Associate Director of Innovation Studio- Cornell Engineering Office of Innovation and External Collaboration (Hybrid)

Cornell University • Ithaca, NY

2d • $82,735 - $97,864 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Cornell Engineering Office of Innovation and External Collaboration empowers students to explore and pursue meaningful career paths by connecting them with real-world opportunities in industry, research, entrepreneurship, and public impact. Through a broad network of employer, alumni, and campus partnerships, we support inclusive and strategic talent development pipelines. Corporate and employer engagement is a cornerstone of our work—we collaborate closely with colleagues across Cornell to help industry partners identify, recruit, and invest in the exceptional talent and research collaboration opportunities within Cornell Engineering. The Innovation Studio serves as a dynamic center for college innovations, supporting the exploration and development of new technologies, commercialization strategies, ventures, and social impact solutions. Its programs and resources foster experiential learning, creative problem-solving, and entrepreneurial thinking by providing mentorship, infrastructure, and access to collaborative opportunities with academic and industry partners. The Associate Director of the Innovation Studio plays a critical role in empowering Cornell Engineering students and faculty to transform ideas into impactful ventures. As the leader of a central experiential learning hub within the Office of Innovation and External Collaboration, the Associate Director oversees a portfolio of innovation-focused programs that foster creativity, entrepreneurship, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. This position is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Innovation Studio, managing its operations, and ensuring integration with college-wide goals for talent development, external engagement, and inclusive excellence. The Associate Director designs learning experiences that support students in solving real-world problems, commercializing innovations, launching startups, and gaining exposure to diverse innovation pathways. Working closely with students, faculty, alumni, corporate partners, and campus collaborators, the Associate Director builds a robust ecosystem that supports success in innovation. The role requires a visionary yet pragmatic leader who can translate institutional priorities into high-impact programming while cultivating a welcoming, inclusive studio culture. Successful candidates will demonstrate: Strategic vision and operational excellence in leading innovation-focused programs within a dynamic, student-centered environment. Experience designing, teaching and managing experiential learning or venture development initiatives that foster creativity, entrepreneurship, and social impact. Exceptional communication, mentoring, and relationship-building skills with students, faculty, alumni, and external partners. A strong commitment to innovation and education, with a demonstrated ability to foster an inclusive studio culture. Familiarity with the innovation and startup ecosystem, including design thinking, technology commercialization, and early-stage venture development. Agility in working across academic, administrative, and industry domains to align studio programming with institutional priorities. Creativity, adaptability, and a passion for empowering students to explore bold ideas and bring them to life. As a visible leader within the Office of Innovation and External Collaboration, the Associate Director is expected to model inclusive leadership, cultivate a culture of experimentation and belonging, and contribute meaningfully to Cornell Engineering’s mission of preparing students to create and lead transformative innovations.

Requirements

• Master’s degree and at least 3 years of experience in innovation, entrepreneurship, startup acceleration, or related areas.
• Demonstrated success designing, teaching and leading experiential learning or venture development programs.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with students, faculty, and external partners.
• Strong project and operations management skills; ability to manage multiple programs and teams.
• Experience mentoring or advising student innovators and early-stage entrepreneurs.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in educational and innovation contexts.
• Familiarity with tools such as Slack, Google Workspace, Airtable, and/or CRM systems.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in higher education or managing university-based innovation programs.
• Knowledge of the technology commercialization process or startup financing.
• Experience working with technical founders or engineering students.
• Background in human-centered design, lean startup, or similar methodologies.

Benefits

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability 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.
• Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell
• Our leave provisions include 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.
• 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: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees