Executive Staff Assistant to the Dean of AAP / Chief of Staff

About the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

Cornell AAP is about acts of transformation. We are committed to reimagining and reshaping the world in new ways, every day. A vital college at one of the nation's foremost research universities, Cornell AAP brings faculty, staff, and students together from around the world to take up some of today's most urgent challenges and advance research, inquiry, and collaborative approaches to designing, making, and doing that make a more just and resilient future.

The Opportunity

Are you an organized, collaborative, and proactive professional who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment? The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) at Cornell University invites applications for an Executive Administrative Assistant to join our dynamic community and support the work of the Dean.

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic, service-oriented leader to provide direct executive support to the Dean, manage the day-to-day operations of the Dean's Office, and supervise the other assistants in the office. This position plays a pivotal role in advancing the priorities of the college by ensuring operational excellence, supporting academic leadership, and fostering meaningful connections across the university and beyond.

In this highly visible and impactful role, your responsibilities will include:

• Executive Support of the Dean: Independently manage the Dean's complex calendar, organize frequent domestic and international travel, coordinate meetings and strategic initiatives, and serve as a trusted advisor--anticipating needs, solving problems, and ensuring priorities are met. Act as the principal liaison on behalf of the Dean, partner closely and build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen the Dean's engagements, and oversee adherence to university and college policies. Provide administrative support to the Dean's standing committees; prepare meeting minutes and distribute, track meeting action items, and ensure action has been completed. Facilitate the Dean's participation on major university committees, national boards, and associations. Lead special projects, including managing high profile events, major meetings, programs, and special functions on behalf of the Dean.
• Chief of Staff Duties: Serve as a primary point of contact and liaison to facilitate communication and collaboration among multiple units and constituents, including faculty, students, staff, alumni, and constituents throughout Cornell and externally. This includes a close partnership with AAP Communications, Alumni Affairs & Development, AAP Operations teams, academic departments, and the Provost's Office. Supervise and mentor administrative staff within the Dean's Office, directing administrative support for the Senior Associate and Associate Deans. People leadership duties include scheduling, addressing performance, fostering growth and development, orchestrating training, and coordinating work responsibilities. Lead executive-level communications, committee coordination, and college-wide engagement efforts. Champion best practices and promote a culture of excellence, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Co-supervise (with the Assistant Dean for Communications) the AAP Events & Exhibitions Coordinator.
• Manage Academic Personnel Processes: Partner with HR and academic leadership to coordinate academic appointments, promotions, reviews, retirements, and leaves--ensuring timely, policy-aligned actions. This requires thorough understanding of the processes, policies, and relationships involved, while capturing all relevant details to ensure timely and accurate approval and documentation.
• Exceptional Internal and External Communications: On behalf of the Dean, read and analyze internal and external information (e.g., memos, mail, and reports) to determine significance; perform additional research and analysis as needed; draft responses for Dean or redirect to appropriate individuals; and track progress on responses. Compose correspondence, reports, and presentations on behalf of the Dean; use independent judgment to determine content and presentation by assessing purpose, goals, audience and potential impact. Manage communications related to special events. Handle confidential materials with discretion while building relationships across the university and with external partners, alumni, and donors. Exhibit exceptional professionalism and customer service skills, ensuring that the office is consistently represented in a positive manner.
• Steward Resources: Partner with the AAP Office of Finance and Budget to monitor, review, and approve relevant expenditures as appropriate. Participate in projects with occasional work responsibility falling above or below current classification.

Success Factors Include:

• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to navigate competing priorities with grace and clarity.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a customer service mindset and the ability to build trusted relationships across a diverse set of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, particularly in managing staff and coordinating complex administrative functions.
• Sound judgment, discretion with confidential information, and the ability to anticipate and solve problems proactively. Ability and confidence to work independently on behalf of the Dean.
• A commitment to excellence and the mission of higher education and creative scholarship.
• An understanding that the responsibilities in this role may require occasional additional and/or after hours and weekends.

At AAP, we believe administrative professionals are critical partners in creating a thriving academic community. You'll have the opportunity to work with visionary leaders, engaged students, and committed faculty and staff--all while supporting a college that values creativity and collaboration. In return, we offer a supportive work environment, access to Cornell's outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional development and growth, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the daily and long-term success of the College.

If you are a seasoned administrative professional and strong communicator who thrives in a rigorous, collaborative environment, we encourage you to take the next step in your career by applying with your resume and cover letter.

What We Need

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it's ok if you don't.

• Additional years of experience, particularly within higher education and/or a similar highly-complex environments.
• Experience with any of the following would be a significant plus: Cornell-wide tools (e.g., Kuali Financial System and OBIEE, Workday, Concur, etc.) and/or tools used in AAP (e.g., Slab, Airtable), and/or other database, project management, or organizational software.

Rewards and Benefits

Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance is not available for this position.

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

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EEEO Statement:

Cornell University's history of diversity and inclusion encourages all students, faculty and staff to support a diverse and inclusive university in which to work, study, teach, research and serve. No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRRA) and qualified disabled individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act have rights in the application process and in employment under federal law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.