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Who We Are
Building on our 150-plus-year legacy as one of the nation’s preeminent engineering colleges, the Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering is a purpose-driven, inclusive community committed to developing the knowledge, capabilities, and people needed to forge a better future. Comprising more than 10 schools and departments, we are rooted in Ithaca, New York, with a growing presence in New York City and a global network of alumni and collaborators. Guided by our core values, our faculty and staff regularly engage across disciplines and intentionally bring together a range of perspectives as they lead and support ambitious efforts to tackle societal challenges, develop the next generation of leaders, and make a meaningful difference in the world.
What You Will Do
This is a full time, 32 hours per week, 3-year term position with the possibility of renewal based on available funding, performance, and business needs.
The Project Manager, in collaboration with the Principal Investigator, is responsible for fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and growth-oriented work environment that encourages teamwork, supports individual development, and ensures all team members feel valued and aligned toward achieving the project’s goals. This work is part of the National Science Foundation’s Convergence Accelerator Program which is focused on sustainability and national-scale impact. At the end of the fixed three-year term, teams are expected to provide high-impact deliverables that bring research off the shelves for positive societal impact. This project is within NSF’s Equitable Water Solutions Track.
The Project Manager, over the next two years, is responsible for:
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Developing with the team a sustainable business plan to continue these efforts beyond the project's scope by engaging with business leaders and other partners. This includes interpreting and analyzing partner needs and identifying the human and material resources needed.
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Refining the implementation process for delivering high-quality water treatment systems to underserved small communities through a previously developed implementation pilot process. This work includes developing and recommending innovative business processes to coordinating collaboration among numerous stakeholders (academia, industry, non-profit, etc.) to refine the implementation framework. The framework involves providing community planning support, securing funding connections for, and deploying effective water treatment technologies.
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Establishing and maintaining the project's culture/climate by cultivating and facilitating effective relationships between project managers, stakeholders, and the communities served, and by ensuring high-visibility deliverables are completed on time and within defined budget restrictions.
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Developing and maintaining project plans, including developing and monitoring project budgets, tracking and monitoring deliverables, managing the change process for complex and high-visibility deliverables, coordinating team meetings, documenting and reporting progress, overseeing compliance, assessing and managing issues to prioritize and drive resolution, identifying and mitigating risks, coordinating with stakeholders, and refining workflows for improved efficiency.
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Contributing to the scientific and engineering development of water treatment technologies, including participating in design discussions on automated coagulant dosing, water quality testing, and other conventional water treatment processes. The Project Manager will work with designers and engineers to pilot new technologies outside of the university. Additionally, the Project Manager will assisting the PI in managing students research.
Strong knowledge of the U.S. water industry, water treatment design, funding requirements, business development, and community engagement practices, along with excellent interpersonal skills and cross-cultural experience, are essential to succeed in this role
Campus Collaboration: The Project Manager will work closely with stakeholders across multiple university campuses to ensure regular consistent communication and alignment on project goals and vision. This role requires fostering strong relationships, coordinating resources, and facilitating cross-campus initiatives that will result in the various university team members working together as one team.
Success Factors:
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Effective Communication: All key stakeholders feel informed and aligned on project objectives, timelines, and deliverables.
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Strong Relationships: Established trust and productive partnerships with key campus representatives and departments.
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Seamless Coordination: Resources, schedules, and activities are efficiently organized across campuses to minimize delays and conflicts.
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Achievement of Goals: Cross-campus projects are completed on time, within scope, and meet or exceed expectations.
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Resolution of Challenges: Identified and addressed inter-campus challenges proactively, ensuring a smooth path to success.
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.
What We Need
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Bachelor’s degree and 5 to 7 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination in science/engineering, business, or international/global development.
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5 years working experience in the water industry or adjacent field as an engineer, project coordinator/manager, community engagement specialist or similar.
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Includes experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects involving diverse cultural perspectives.
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Experience working directly with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds.
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Comfortable with Microsoft office products and project management software (Microsoft project, smartsheet, etc)
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Ability and willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.
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Familiarity with the U.S. water industry, including processes, regulatory compliance, and funding requirements for implementing water treatment technologies.
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Proven ability to develop and maintain detailed project plans, manage timelines, budgets, and deliverables, and track progress effectively.
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Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, including community members, donors, and technical experts.
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Strong interpersonal skills, with experience fostering teamwork, collaboration, and a positive, inclusive work environment.
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Experience mentoring or supervising students or early-career professionals
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Ability to adapt to evolving project needs and maintain focus on achieving long-term goals.
It would be a bonus if you have any of the following:
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Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects, particularly those with a focus on community engagement or underserved populations. Experience overseeing or analyzing work across multiple project areas, with the ability to monitor performance and report status to leadership.
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Background in science, engineering, business, or international/global development, with a strong understanding of relevant technical concepts.
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Familiarity with policy and procedural implementation as it affects project planning, scheduling, and stakeholder obligations
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Experience engaging with underserved or disadvantaged communities, with knowledge of best practices for community involvement and planning.
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Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, including risk assessment, mitigation planning, and the ability to prioritize and drive resolution of complex, high-visibility issues.
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Familiarity with business plan development and experience in working with donors and business leaders to secure funding or support.
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Hands-on involvement in science or engineering projects, with the ability to contribute to detailed design discussions and support technical development.
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Medium to advanced fluency in Spanish
Important Notes about Applying
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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.
- This position requires travel to the Cornell Ithaca Campus twice yearly. This role will also require travel for site visits several times throughout the year.
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This role will require occasional weekend and evening work.
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There is no relocation assistance available for this position.
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There is no visa sponsorship available for this position.
Rewards and Benefits
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This position is based in Ithaca, New York, however, the successful applicant may perform this role remotely anywhere within the United States. The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholdings for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside New York State.
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Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability initiatives.
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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: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
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Our leave provisions include 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. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell
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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: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell.
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Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards.
University Job Title:
Project Manager
Job Family:
Administration
Level:
G
Pay Rate Type:
Salary
Pay Range:
$98,840.00 - $120,805.00
Remote Option Availability:
Remote
Company:
Endowed
Contact Name:
Daniel Hyland
Contact Email:
[email protected]
Job Titles and Pay Ranges:
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Cornell welcomes 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.
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2026-08-21
