Assistant to Department Chair and Director of Finance and Administration, Department of Psychology

About the Department of Psychology

The Cross-College Department of Psychology spans The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and Cornell Human Ecology (CHE) and is recognized for excellence in advancing knowledge of psychological science. We focus on the investigation of behavior and its cognitive, neural, and hormonal underpinnings in the full range of environmental situations. Our strengths lie in four broadly defined areas of development, cognition, neuroscience, and social and personality psychology. We develop and conduct theoretical and translational research to advance health and well-being.

Learn more about the Department of Psychology here: Department of Psychology | Department of Psychology (cornell.edu).

The Opportunity

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically 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.

Working with very limited supervision, the incumbent will provide high-level administrative and program support to the Department Chair and the Director of Administration for a large and complex academic department with approximately 50 faculty/ 15 other academics in both CAS and CHE. As a professional partner, they will serve as the liaison between the Chairperson and department faculty, academic staff, colleges’, and university administration. Working in concert with the Chair and the Director, the Assistant will strive to maintain balance and consistency in establishing and executing departmental policies and procedures across the two colleges in the department.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: maintaining the Chair’s complex calendar; providing support to the Chair for research and teaching activities; tracking and managing complex tenure, promotion, and academic reviews; managing and monitoring all aspects of academic searches including facilitating visits and being the lead contact; scheduling, preparing agendas, coordinating votes, and taking minutes at faculty meetings; arranging meetings of various departmental committees; coordinating the annual faculty academic annual report process; managing faculty leave requests and records; composing complex and non-routine inquiries and preparing confidential documents; coordinating travel arrangements for the Chair and submitting related reimbursement requests; processing Visas for incoming academic staff; and facilitating annual events.  

This is a full time, fully on-site, regular position based in Ithaca, New York on Cornell University’s campus. No visa sponsorship or relocation assistance are provided for this position.

Required Qualifications

All applications require a resume and cover letter for consideration.

• Associate's degree and 4-6 years of high-level administrative experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Extensive ability to work quickly and effectively under pressure, use judgement in accomplishing tasks that are urgent or of a sensitive or confidential nature, balance conflicting priorities, and make decisions from a range of choices.
• Effective interpersonal skills and considerable initiative, supported by a strong work ethic to complete tasks in a timely fashion.
• Superior organizational skills and attention to details is a must. Excellent writing skills to formulate and present written material in a logical and comprehensive fashion. Outstanding verbal communication skills.
• Ability to locate, extract, identify, organize, and format important information and data; analyze, synthesize, and compile data.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a complex, high-pressure environment dealing with diverse constituents and situations using diplomacy and tact, while maintaining a positive, professional, and customer-oriented attitude. Ability to positively influence others by example.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and video conferencing software (e.g., Zoom).
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and additional executive level administrative experience, or equivale