Administrative Assistant, Brooks School - Centers & Institutes

About The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy harnesses the University's broad disciplinary excellence in public policy, along with its innovative teaching, research, and engagement programs, to solve pressing global challenges. The school's prestigious faculty apply an interdisciplinary and problem-oriented focus to wide-ranging public policy issues as they explore how government choices intersect with people's lives. The school's initial areas of focus are in data science and technology policy; environmental and sustainability policy; health policy; global security; inequality and social policy; the politics and economics of development; and race, racism, and public policy.

About The Brooks Tech Policy Institute & The Brooks Center on Global Democracy

The Brooks Tech Policy Institute (BTPI) is a research-focused initiative that addresses the intersection of emerging technologies and public policy. BTPI aims to advance thought leadership and foster an inclusive dialogue between scholars, policymakers, industry, and civil society. The Semiconductor Research Hub within BTPI focuses specifically on the role of semiconductor technologies in national security, economic resilience, and technological advancement, providing targeted research, policy analysis, and stakeholder engagement on these critical issues.

The Brooks Center on Global Democracy tackles the fundamental questions facing democracies, serving as a hub for research and learning to strengthen democratic institutions. Through targeted research and public engagement, we aim to reverse democratic declines and bolster democracy worldwide.

The Opportunity

The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy is seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Administrative Assistant to support its Centers & Institutes, including the Brooks Tech Policy Institute (BTPI) and the Center on Global Democracy (CGD). If you are highly organized, enjoy coordinating logistics, and thrive in a dynamic environment where research meets real-world impact, this role is for you!

As part of the Brooks Administrative Team, you will play a pivotal role in supporting faculty, planning high-profile conferences and events, engaging with stakeholders, coordinating travel and procurement, and ensuring smooth administrative operations. This is a great opportunity to support policy research and engagement efforts that bring together academics, industry leaders, and government officials to address pressing global issues.

What You Will Do:

Faculty & Academic Staff Support

• Provide administrative support to faculty and their staff for teaching, research, and engagement activities.
• Assist with travel and process reimbursements for faculty and visiting scholars.
• Facilitate purchases and payments, ensuring compliance with university policies.
• Assist in preparing research and instructional materials.

Event Planning & Conference Coordination

• Organize conferences and events both at Cornell and off-site.
• Coordinate all logistics, including invitations, travel, scheduling, catering, and event promotion.
• Ensure seamless participation from industry leaders, policymakers, and academics.
• Track and administer event budgets and resources efficiently within university policy.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Schedule meetings, prepare meeting materials, and book travel for external engagements.
• Support research outreach by coordinating communications and maintaining records.
• Assist in updating print and online materials, including websites and social media.

Administrative Team Support

• Provide back-up administrative support across Brooks Centers & Institutes as needed.
• Process transactions, assist with school-wide events, and complete special projects.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in university training and special projects as needed.
• Participate in projects with occasional work responsibility falling above or below current classification.
• Take on additional responsibilities as assigned that align with the evolving needs of the Centers & Institutes.

Success Factors:

• Organizational skills: You excel at juggling multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Attention to detail: You ensure accuracy in financial transactions, scheduling, and documentation.
• Collaboration: You are positive and work well with faculty, administrators, and external partners. You are open to feedback and able to incorporate it moving forward.
• Proactive mindset: You anticipate needs, solve problems, and keep things running smoothly.
• Communication skills: You can engage effectively with stakeholders in both a written and interpersonal capacity.

If you are an experienced administrative professional who is interested in supporting meaningful research initiatives as a part of a supportive and service-oriented team, we invite you to apply with your resume and cover letter. Join us in shaping impactful policy discussions and fostering connections that drive change. Apply today and be part of a team that makes a difference!

This is a one-year term position. There is a high potential for appointment renewal based on funding availability and job performance.

What We Need

All applications must include a resume as well as a cover letter that outlines your specific interest in this opportunity for full consideration.

• Associate's degree and 2-4 years of relevant work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Strong organizational skills and customer service orientation.
• Experience in providing administrative support, including scheduling, travel arrangements, and event coordination.
• Ability to serve as a point of contact for a diverse group of stakeholders, including academics, industry partners, and government officials.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

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.

• Ability to communicate with a broad audience.
• Experience working independently as well as in a team environment.
• Ability to effectively handle competing deadlines, balance conflicting priorities, and pay close attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experience in event planning, specifically coordinating conferences or similar events involving multiple stakeholders.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Position will be fully on-site during 90-day probationary period to enable training and onboarding, with potential to move to a weekly hybrid schedule of 4 days on-site, 1 day remote during the academic year, and 3 days on-site, 2 days remote during university instructional breaks and summer (roughly from June 1 - August 15). The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.
• 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 information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

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

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, 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. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

University Job Title:

Job Family:

Level:

Pay Rate Type:

Pay Range:

Remote Option Availability:

Company:

Contact Name:

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

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

To learn more about Cornell's non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell's union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

Current Employees:

If you currently work at Cornell University, please exit this website and log in to Workday using your Net ID and password. Select the Career icon on your Home dashboard to view jobs at Cornell.

Online Submission Guidelines:

Most positions at Cornell will require you to apply online and submit both a resume/CV and cover letter. You can upload documents either by "dragging and dropping" them into the dropbox or by using the "upload" icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website.

Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu.

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell University's Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX at voice (607) 255-2242, or email atequity@cornell.edu.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing mycareer@cornell.edu.

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, 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. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.