HR Administrative Assistant (Hybrid)

About The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI)

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) creates an environment that unifies and advances Cornell’s scholarship, research, and discovery through state-of -the-art core facilities, domain expertise, and partnership to enable innovation and impact.  We leverage external funding and partnerships, enable interdisciplinary research, and ensure regulatory compliance. We collaborate to successfully translate and commercialize research through companies, startups, and entrepreneurship.  OVPRI is committed to the goal of inclusive excellence. Administrators, faculty, and staff are expected to contribute actively to fostering an academic workplace climate that is welcoming, supportive and creates a sense of belonging for all.

Research & Innovation is a cross-campus division with a university-wide scope that encompasses the Ithaca campus, Cornell Tech and Weill Cornell Medicine in NYC, and significant externally facing activities. The Vice President and staff of the OVPRI frequently interface with senior leaders from New York State, including the Governor’s Office, federal agencies, peer institutions, and private industry.

The Opportunity

OVPRI seeks an HR Administrative Assistant! In a team and service-oriented environment, the HR Administrative Assistant will create and prioritize a welcoming, engaging climate while working to manage the complex administrative needs of the Research & Innovation Human Resources team.

The position will exercise a high degree of confidentiality, initiative, and judgment while providing administrative support to the R&I HR Leadership team, as well as all members within the R&I HR Office.

Administrative Support

Responsibilities include:

• Addressing general inquiries.
• Creating and maintaining documents, FAQs, and templates.
• Updating contact lists and organizational charts.
• Coordinating meetings, managing Zoom sessions.
• Generating employment status reports.
• Tracking completion by R&I employees of required trainings; tracking records retention.
• Assisting with HR projects and OVPRI events.
• Collaborating with HR team members and maintaining organized HR files.

Recruiting Support

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinating interview logistics, arranging travel and handling reimbursements for candidates, scheduling interviews, and managing multiple calendars.
• Communicating with candidates to confirm interview details and gather necessary information.
• Setting up and providing technical support for Zoom meetings and serving as a concierge for visiting candidates, ensuring their transportation needs are met and managing their interview schedules.

Payroll Processing and Management

This role involves supporting R&I departments and unit administrators in:

• The interpretation and implementation of federal and state labor laws, as well as Cornell policies and contracts related to payroll.
• Running Workday Time Tracking reports to ensure payroll completeness.
• Collaborating with University Payroll/HRIS to improve processes, and addressing critical errors to ensure accurate and timely payroll.

Student Employment

Responsibilities include:

• Processing employment actions for undergraduate and graduate students
• Advising hiring managers on classifying student positions, and ensuring appropriate pay.
• Posting student positions.
• Serving as a point of contact for student employment representatives.
• Troubleshooting issues with student appointments.

Currently, core work hours for the HR Administrative Assistant are Monday through Friday, between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, with flexibility on exact start and end times. This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Your hybrid arrangement will be determined by your supervisor. Core hours are subject to change based on business needs.

Success Factors

You are considered a strong candidate if you demonstrate:

• Adaptability: You handle changing priorities and fast-paced environments with ease and calm.
• Strong Organizational Skills: You are highly organized, capable of managing tasks and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
• Being Proactive: You take initiative to solve problems independently, while not being afraid to questions.
• Communication and Openness to Feedback: You are an excellent comm