Human Resources Business Partner

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.
If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it’s ok if you don’t.
Experience with International Academic HR.
SHRM certification or advanced experience in the field of human resources.
Previous work experience managing faculty affairs.
Experience in higher education, especially at Cornell University with a familiarity of its mission, goals, and objectives.
Demonstrated ability to navigate a highly complex organizational structure.
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