Assistant to the Associate Vice Presidents of Colleges and Units, AAD
About Cornell Alumni Affairs and Development
Cornell's Alumni Affairs and Development division, widely regarded as one of the top-performing advancement organizations in higher education, connects alumni, parents and friends with opportunities to advance the university's mission through philanthropy and engagement. As part of our team, you'll help cultivate meaningful relationships while working alongside dedicated professionals who share your commitment to excellence and educational advancement.
The Opportunity
Join a dynamic, mission-driven team at the heart of university advancement.
We're seeking a highly organized, proactive, and relationship-driven professional to serve as the Assistant to the Associate Vice Presidents (AVPs) for Colleges and Units within Alumni Affairs and Development (AAD). This is a critical role supporting senior leadership across a diverse portfolio of colleges and units spanning the university.
As a trusted partner to the AVPs, you will provide high-level administrative and operational support while serving as a central point of coordination for the College/Unit Leadership team. You'll engage with senior leaders, faculty, and staff across the institution and play a key role in advancing the division's priorities.
This position requires sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to navigate highly confidential matters with professionalism and care. If you are confident operating independently, thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy navigating complexity, and take pride in enabling others to do their best work, we encourage you to apply.
What You Will Do
Calendar & Travel Coordination:
- Coordinate complex, high-volume calendars for two AVPs, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities
- Coordinate meetings across multiple stakeholders with competing demands
- Prepare meeting agendas, materials, and follow-ups
- Plan and execute detailed travel logistics, including itineraries, briefings, and reimbursements
- Coordinate leadership meetings, events, and search committee schedules
Communications:
- Draft and coordinate internal and external communications on behalf of the AVPs and leadership team
- Provide strategic input on messaging, agendas, and meeting planning
- Handle sensitive and confidential correspondence with discretion
- Facilitate information flow across AAD and university leadership
- coordinate intranet communications for Colleges and Units
Project Management:
- Oversee division-wide projects and timelines in partnership with colleagues
- Track deliverables across colleges and units, ensuring accountability and progress
- Support initiatives such as annual work plans, stewardship reporting, and partnership agreements
Policy & Documentation:
- Maintain and update policy documents, project plans, and key deadlines
- Ensure accuracy and accessibility of essential documentation
Budget Administration:
- Assist with oversight of the Colleges and Units operating budget
- Support annual budget development, forecasting, and ongoing financial tracking
Additional Responsibilities:
- Participate in professional development and training
- Contribute ideas and improvements to team processes
- Support special projects and evolving departmental needs
What We Need
A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.
- Associate's degree and 4-6 years relevant experience in a high-paced office environment or equivalent combination
- Excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skills required, with a customer-service orientation.
- Needs to be able to support a welcoming atmosphere for guests.
- Strong computer skills, especially in use of the entire suite of Microsoft programs at advanced levels including PeopleSoft and Tableau.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate the flow of large volumes of work and information generated by the Associate Vice Presidents.
- Must be extremely organized and capable of prioritizing and managing multiple assignments, when faced with very tight deadlines.
- Ability to navigate and interpret data a plus.
- Ability to handle high degree of confidential and sensitive material.
- Work independently, exercise very good judgment, work well under pressure while juggling a variety of tasks, positive leadership, sensitivity in dealing with alumni, staff, and academic/unit leadership.
- Experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.
It Would Be a Bonus
if you have experience providing support at the senior management and/or executive level to multiple individuals.
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