches and compile reviews, tenure, and promotion packages.
• Collaborate with HR on appointments for academic staff.
• Attend meetings, prepare minutes, and provide main office support, including supervision of work-study students.
• Participate in research activities as assigned by the Chair, including literature review, survey questionnaires, mailings, and data entry.
• Collaborate with CALS HR specialist on department appointments for academic appointments.

If you are passionate about contributing to a collaborative and inclusive work environment, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Please be sure to include your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you are the ideal candidate for this position.

What We Need

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

• Associate’s Degree and 2-4 years of related work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.  
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Ability to communicate with tact and diplomacy with a wide range of internal and external constituents.
• Willingness and ability to work some evening and weekend hours for special events.
• Strong detail orientation in all aspects of work, as well as accuracy in spelling, grammar, proofreading.
• Must take initiative, meet challenges with resourcefulness and tact, have ability to work independently.
• Excellent organizational skills, and the ability to work quickly and effectively under pressure, use sound judgment in accomplishing tasks that are urgent; balance conflicting priorities, and make decisions from a wide range of choices.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills.
• Requires reasoning, analytical thought, creativity, and innovation in solving minor problems that occur day to day. Experience that demonstrates sound judgment, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with utmost discretion and integrity.
• Demonstrated record of successfully providing exceptional customer service.
• Requires proficiency with a variety of business and technical programs, including Outlook (mail and calendar), Word, Zoom.
• Must be able to work independently while supporting the efforts of an overall team while fostering a respectful work environment.
• Must be flexible and receptive to new ideas and approaches.
• Must possess and maintain valid driver license. Must be able to lift up to 20 lbs.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. This position will be fully on-site during 90-day probationary period to enable training and onboarding, with potential to move to hybrid schedule of 4 days on campus, 1 day remote after that time. 
• 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 .

University Job Title:

Administrative Asst IV

Job Family:

Administration

Level:

D

Pay Rate Type:

Hourly

Pay Range:

$24.78 – $28.80

Remote Option Availability:

Hybrid Remote

Company:

Contract College

Contact Name:

Brad Stock

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

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 (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)

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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For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email [email protected] .

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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.

2024-01-10