Operations Administrator (Administrator II) - College of Arts & Sciences - Department of Physics/LASSP

Cornell University•Ithaca, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest undergraduate college at Cornell and consists of approximately 4,600 undergraduates, 1,370 graduate students, 685 faculty, 40 academic departments, and 300 staff. The Department of Physics is renowned for the strength and versatility of its program; the breadth of its training and the reach of its influence is unsurpassed in many areas. Famous for its Nobel Prize-winning work in low-temperature physics and theoretical astrophysics, current research areas include high-energy particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics, accelerator physics, X-ray physics, physics education research, biological physics, soft condensed matter physics, quantum materials, and nanostructure physics. Located in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Physics Department is one of the largest units in the college and consists of 40 tenure-track faculty, approximately 180 PhD students, 70 undergraduate majors, multiple research centers, and many research collaborations at Cornell and around the world. This position provides leadership for administrative operations within the Department of Physics and the Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics (LASSP), supporting the successful integration and day-to-day administration of the combined department. Reporting to the Director of Administration, the Operations Administrator serves as the lead administrative staff member for LASSP, overseeing administrative operations, supervising support staff, coordinating workflows, and partnering with department leadership to ensure efficient, consistent, and customer-focused administrative services. The Operations Administrator independently manages a broad range of academic personnel and human resources functions, including research appointments, recruitment, onboarding, employment transactions, and visa and immigration administration. The position serves as primary resource for these activities in LASSP, interpreting university policies and procedures, advising faculty and staff, ensuring compliance with university and regulatory requirements, and collaborating with the College of Arts and Sciences Human Resources Office and other university partners. In addition to personnel administration, this position oversees operational activities, including administrative support for research seminars, meetings, faculty recruitment, and special events; coordinates departmental space and facilities documentation; develops and implements administrative procedures and process improvements; prepares reports and communications for department leadership; and supervises one non-exempt staff member. Success in this role requires strong leadership, sound judgment, initiative, exceptional organizational and communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while building collaborative relationships across the department and the university. 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.

Requirements

Associate's degree and 4–6 years of progressively responsible experience in administration, operations, human resources, or academic administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated experience coordinating or managing complex administrative operations, exercising sound judgment, and independently prioritizing multiple competing responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
Experience interpreting and applying organizational policies, procedures, and administrative processes while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and confidentiality.
Demonstrated ability to lead projects, coordinate cross-functional activities, and develop or improve administrative processes and workflows.
Supervisory experience or demonstrated experience leading, training, or coordinating the work of others.
Excellent organizational, analytical, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships across a diverse organization.
Proven ability to exercise initiative, make independent decisions within established guidelines, solve complex administrative problems, and recommend effective solutions.
Demonstrated commitment to providing exceptional customer service while maintaining professionalism, diplomacy, and discretion when handling confidential or sensitive information.
Proficiency with standard business software, including word processing, spreadsheets, email, and calendar applications.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree.
Experience providing administrative or operational leadership in a higher education, research, or academic environment.
Experience supervising, training, or mentoring staff.
Experience supporting academic personnel administration, including appointments, recruitment, onboarding, or employment processes.
Experience with Workday or other enterprise human resources information systems (HRIS).
Familiarity with Cornell University policies, procedures, and administrative systems.
Experience interpreting and applying university or organizational policies to resolve administrative issues and ensure compliance.
Experience coordinating organizational change, implementing new administrative processes, or leading process improvement initiatives.
Experience managing projects or coordinating multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
Experience supporting international scholars or coordinating visa and immigration-related processes.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and applicant tracking systems such as Academic Jobs Online.

Responsibilities

Serves as the lead administrative staff member for LASSP, overseeing administrative operations.
Supervises support staff.
Coordinates workflows.
Partners with department leadership to ensure efficient, consistent, and customer-focused administrative services.
Independently manages a broad range of academic personnel and human resources functions, including research appointments, recruitment, onboarding, employment transactions, and visa and immigration administration.
Serves as primary resource for personnel activities in LASSP, interpreting university policies and procedures, advising faculty and staff, ensuring compliance with university and regulatory requirements, and collaborating with the College of Arts and Sciences Human Resources Office and other university partners.
Oversees operational activities, including administrative support for research seminars, meetings, faculty recruitment, and special events.
Coordinates departmental space and facilities documentation.
Develops and implements administrative procedures and process improvements.
Prepares reports and communications for department leadership.
Supervises one non-exempt staff member.