Communications Specialist

Cornell University • Ithaca, NY

17h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Cornell AI Initiative is a university-wide effort to advance Cornell’s leadership in research and education in artificial intelligence, while creating, applying, and evaluating human-centered AI as a tool across the university — from classrooms and laboratories to clinics and university administration. By leveraging Cornell’s breadth of expertise, the Cornell AI Initiative aims to understand how AI affects learning, scholarship, operations, and public engagement, and to advance responsible strategies for AI use — and intentional non-use — in service of Cornell’s mission. The Communications Specialist for the Cornell AI Initiative plays a central role in advancing the initiative’s visibility, engagement, and impact. This position is responsible for executing integrated communications strategies that elevate Cornell’s leadership in artificial intelligence across digital platforms, internal channels, and external audiences. Working closely with the Executive Director for AI Communications, the Communications Specialist develops compelling content, manages digital channels, and ensures consistent, high-quality storytelling that reflects the breadth and significance of AI research, education, and engagement at Cornell. While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically 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. Communicators in colleges, schools, and units regularly collaborate with, and consult, University Relations departments. University Relations serves as a partner and resource for all college/unit communicators. The primary work location for this position is on the Ithaca, NY, campus with the option to occasionally work remotely. Fully remote work is not available for this position. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree plus 2-4 years of full-time work experience in strategic communications, preferably in higher education, research, or technology.
• Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated creativity and ability to handle multiple projects while meeting concurrent deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong and collaborative working relationships with key constituencies.
• Creative problem solving and the ability to network and build positive relationships with a wide variety of individuals within the College and University.
• Knowledge of AP style writing and editing.
• Experience with Drupal and WordPress.

Responsibilities

• Managing the Initiative’s digital ecosystem — including ai.cornell.edu — ensuring content is current, accurate, and strategically aligned with initiative priorities, which includes updating, maintaining and continuously improving expert profiles, program pages, and core website content, and ensuring timely and coordinated promotion of events, announcements, and research outputs across initiative digital channels.
• Leading the amplification strategy for the Cornell AI Initiative across all initiative-owned platforms, ensuring research, events, and faculty expertise reach priority audiences with clarity and impact.
• Supporting the planning and logistics for Thought Summits and sponsored events, including scheduling, speaker coordination, AV, and promotional materials.
• Tracking, analyzing, and reporting on performance metrics across digital platforms, newsletters, and campaigns, and translating data into actionable insights to refine content strategy, audience targeting, and channel effectiveness.

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: 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.
• Two additional floating holidays
• Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program
• Tuition aid for external education
• Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level