Academic HR Assistant - CALS

   

About the College of Agriculture and Life Science

The College of Agriculture and Life Science is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University's second largest college.  We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education and outreach.  The questions we pose and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: natural and human systems; food, energy and environmental resources; and social, physical and economic well-being.

The Opportunity

In a team and service-oriented environment within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Human Resources Office, the Academic HR Assistant will provide day-to-day academic human resource consultation and advice to faculty, chairs, managers and staff in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.  The HR Assistant will facilitate a full range of human resource activities for academic personnel, including job design and classification, recruiting strategies and processes, advertising and outreach, appointment, reappointment and promotion procedures, compensation ranges and practices, medical and family leaves, interpretation and application of human resource policies, laws and practices. The Academic HR Assistant develops effective working relationships with all members of the CALS, Engineering, Bowers/CIS, Human Ecology, Dyson School and ARTS community for those departments that have shared college appointments.  The Academic HR Assistant must maintain strict confidentiality and will serve as primary contact for processing all visas for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for academic appointees.

This is a full-time, 39-hour per week position, currently set at a hybrid work schedule of 3 days in person and 2 days remote which is subject to change at the discretion of CALS HR/college leadership to meet business needs. This role requires flexibility in on-campus workdays to support business needs. Tuesdays are a required on-site day for CALS HR staff meetings, with additional in-person attendance expected for key department, college, and university events.

Success Factors

You will be considered competitive for this role if you demonstrate:

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy, with the ability to thoroughly verify information before advancing academic appointments, reappointments, and work authorization processes.
• Commitment to following established processes and policies, ensuring compliance while managing multiple tasks.
• A collaborative, team-oriented approach, with clear communication and a willingness to support colleagues in a fast-paced HR environment.
• Adaptability and openness to change, with the ability to adjust to evolving priorities, processes, and organizational 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.
• Associates’ degree, and 4-6 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Solid understanding and application of applicable HR laws at the local, State, and Federal level.
• Ability to discreetly manage highly confidential material and to exercise sound judgment and discretion.
• Outstanding customer service skills with an ability to manage multiple and competing deadlines concurrently in a high-pressure environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain collaborative working relationships to solve problems and achieve common goals.
• Experience working directly with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities. 
• Experience working with inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing programs. 
• Experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.
• Ability to advocate for individuals from a broad range of backgrounds. 
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft products including spreadsheets, databases, and word processing software essential.
• Ability to effectively access, manage and report on various HR software applications, and databases.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills a must.
• Proven ability to maintain professional atmosphere in a busy office setting.
• Experience that demonstrates creativity, management, and problem-solving skills and the ability to work well within a team of professionals.
• Must be able to work independently while supporting the efforts of an overall team.
• Must be able to effectively and efficiently set priorities and manage competing demands.
• Proven ability to identify opportunities for process improvements and then execute them.
• Solid understanding of the linkage between metrics and efficiencies.
• Demonstrated practice of the University Skills for Success.
• Strong track record of professional growth and self-development.

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.

• PHR or SPHR preferred or ability to obtain within two years.
• Experience with Workday, Interfolio, and Academic Jobs Online.
• Solid understanding and application of Academic HR knowledge.
• Experience with human resource and payroll policies and procedures.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 2 days per week and on-campus 3 days per week. 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, and sustainability.

• 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.

No visa Sponsorship Provided

No Relocation Sponsorship Provided

With a founding principle of “... any person ... any study,” Cornell is an equal opportunity employer.

   

University Job Title:

Human Resources Asst V

   

Job Family:

Human Resources

   

Level:

E

   

Pay Rate Type:

Hourly

   

Pay Range:

$29.45 - $33.17

   

Remote Option Availability:

Hybrid

   

Company:

Contract College

   

Contact Name:

Carolyn Chow

   

Contact Email:

cc2654@cornell.edu

   

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

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2026-03-11