Architecture Department Manager
About The Position
Cornell University seeks a Department Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of the Department of Architecture. As the department’s senior nonacademic administrator, the manager partners with the Department Chair to develop and implement short- and long-term operational, financial, and staffing strategies. The role leads four administrative employees and supports approximately 27 tenure-stream faculty, 15 research, teaching, and extension faculty, 40–50 other academics, and programs serving about 340 undergraduate and 150 graduate students. The position reports jointly to the Department Chair and AAP’s Associate Dean for Administration. The manager stewards an annual operating budget of approximately $10 million across instructional, administrative, research, and creative-practice activities. Responsibilities include financial planning and reporting, oversight of departmental policies and processes, staff development, and collaboration on sponsored programs. The manager also coordinates with college partners on academic program administration, accreditation and strategic planning, human resources, technology, facilities, and stewardship of shared spaces and assets. The department’s primary operations are in Ithaca, with collaboration involving program staff in New York City and Rome. The position builds partnerships across a multidisciplinary college, improves operational systems, and helps the department respond to evolving priorities while fostering collaboration, inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing. It is based on-site in Ithaca and is expected to be performed primarily in person. Visa sponsorship is not available.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree and 5–7 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience in financial management and team leadership, including supervising others, setting priorities, and providing guidance, training, and support.
- Strong communication, leadership, organizational, analytical, and creative problem-solving skills, and ability to build productive relationships across roles and units.
- Experience with budgeting, financial reporting, and resource management, including analyzing and presenting data to inform decisions.
- Ability to take a strategic, big-picture view while remaining detail-oriented and handling ambiguity, confidential information, and changing priorities.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively, set clear expectations, and support staff development.
- Facility with Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel, and with database and financial-management tools.
- Ability to learn new systems quickly and help others use software and information or audiovisual technology.
- Demonstrated ability to connect inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing practices to organizational goals and help create a respectful, welcoming work environment.
Nice To Haves
- Additional education, such as an MBA or another relevant master’s degree, and/or substantial leadership-development training.
- Experience in higher education, especially within an academic department, research-intensive unit, or other complex organization; Cornell experience is preferred.
- Familiarity with Cornell systems, policies, and procedures.
- Experience with Kuali Financial System, OBIEE, PeopleSoft, Workday, Slab, and/or Airtable, or comparable database, project-management, and organizational software.
Responsibilities
- Lead the day-to-day operations of the Department of Architecture.
- Partner with the Department Chair to develop and implement short- and long-term operational, financial, and staffing strategies.
- Lead a team of four administrative employees and support departmental faculty, academics, and student programs.
- Steward an annual operating budget of approximately $10 million across instructional, administrative, research, and creative-practice activities.
- Conduct financial planning and reporting.
- Oversee departmental policies and processes.
- Support staff development, including providing guidance, training, and support.
- Collaborate on sponsored programs.
- Coordinate with college partners on academic program administration, accreditation, and strategic planning.
- Coordinate with college partners on human resources, technology, and facilities.
- Steward shared spaces and assets.
- Collaborate with program staff in New York City and Rome.
- Help strengthen departmental systems and foster collaboration, inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health care options.
- Generous retirement contributions.
- Access to wellness programs.
- Employee discounts with local and national retail brands.
- Health and personal leave.
- Three weeks of vacation.
- 13 holidays, including an end-of-year winter break from December 25 through January 1.
- Two additional floating holidays.
- Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program.
- Tuition aid for external education.
- Cornell Children’s Tuition Assistance Program.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
