Director of Human Resources, Cornell Tech (NYC)

About Cornell Tech

Cornell Tech is Cornell University’s state-of-the-art campus in New York City that develops leaders and technologies for the AI era through foundational and applied research, graduate education, and new ventures. Located on Roosevelt Island, the growing campus was founded in partnership with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and in close collaboration with the NYC Economic Development Corporation after Cornell won a worldwide competition initiated by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s administration to create an applied sciences campus in New York City. More than 1,000 Cornell students are now educated annually on the campus, including 700 in Cornell Tech programs. Since opening in 2012, nearly 120 new companies have spun out from startup programs at Cornell Tech, and 95 percent of them are based in New York City. Cornell Tech continues to have a transformative economic impact on the region’s tech sector.

Position Summary

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Reporting jointly to the Cornell Tech Chief Administrative Officer and the Cornell University Assistant Dean and Senior Director of Academic Human Resources, the Director serves as the strategic operational HR leader for Cornell Tech, including the Jacobs Institute. The position is responsible for translating HR strategy into effective operational practices and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, customer-focused HR services that support Cornell Tech's academic, research, economic development, and administrative missions.

Cornell Tech is a rapidly evolving academic, research, and technology environment characterized by growth, innovation, and organizational change. The Director partners closely with campus leadership and central university HR offices to support workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, talent management, and operational excellence.

The Director leads the HR function for Cornell Tech and serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, talent strategy, culture, employee engagement, and organizational change. The position helps shape business outcomes by connecting workforce strategies and people initiatives to operational performance, strategic priorities, and long-term organizational success

The Director will also serve as a liaison to central HR and other university offices, ensuring compliance with institutional policies and regulatory requirements, and contributing to the advancement of university-wide HR initiatives. This role is instrumental in shaping a positive workplace culture and supporting the success of faculty, staff, and leadership across the unit.

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position. The primary location is at the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City.

Please submit a cover letter and resume to be considered for this position.

Visa sponsorship is not available.

Starting salary range: $185,692 to $205,238
 

Essential Functions Include

Strategic HR Leadership & Management - 30%

• Partnership with Leadership:

• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, ensuring workforce considerations are incorporated into organizational planning and decision-making.

• Partner with campus leadership to understand organizational priorities and workforce needs and support implementation of HR strategies aligned with campus and university objective.

• Participate regularly on task forces and planning groups as appropriate for Cornell Tech and of the VP for HR.

• Partner with Executive Director of Finance and Business Operations to manage the annual budget process, specifically around workforce planning.

• Assess the financial impact of human resource decisions, policies, and programs.

• Work with campus leadership and staff to assess impact of proposed policies, processes, and activities efforts, workforce planning, and succession planning. 

• Partner with leadership in proactively identifying and assessing organizational needs and provide counsel and expertise in the planning, implementation, and communi