Assistant, Office of the Sr. Assoc. VP, AAD

About Cornell Alumni Affairs and Development

The Cornell Alumni Affairs and Development team is at the forefront of higher education advancement. It is our aim to foster Cornell’s mission through lifelong engagement and philanthropy by providing opportunities to friends and families to give, lead and serve.

By joining the Alumni Affairs and Development team, you'll have the chance to be part of something big. You will become an integral part of a dynamic team that is committed to excellence and doing the greatest good. Discover a career at Cornell University, where your skills and passion converge to create a lasting legacy, shaping the future of education and leaving an indelible mark on the world.

The Opportunity

Join a dynamic team at the heart of Cornell University's Alumni Affairs and Development (AAD) as an Administrative Assistant supporting the Office of the Senior Associate Vice President (SAVP). Reporting to the Development Support Officer, this pivotal role ensures the smooth operation of the SAVP office and offers opportunities to engage with diverse stakeholders, contribute to meaningful initiatives, and make an impact in a fast-paced and collaborative environment.

As the Administrative Assistant, you will provide broad-based support to the SAVP and other key staff, serving as a trusted liaison between the SAVP office and on-campus and external constituencies. Your role includes:

Proactive Administrative Support:

• Anticipate and address the needs of the SAVP with a solutions-focused mindset.
• Coordinate complex scheduling, travel arrangements, and meeting preparation.
• Prepare professional correspondence, meeting materials/agendas, and other key documents with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Some financial responsibilities, such as submitting office expenses.
• Coordinate annual performance evaluations and support staff searches.
• Perform background research for the SAVP as needed.

Event and Meeting Coordination:

• Support divisional all-staff and program director meetings, ensuring seamless execution.
• Assist the Campaign Office with logistics for Campaign Chairs, Campaign Trustee Cabinet, and broad campaign volunteer meetings.
• Assist in the preparation of materials for the Board of Trustee Committee on Development meetings and other high-level events.

Liaison and Communication:

• Act as the administrative liaison and point person between the SAVP office and internal and external partners, maintaining online resources with professionalism and confidentiality.
• Update and maintain online resources, including intranet pages, to ensure accessibility and accuracy.

Special Projects:

• Contribute to impactful initiatives and special projects, leveraging your creativity and organizational skills, with occasional work responsibility falling above or below current classification. 
• Completion of any university required compliance trainings. 

If you are a proactive and adaptable collaborator with related administrative experience, we encourage you to submit your application today! Please include a resume and a cover letter detailing your qualifications and interest in the role. Let’s work together to elevate the mission of Cornell University.

What We Need

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

• Associate’s degree and 4 to 6 years relevant professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to work well with Alumni Affairs and Development staff and program directors.
• Extensive administrative office coordination experience, preferably in higher education.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to effectively communicate, verbally as well as in writing, with internal and external constituencies.
• Balance multiple tasks at one time, within a fast-paced office. Anticipate what is needed and be pro-active in leveraging resources to solve problems.
• Ability to set priorities, handle frequent interruptions and work under pressure.
• Detail oriented. Must be organized and have demonstrated the ability to juggle multiple work assignments and projects, and meet\set deadlines.
• Able to handle confidential, and sensitive information.
• Good judgment, ability to exercise discretion, and make decisions.
• Passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and wellbeing.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

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