Director of Residential and Online Master's Program (Hybrid)

Cornell University•Ithaca, NY

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director will lead Cornell Bowers’ portfolio of master’s degree programs, including three residential programs and the college’s first online degree programs, scheduled to launch in fall 2027. As the inaugural leader for an integrated master’s portfolio, the Director will develop and implement a shared vision, strategy, and operating model for master’s education across the college. The role will lead the launch and growth of the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence in partnership with faculty and college leadership. It will bring together programs that have historically operated independently by creating coordinated practices, scalable infrastructure, and shared approaches that strengthen the student experience and support sustainable growth. The Director will develop enrollment, recruitment, admissions, and market-development strategies; lead and develop professional staff; and build collaboration among faculty, academic departments, administrative units, external partners, and campus stakeholders. The position is based in Ithaca, New York, and is eligible for a hybrid arrangement. The successful candidate is expected to work fully on-site for the first 90 days for onboarding and training. Afterward, the typical schedule is on campus four days per week and remote one day per week, from a location of the employee’s choosing within the United States. Occasional travel and occasional evening or weekend work are required, particularly during residential sessions for online students and Memorial Day Weekend commencement activities.

Requirements

Master’s degree and 5 to 7 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Direct experience with graduate, professional, executive, online, or related academic programs.
Strong understanding of higher education, graduate enrollment trends and pressures, student success strategies, and the evolving needs of learners and employers.
Demonstrated experience developing organizational strategy, leading change, building consensus, and creating or transforming programs, services, teams, operating models, or organizational structures across stakeholders or organizational units.
Experience supporting enrollment management, admissions, recruitment marketing, lead generation, CRM implementation or optimization, or other enrollment growth initiatives.
Ability to use data and market insights to inform strategy, decision-making, and long-term planning.
Ability to build productive relationships and work effectively with faculty, students, staff, alumni, employers, industry partners, and other internal and external stakeholders.
Strong communication skills, including listening, writing, public speaking, presentation, and facilitation.
Demonstrated ability to navigate complexity, balance competing priorities, exercise sound professional judgment, and develop innovative solutions in evolving environments.
Demonstrated commitment to helping students from all backgrounds succeed, including advocating for students who are struggling or have had less access to recommended educational backgrounds.
Effectiveness in building pipelines of students from diverse backgrounds and connecting inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing practices to business goals.
Strong technical skills and experience using data to inform decisions and continuous improvement.
Ability to comply with federal, state, and university data privacy and security regulations, policies, and best practices regarding student records.
Flexibility for occasional travel and occasional evening or weekend work.

Nice To Haves

Experience in online learning, executive education, or with adult learners.
Demonstrated interest in artificial intelligence, including hands-on use of AI tools to enhance productivity, decision-making, or operations.

Responsibilities

Lead Cornell Bowers’ portfolio of three residential master’s programs and its first online degree programs.
Develop and implement an integrated vision, strategy, and operating model for master’s education across the college.
Lead the launch and growth of the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence in partnership with faculty and college leadership.
Establish coordinated practices, scalable infrastructure, and shared approaches across programs to strengthen student experience and support growth.
Develop enrollment, recruitment, admissions, and market-development strategies for Cornell Bowers master’s programs.
Lead and develop a team of professional staff.
Foster collaboration among faculty, academic departments, administrative units, external partners, and campus stakeholders.
Support strategic planning, innovation, new program development, and cross-campus partnerships.
Use data and market insights to inform enrollment strategy, decisions, and long-term planning.
Operate in compliance with federal, state, and university student-record privacy and security regulations, policies, and best practices.
Travel occasionally and work occasional evenings or weekends, particularly during residential sessions for online master’s students and Memorial Day Weekend commencement activities.