Temporary Project Associate - Cornell University's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Remote)

Temporary Project Associate - Cornell University's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Remote)

Who We Are

What You Will Do

This is a part time, one-year fixed term position with the possibility of renewal based on available funding, performance, and business needs.

Given the scale and collaborative nature of the initiative, we are seeking a part-time Project Associate to support coordination, communication, and reporting across the consortium. This role will be scheduled to work 13-14 hours per week. The role focuses on maintaining continuity, organizing information, and preparing materials in draft form for the Lead PI, PIs, and project team.

Key Responsibilities

Project Coordination (30%)

• Attend PI and project meetings; prepare clear, concise meeting notes and circulate them promptly
• Track action items and follow up with team members to support timely progress
• Provide gentle, consistent reminders to ensure alignment with agreed timelines and deliverables

Project Communications (25%)

• Prepare and circulate monthly project digests, summarizing key updates, milestones, and upcoming activities
• Collect and organize inputs from project partners and synthesize them into structured drafts

Website & Documentation (30%)

• Develop and maintain a project website (e.g., GitHub Pages or similar platform)
• Ensure content (team information, outputs, updates) is current and well organized
• Maintain shared folders and project documentation in a clear and accessible structure

Reporting (15%)

• Assist in the preparation of mid-year and annual reports, including coordination of inputs across teams and supporting financial reporting
• Maintain an up-to-date overview of project expenditures, tracking budgets and expenses in coordination with the Lead PI

Working Style and Expectations

• The Project Associate will work closely with the Lead PI and PIs, particularly in the initial phase, with increasing autonomy over time
• The role emphasizes preparation of well-structured drafts (e.g., web pages, monthly digests), which are then reviewed and finalized by the Lead PI
• The time commitment is up to ~33% annually (approximately 4 months per year) and is variable throughout the year, with expected periods of higher intensity (e.g., reporting and review milestones)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., environmental science, engineering, public policy, or related discipline)
• Experience in project coordination or management, preferably in academic or research settings
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Clear and concise writing ability, with experience preparing summaries or structured documents
• Ability to manage tasks across multiple stakeholders and follow through independently

Preferred

• Experience supporting research projects or grant-funded initiatives
• Familiarity with collaborative tools (e.g., Google Workspace, GitHub, project management platforms)
• Basic experience with website maintenance

Compensation

$32.27 Hourly