Assistant to Department Chair-Department of Computational Biology

   

Assistant to Department Chair-Department of Computational Biology

The Opportunity

The Department of Computational Biology, a multi-college unit led by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is seeking a proactive, detail-oriented Assistant to provide high-level administrative support to the Department Chair and Administrative Manager. This pivotal role is essential to the smooth functioning of academic operations and departmental activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the first point of contact for the department by greeting and directing visitors and managing phone and email inquiries with professionalism.

• Provide executive-level administrative support to the Department Chair, including calendar management and coordination of departmental priorities.

• Track faculty and academic appointments; notify the Chair of key deadlines related to reappointment, promotion, sabbatical eligibility, and tenure.

• Coordinate and compile necessary documentation and materials for academic appointments.

• Collaborate closely with the CALS Senior Associate Dean’s Office and CALS HR representatives on faculty hiring, reappointments, and searches.

• Facilitate academic search processes, including scheduling candidate visits, search committee meetings, and related events.

• Organize meetings, conferences, and special events for faculty, staff, and students.

• Manage visa processing and related paperwork for incoming faculty, staff, and international visitors.

This is a full-time (39 hours/week) Contract College position that is based in Ithaca, NY. This position is fully on-site with the opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement after a period of orientation and training. This work arrangement will be determined in conversation with the Administrative Manager, taking into account the business needs of the department. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke, or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time. Typical work hours are 8am-4:30pm Monday through Friday.   

About the Department of Computational Biology

The Department of Computational Biology (CB) consists of ten full-time faculty members, with expertise in computer science, genomics, systems biology, population genetics, and modeling. The department administers the Computational Biology undergraduate concentration within the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, and the Computational Biology PhD graduate program.

What We Need

We are seeking a team member who is reliable, very organized, and self-motivated. Additionally, you will have:  

• An Associate’s degree and 2+ years of experience in an administrative setting or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate with tact and diplomacy with a wide range of internal and external constituencies.

• Excellent organizational skills and proven skills in project management and coordination.

• Excellent customer service skills.

• Ability to take initiative and make decisions independently using sound judgment.

• Ability to be proactive, personable, service-oriented, and enthusiastic.

• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot, adapt to, and make recommendations for change/improvements.

• Proven experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other standard business software.

• The ability to multi-task and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience working well independently and collaboratively within a team environment.

• Experience handling confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

• Sound and ethical judgment when acting on behalf of the University.

• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

If you possess these experiences and skills this may be the role for you! There are a few other qualifications we would view as incredibly helpful in this role, to include: 

• Bachelor’s degree and 4+ years of experience providing executive-level administrative support or administrative experience in an academic setting.

• Prior experience with academic appointment processing, international travel arrangements, and visas for travel and academic appointments.

• Financial experience; especially in Cornell finance and/or sponsored finance.

• Knowledge of or ability to learn Cornell University systems, policies, and procedures.

• Experience with Drupal or similar web content management systems.

A cover letter and resume are required for further consideration for this position.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is fully on-site with the opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement after a period of orientation and training. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.

• This position is based in Ithaca, New York. Employees who work remotely may receive
  multiple W-2 Forms depending on their work location. The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholding for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside of New York State.

• 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 is not available for this position.

   

University Job Title:

Administrative Asst IV

Job Family:

Administration

Level:

D

Pay Rate Type:

Hourly

Pay Range:

$25.52 - $29.66

Remote Option Availability:

Onsite

Company:

Contract College

Contact Name:

Jamie Doss

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.

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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.

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2025-06-06