Coordinator, Research Development & Strategic Initiatives

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.

University Job Title:

Job Family:

Level:

Pay Rate Type:

Pay Range:

Remote Option Availability:

Company:

Contact Name:

Contact Email:

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

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.

Current Employees:

If you currently work at Cornell University, please exit this website and log in to Workday using your Net ID and password. Select the Career icon on your Home dashboard to view jobs at Cornell.

Online Submission Guidelines:

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].

Notice to Applicants:

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.