Manager of Finance and Contracts - Lab of Ornithology

About the Lab of Ornithology

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purposedriven science and Cornell Universitys second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through worldrenowned research education and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving nextgeneration scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the worlds complex interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance here in New York across the nation and around the world.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is the worlds leading resource for conservation research education and citizen science focused on birds. The Lab is a vibrant unit within Cornells College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) where fulltime faculty and many other renowned professionals direct worldclass missiondriven programs. Staff at the Lab teach undergraduate courses advise graduate students collect and disseminate worldfamous digital resources on biodiversity and engage with partner organizations and citizens around the world to conduct scientific research and conservation actions. Our management and staff are committed to the highest standards of ethics and excellence in all areas of our work and our Board leadership includes faculty from Cornell and other universities successful entrepreneurs and managers from the business and nonprofit sectors and conservationminded citizens from the United States and beyond.

The Cornell Lab is committed to fostering a healthy workplace that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds as well as supporting growth and advancement opportunities. The Lab is an inclusive community and we recognize that diverse inclusive communities create more innovative and impactful work to address global challenges and benefit humanity and nature. The Lab welcomes staff who are still learning in their careers and who are motivated to take on new challenges in all aspects of professional development and mentorship.

About the Position

While position responsibilities vary all people leaders are expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by being trustworthy; respecting all individuals; being flexible; supporting work/life integration as well as healthy boundaries; inviting new ideas alternatives and perspectives; speaking up and taking action if others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and recognizing the contributions of others.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology completed an ambitious strategic planning process inand together with the university is moving into the final year of a campaign with ambitious fundraising goals. In the coming years the organization will grow rapidly and restructure its programs to improve its capacity for achieving global impact. To help lead these efforts we seek an experienced financial leader who will: 1 spearhead the Labs transition to a significantly larger and more complex budget; 2 guide restructuring of the Labs internal financial framework; 3 oversee and manage all Lab financial operations contract negotiations and budget management; and 4 provide highlevel counsel to the Lab University and Administrative Board leadership.

The Lab thrives on diverse revenue streams that include private donations from more than 200000 supporters endowment income annual disbursement from a 509(a)3 supporting organization grants and contracts and programmatic entrepreneurship. Within this multifaceted context the Director of Finance and Contracts holds a highvisibility position with extremely high levels of oversight responsibility fiscal management confidentiality internal interactivity and external reporting. Reporting to the Director of Administration of the Lab the key duties are:

• Serve as the overall financial leader advisor and forecaster at the Lab providing advice and counsel to the Executive Director and Director of Administration senior leaders and the Administrative Board to ensure the financial health of a complex internationally engaged $49 million a year (and growing) organization.
• Establish and monitor annual budgets develop financial projections strategies and longterm models; track resources from all sources; implement best practices for daytoday financial operations; consult with development and other Lab staff on donor proposals; provide financial oversight of grant and contract proposals.
• Work closely with members of the Administrative Board preparing detailed financial reports for and manage meetings of the Boards finance committee and semiannually presenting consolidated financial reports to the full Administrative Board.
• Prepare negotiate review and manage a wide variety of service contracts and other external agreements including complex technology licensing agreements and MOUs with international organizations working closely with Cornells legal counsel risk management technology licensing and procurement services.
• Oversee all aspects of the Labs financial procedures and infrastructure maintaining close working relationships with all levels of management and staff fostering partnerships with program directors and serving as a critical link between the Lab CALS and Cornells central administrations. Work in partnership with University Shared Services Center to ensure that all financial operations meet programmatic needs while complying with university and college policies.
• Provide direct supervision direction and mentorship to staff within the Labs finance team.
• Facilitate the consistent application of new and existing university and college financial systems policies and procedures to advance the Labs unique and nontraditional academic programs.

This is a fulltime 40 hours/week) Contract College position that is based in Ithaca NY at the Lab of Ornithology approximately 3 miles from Cornells main Ithaca campus. This position follows a 3:2 inpersontohome hybrid work arrangement after a period of orientation and training. This hybrid work arrangement is subject to change at any time. Typical work hours are between 9am5pm.

What You Need

We are seeking a team member who is organized good at relationship building and good at communicating. Additionally you will:

• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity equity access inclusion and wellbeing.
• AICPA Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential or IMA Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or be able to earn the credential(s) within 3 years. Credential must be maintained as a condition of employment; professional fees will be reimbursed to maintain credentials.
• Bachelors degree and at least 57 years of experience with accounting financial management budgeting and managerial positions in higher education or similarly complex settings with progressive scope and responsibility or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong working knowledge of budgeting and accounting policies and practices; grant and contract management; finance investments policies laws and procedures; risk management; financial analysis reporting and external contract negotiation required.
• Ability to analyze large amounts of data deliver succinct reports and consult with leadership to guide decisionmaking and problem solving.
• Ability to oversee finances in a complex institution including ability to develop/mentor team members and establish credibility as an effective developer of budgets and strategic financial solutions.
• Must have excellent analytical and problemsolving skills. Attention to detail and organizational skills are critical.
• A proven ability to manage multiple areas events and deadlines simultaneously.
• Must be naturally curious and responsive to everchanging needs with evidence of strong customer service interpersonal and communication skills.
• Must have proven leadership ability including effectiveness in working with creative individuals and a large scope of responsibilities.
• Ability to use judgment in accomplishing tasks that are urgent or of a sensitive or confidential nature balance conflicting priorities and make decisions from a range of choices.
• Must have demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information regularly prepare and deliver cogent presentations suitable for the Administrative Board Lab leadership and staff of all levels.
• Proven ability to prepare and review a wide variety of service contracts seeking guidance from legal counsel risk management technology licensing (CTL) and procurement services.
• Must complete Cornell University Supervisory Development Training within one year of hire into the position.
• Compliant with all Cornell University and jobrelated training requirements.

If you possess these experiences and skills this may be the role for you! There are a few other qualifications we would view as incredibly helpful in this role to include:

• Upperlevel management experience within notforprofit and/or academic institutions including working with and communicating to supervisory Boards.
• Experience with financial investment management and tracking; experience and familiarity with biodiversity sciences educational outreach and/or information technology strategies; experience working with partner institutions and organizations. Interest in the mission and vision of the Cornell Lab or conservation.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role
  remotely 2 day per week and inperson 3 days per week. The university reserves the right to modify suspend revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.

• This position is based in Ithaca New York. Employees who work remotely may receive
  multiple W2 Forms depending on their work location. The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholding for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside of New York State.

• Cornell receives national recognition as an awardwinning workplace for our health wellbeing sustainability and diversity initiatives.

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options generous retirement contributions access to wellness programs and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: 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 25January 1 and two floating holidays. Learn more about holiday and accrued time off visit: impressive educational benefits include tuitionfree Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program tuition aid for external education and Cornell Childrens Tuition Assistance Program.

• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Sponsorship is not available for this position.

  University Job Title:

  Mgr Finance II

  Job Family:

  Fin/Budget/Planning

  Level:

  G

  Pay Rate Type:

  Salary

  Pay Range:

  $104026.00 $127142.00

  Remote Option Availability:

  Hybrid

  Company:

  Contract College

  Contact Name:

  Hannah Parker Carver

  Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

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  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

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  • Unique applicable skills

  • Academic Discipline

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