Associate Director of Systems and Data

The Opportunity

The Undergraduate Admissions Office (UAO) at Cornell University seeks a collaborative, strategic, and innovative professional to serve as Associate Director of Systems and Data. This position plays a critical role in advancing the strategic goals of the the office through project/change management of a wide range of projects, with a deep focus on our CRM, Slate. This position supports optimizing business processes, ensures the successful implementation of cross-functional initiatives, all within the greater vision for systems used across the unit. The incumbent will support the work of the Deputy Director of Admissions Strategy and Optimization to foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Project & Change Management:

  • Lead strategic projects and change initiatives, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and successful stakeholder adoption.

  • Drive project planning, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration to achieve organizational goals.

• Slate System Strategy & Design:

  • Serve as a Slate subject matter expert, designing scalable solutions, workflows, and system enhancements that support admissions and institutional strategy.

  • Guide long-term system planning, including architecture, integrations, and process optimization.

• Operations & Quality Assurance:

  • Ensure data integrity, compliance, and operational excellence through quality assurance, process standardization, and continuous improvement.

  • Develop and maintain documentation, testing, and governance practices to support effective and efficient admissions operations.

About the Department

UAO provides leadership for prospect management, student recruitment and communication, admissions social media, application processing, the prospective student visit experience, yield strategy and coordination, market research, long-range planning, and admissions volunteer engagement. UAO also directs university-wide enrollment efforts for special populations, including the recruitment, selection, and enrollment of recruited athletes, underrepresented minority students, and international students.

What We Need

For full consideration, applicants must include both a resume and cover letter with their application. 

We seek a collaborative and results-driven professional who can manage complex projects, drive continuous improvement through data-informed solutions, build strong cross-functional partnerships, lead change effectively, and communicate complex information clearly to diverse audiences.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in data science, information systems, business administration, higher education, or a related field and a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in data analysis, informatics, project management, higher education, preferably admissions and/or enrollment, or a related area, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Advanced, hands-on experience with Technolutions Slate.

• Experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.

• Experience configuring and managing Microsoft 365 tools, including SharePoint, Teams, OneNote, and OneDrive, to support organizational collaboration and information sharing.

• Experience with project management tools (e.g. Smartsheet, TDX, or Jira).

• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders.

• Knowledge of change management frameworks and best practices.

• Strong organizational and time management skills with attention to detail.

• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members. 

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it’s ok if you don’t.

• Master’s degree in a related field.

• Experience leading Slate implementations or major system redesigns.

• Familiarity with enterprise SIS transitions, particularly migration to Workday.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 4 days per week and on-campus 1 day per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.

• 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 and relocation assistance are 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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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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.