Coordinator, Research Development & Strategic Initiatives

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The Opportunity

Cornell Research & Innovation announces a new position opening that will provide administrative support for focused research development activities and support for strategic programs in the Office of the Vice Provost for Research. The position will report jointly to the Director of Research Development and the Director of Strategic Initiatives. The successful candidate will be a highly organized administrative professional with strong communication and interpersonal skills, a mission possible attitude, and an orientation toward process improvement and excellent customer service.

As part of the Research Development team, your primary responsibility will be program coordination of prestigious honorific awards and prizes that recognize our faculty. In the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, your focus will be administrative coordination of internal seed funding projects, including the Provost’s Future of American Agriculture Initiative.

Your duties in this position will include:

• Coordinating award nomination processes (sponsors, timelines, eligibility and submission requirements), assembling supporting materials, and formatting packages for submission
• Maintaining and monitoring the seed funding application portal (complete and timely submissions), reviewing applications for program compliance, and preparing materials for panel reviews
• Serving as a point of contact for award nominators and nominees (honorifics) and faculty and departmental applicants (seed funding)
• Using and maintaining program databases, ensuring accurate records, and tracking deadlines and deliverables
• Helping to draft and document standard operating procedures and templates and contributing to process improvement efforts
• Conducting research on funding and award opportunities as well as programs and practices at other institutions
• Scheduling meetings and events, coordinating logistics (room reservations, catering, etc.), drafting announcements and emails, and taking meeting notes
• Interacting and communicating with university leaders, faculty, staff, external funders and organizations, and the public

What We Need
Send us a cover letter and resume outlining your interest in this position and explaining how your experience and qualifications match the position requirements. Your letter is an important component of your application and is required for full consideration.

When evaluating your candidacy, we will look for evidence of the following:

• Associate’s degree with 4–6 years of financial and/or administrative experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated attention to detail and excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of and proficiency with modern office methods and procedures
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a part of a team in a professional office environment, working on multiple projects simultaneously
• High level of proficiency with Excel, Adobe Acrobat, MSWord, and Outlook
• Familiarity with database management and/or financial management tools
• Ability to handle confidential information and materials appropriately
• Experience interacting and building relationships with high-level clientele, faculty, visitors, and organizational leaders
• Ability to be flexible, adaptable, and comfortable working and contributing to an environment where change in process/procedures is the norm while maintaining a positive and productive demeanor
• Ability to organize and prioritize a varied workload, using good judgment to determine when situations require escalation or deeper follow up
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members

Additionally, if any of the following qualifications apply to you, please let us know:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience in faculty affairs, research development, research administration, or higher education administration
• Experience developing and managing datasets and using data to inform processes
• Experience with benchmarking and implementing process improvements
• Ability to consult effectively across diverse stakeholder groups and share appropriate knowledge and guidance

Important Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

About Us

Cornell University's central Research Development (ReD) team promotes and facilitates research and innovation across the Ithaca campus, Cornell Tech, and Weill Cornell Medicine. Operating under both the Office of Sponsored Programs and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, the team plays a crucial role in advancing Cornell’s research enterprise through strategic support and capacity-building initiatives.

The Office of the Vice Provost for Research drives institutional research strategy and oversees major initiatives that advance Cornell’s research mission. This includes managing the Future of American Agriculture Initiative, a $30 million program intended to expand agricultural development and productivity nationwide.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is located on the main campus of Cornell University in Ithaca. Work will be performed in multiple offices. After initial training, the position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement (1-2 days of work from home). 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.

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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:

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• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

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About Us

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. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far-flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.