Administrative Assistant

About the Biomedical and Translational Sciences

The mission of the Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, established in 2026, is to:

Conduct cutting-edge basic & translational science research and innovative teaching & mentoring to advance education and discovery in veterinary and human medicine in an inclusive community.

The Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences was established in 2026 by a merger of two Departments, Biomedical Sciences and Molecular Medicine. Each of these individual departments were similarly conceived in 1998 as mergers of Anatomy, Physiology, and part of Pathology (BMS) and Pharmacology and Pathology (MolMed). Since that time, both BMS and MolMed have emerged as leading departments at Cornell in terms of animal resources and education, teaching and course development, academic coaching, college and university level administrative leadership, center directorship, federal and non-federal grant funding, basic science research output, and translational/clinical discovery. The new Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences will continue to advance the mission priorities of Education, Discovery and Care within the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences is home to over 175 individuals, including faculty, trainees, and staff working together to advance our mission.

BTS faculty lead world-class research programs in several key areas of biomedical and molecular sciences, leveraging cell, organoid, and animal models of veterinary and human disease. The major pillars of research are: (1) Cancer Biology, (2) Reproductive Sciences and Health, (3) Genetics & Genome Function, (4) Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, (5) Biochemistry and Structural Biology, and (6) Cell and Developmental Biology. Other areas of expertise and ongoing/historical interest include molecular neurobiology, metabolism, endocrinology, cardiovascular biology, bone & cartilage biology, and intestinal biology & disease.

BTS has a long history of excellence in teaching. Faculty participate in instruction in one or more of the following ways: (1) DVM foundation courses, (2) DVM distribution courses, (3) School of Continuing Education summer courses, (4) undergraduate curriculum, and (5) graduate student courses and workshops.

The Opportunity

This multifaceted Administrative Assistant position supports important areas of the department which, with new funding challenges and a need for diversifying our portfolios, is a critical role. The successful individual will provide support in three main areas:

Grant/Pre-award Support

• Under direction of the departmental Grant and Contract Coordinators work with the Principal Investigator, prepare internal and external proposals (new, resubmissions, renewals), subcontracts, progress reports and supplements for submission to CRO, including all sponsor specific forms, budget and budget justification, review of PI generated documents, maintaining compliance with all regulations and deadlines of both the sponsor and Cornell University.

Educational Support

• Provide high level support to new programs of study administered through Biomedical and Translational Sciences. This area of support covers pre-college, undergraduate and graduate curriculum (not including DVM curriculum) including but not limited to Master of Science programs and School of Continuing Education programs.
• Work closely with College of Veterinary Medicine Office of the University Registrar, the School of Continuing Education, and other individuals involved in coordinating the logistics of the programs' course offerings.
• Manage teaching materials, grading processes, feedback mechanisms.

Departmental Administrative Support

• As assigned, plan events and special research seminars for the community.
• Carry out routine administrative tasks including but not limited to travel reimbursements, visitor planning including itineraries and travel, general support for the department including mail pickup, support for various departmental business operations.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

This position involves being able to network with a wide variety of individuals primarily internal to the University. It requires an individual who is well organized, possesses an extremely positive attitude, can think critically and proactively, is detail oriented, and can provide excellent customer service. Must be able to work independently, use excellent judgment while setting priorities, taking appropriate initiative, and handle sensitive/confidential information. Expected to be thorough, able to work well under pressure while handling multiple projects/tasks (both short and long term) at the same time. Needs to be flexible, creative in finding solutions, able to follow directions and anticipate the needs of the department supported programs. Must be comfortable handling new tasks with little direction. Must have a polite, yet strong customer service orientation approach.

Hours and Location

The core business hours of our office are 8:00AM-5:00PM, Monday through Friday, with flexibility on your start and end times. This position has potential to be performed in a hybrid format of 2 days per week remote, and 3 on campus at the College of Veterinary Medicine. However, in order to ensure mutual success, we'd like for you to be on campus Monday through Friday during the orientation and onboarding period of at least the first 30 days in the role, after which, the hybrid format can be discussed and determined.

Employees are expected to meet all of the Cornell University Staff Skills for Success, which are essential for individual and organizational success. Employees may be required to work outside of normal business hours, including occasional holidays, evenings, and weekends.

Success Factors

You are considered competitive for this position if you demonstrate:

• Grant and program administration strength with accuracy and deadline discipline
  Supports pre-award submissions and emerging academic programs with a high degree of independence, while reliably navigating systems, compliance requirements, and timelines.
• Operational judgment and initiative in an environment with shifting priorities
  Sees what needs doing, steps in without waiting, makes reasonable decisions, and maintains continuity when responsibilities fluctuate or teammates are out.
• Clear, efficient communication that builds trust across faculty, students, and staff
  Consolidates information, closes loops, handles sensitive materials with discretion, and collaborates with a positive, respectful team orientation.
• High attention to detail and follow-through across multiple concurrent deadlines
  Plans and executes itineraries, events, logistics, and administrative workflows with precision, strong self-management, and consistent follow-through.

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.
• Associate's degree and 2-4 years relevant experience or equivalent combination.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Excellent organizational, communication, problem solving skills, superior written, verbal, and interpersonal skills and time-management skills are essential.
• Ability to interact with faculty, support staff, and other staff members from other CVM college departments.
• Proven ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams and use sound judgment when referring issues to higher organizational levels for review and consideration.
• Excellent customer service skills to ensure the highest level of service to the teaching/research community.
• Excellent track record in following through on details; respond quickly and effectively to multiple assignments/priorities.
• Ability to oversee multiple applications simultaneously and efficiently within tight deadlines and timeframes.
• Demonstrated research, analytical, critical thinking, planning, and organizing, information monitoring, stress tolerance, attention to detail and accuracy.

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.

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Knowledge of federal, state, non-profits, foundations and industry sponsors. Understanding of applicable government regulations (Uniform Guidelines) and university policies.
• Proven experience with grant and contract preparation, submission and administration preferred.
• Working knowledge of NIH eRACommons for grant preparation highly desirable.
• Experience in an academic environment preferred.
• Knowledge of Cornell University policies and procedures preferred, as well as experience with a variety of Cornell University systems, including RASS, Workday, KFS and OBIEE Dashboards. Experience with a variety of both Cornell University and outside systems including Workday, PubMed, Concur, Microsoft Excel, Access, Drupal.
• Familiarity with course management programs including Acalog, CCI, DUST, Remark, PeopleSoft, Canvas, Chatter, SharePoint, CALS Online Course Proposal System, Vet room scheduler, and 25Live.
• Experience with administering course offerings and student enrollment, as well as demonstrated interest and experience working in a highly interactive student office.
• Proficiency/excellence in using a variety of computer software, and web-based programs with demonstrated ability to utilize them.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement after the initial onboarding period. 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.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

With a founding principle of "... any person ... any study,"Cornell is anequal opportunity employer.

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