Human Resources Business Partner

Cornell University; Ithaca (MI); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Health care options

Retirement contributions

Tuition benefits

Vacation and holidays

Job summary

Cornell University’s College of Arts & Sciences seeks an HR Business Partner to provide accurate, responsive academic HR support across 28 departments and 15 programs. You will guide appointments, policies, and workforce processes while building trusted relationships that advance teaching and research.

Based in Ithaca with a hybrid schedule, this full-time role collaborates with the Academic HR Business Partner and college leadership to support senior associates, department heads, and managers

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 2–3 years of experience required.
• In-depth working knowledge of Cornell’s academic HR practices, policies and procedures.
• Familiarity with the academic environment required.
• Solid understanding of university and college workforce budgeting policies, position management, practices and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance on academic HR policies and employment matters, including leaves, resignations, and appointment procedures.
• Support academic searches, hiring, and appointments, including search waivers, compensation, and required documentation.
• Navigate sensitive matters with sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.
• Support salary and workforce planning processes, including SIP and budgeted roles.
• Maintain accurate HR transactions and reporting using Workday and other tools.

Skills

Sound HR judgment

Collaborative relationships

Data accuracy

Initiative

Policy interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Workday

Job description

The Opportunity

The College of Arts & Sciences seeks an HR Business Partner to provide accurate, responsive academic HR support across 28 academic departments and 15 academic programs. This role helps departments navigate appointments, employment policies, and workforce processes while building trusted relationships that support the college’s teaching and research mission.

Working closely with the Academic HR Business Partner and college HR leadership, you will support and consult with senior associate deans, the Associate Dean of Finance and Administration, department leaders, and managers on academic HR matters.

Your responsibilities will include

• Provide guidance on academic HR policies and employment matters, including leaves, resignations, and appointment procedures. A thorough understanding of university and college policies is required and must be able to answer routine questions independently, and recognize when a situation requires additional consultation.
• Support academic searches, hiring, and appointments, including search waivers, compensation, and required documentation. A key focus will be non-tenure-track appointments, particularly postdoctoral associates and research associates, with opportunities to develop expertise in lecturers, teaching professors, and tenure-track faculty processes.
• Navigate sensitive matters with sound judgment, partnering with HR leadership and the Academic HR Business Partner to analyze issues, identify thoughtful solutions, and maintain confidentiality. Coordinate requests for policy waivers as appropriate.
• Support salary and workforce planning processes, including the annual Salary Improvement Process (SIP), Summer Salary Process, and workforce budgeting. Help ensure academic positions are budgeted accurately and contribute to improvements in these processes.
• Maintain accurate HR transactions, records, and reporting, using Workday and other tools to maintain and analyze appointment, compensation, and workforce data. With guidance from HR colleagues, serve as a liaison for Workday initiatives and related system training.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with department managers, faculty, college leaders, and campus partners. Help departments track appointment deadlines by generating monthly Fixed Term reports for all non-professorial teaching and research Academic appointment types in the College.
• Provide coordinated backup support for academic HR matters in the Academic HR Business Partner’s absence, while continuing to build your knowledge through close collaboration, training, and professional development.

About the College of Arts & Sciences

As Cornell’s oldest, largest, and most academically diverse college, the College of Arts and Sciences is a nexus of discovery and impact. Located on Cornell’s Ithaca campus, the college brings together research and teaching across the humanities and performing arts, biological and physical sciences, mathematics, and social sciences. Its extensive academic programs, internationally recognized faculty, and advanced research facilities support a high-quality liberal arts education and provide foundational instruction to undergraduates across the university.

The college is home to more than 500 tenure-stream faculty, over 400 other academics, and more than 300 non-academic staff across approximately 40 departments and programs. Serving 4,600 undergraduates and 1,300 graduate students, its operations span 27 academic buildings and approximately 850,000 net square feet. With an overall budget exceeding $400 million and annual research expenditures exceeding $100 million, the college offers a dynamic environment where strong partnerships and effective HR support help advance teaching, research, and discovery.

Success Factors

You’ll thrive in this role if you demonstrate

• Sound HR judgment and discretion: Interpret and apply academic and staff HR policies consistently, navigate sensitive situations with tact and confidentiality, and recognize when to consult colleagues or seek additional guidance.
• Collaborative, service-focused relationships: Build trust with faculty, staff, department leaders, and campus partners by providing clear guidance, sharing knowledge, and supporting an inclusive and respectful work environment.
• Accuracy with systems, data, and details: Use Workday and other HR tools effectively, maintain reliable records and reports, and connect appointment, compensation, and workforce data to accurate budgeting and timely employment actions.
• Initiative and dependable follow-through: Manage competing priorities and deadlines, anticipate needs, solve problems thoughtfully, and move work forward independently while staying closely coordinated with the HR team.

Hours and Location

This full-time position is based in Goldwin Smith Hall on Cornell’s Ithaca campus, with a regular Monday through Friday schedule. The role offers a hybrid work arrangement, typically with four days on campus and one day working remotely each week. Scheduling is coordinated with the supervisor to meet team and college needs.

What We Need

• A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.
• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 2-3 years’ experience or equivalent combination.
• In depth working knowledge of Cornell’s academic human resource practices, policies and procedures.
• Familiarity with the academic environment required.
• Solid understanding of university and college workforce budgeting policies, position management, practices and procedures required.
• Proven skills in building and maintaining effective work relationships with all levels of the organization required.
• In depth understanding of Workday.
• Demonstrated experience learning, utilizing, and training others on new systems and platforms.
• Demonstrated experience using sound judgment, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
• Requires experience effectively handling employee issues, including providing advice and recommendations that are consistent with university and College HR policies, practices and procedures.
• Attention to detail and management of multiple conflicting deadlines is a must.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with sensitive and confidential matters with tact and discretion.
• Establishes individual priorities and demonstrates initiative and self-direction to follow through on all areas of responsibility, with minimal supervision.
• Ability and willingness to work collaboratively and share knowledge and information with others.
• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities.
• Experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.
• Ability to advocate for individuals from a broad range of backgrounds.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 1 day per week and on-campus 4 days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, 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.
• 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.
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Cornell is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, visit hr.cornell.edu/eeo.

University Job Title

HR Generalist II

Job Family

Human Resources

Level

E

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Range

$68,381.00 - $79,469.00

Remote Option Availability

Hybrid

Company

Endowed

Job Titles and Pay Ranges

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

EEO Statement

Cornellwelcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “… any person … any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeksjob candidates