Executive Staff Assistant II, OVPRI

About The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) enables and advances Cornell’s research priorities, including research activities of Cornell colleges, schools, research centers, institutes, and laboratories. The OVPRI advocates for researchers within the university, supports specialized research facilities and services for researchers, provides campus-wide research administrative support services, and facilitates major interdisciplinary research initiatives.    

Learn more here: https://researchservices.cornell.edu/offices/ovpr 

The Opportunity

Are you ready to take on a pivotal role that drives research and innovation forward? We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Executive Staff Assistant to support the Vice President for Research and Innovation at our esteemed university. This key position offers the opportunity to work at the nexus of administration and academia, providing comprehensive support to facilitate groundbreaking research and strategic initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Executive Assistant Support: Provide meticulous management of the VP’s calendar, including prioritizing and scheduling complex meetings. Ensure the VP is prepared for all engagements by organizing necessary materials and coordinating detailed itineraries.

Administrative Support: Oversee daily operations within the executive office, enhancing administrative processes and supporting high-level events. Utilize advanced administrative skills to handle sensitive information with discretion and tact.

Communication and Collaboration Facilitation: Act as a central liaison for various university departments to promote effective collaboration. Assist in managing communications for division-wide initiatives and events.  Build strong relationships to facilitate getting the job done effectively.

Travel and Reimbursements: Coordinate complex travel arrangements and manage all aspects of reimbursements, ensuring compliance with university policies.

Additional Responsibilities: Engage in special projects and perform other duties that contribute to the VP and department’s success.

Are you a confident, resourceful administrative professional with a calm and composed attitude? Ready to leverage your executive support skills in an exciting new venture? We invite you to apply today, submitting your resume and a cover letter highlighting your qualifications and underscoring why you are an exceptional match for this role. Join us in shaping the future of research and innovation at Cornell!

What We Need

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

• Associate's degree plus 4 or more years of experience in office administration, preferably in higher education, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.  
• Must be proficient in MS Office software applications (MS Word, Teams, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, and Outlook calendar management). 
• Must be able to demonstrate professional demeanor.
• Proven good judgment and the ability to handle sensitive information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to compose letters and other forms of written communication with minimal oversight and editing by the VP and the ability to grammatically edit written documents provided by others. 
• Proven planning, coordinating, and organizational skills.
• Ability to delegate, work collaboratively, and respond quickly and effectively to multiple priorities and situations.
• Demonstrated ability to diplomatically and tactfully manage a wide variety of situations and ability to organize and prioritize multiple work assignments. 
• Superior independent judgment and decision-making and the ability to work with a high level of confidentiality. 
• 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.   

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is based in Ithaca, New York, and is fully on site. 
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.
• 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 infor