Communications and Change Management Specialist

Title: Communications & Change Management Specialist (CEMI)

Location: Ithaca United States

remote type

Remote

locations

Ithaca (Main Campus)

time type

Full time

Job Description:

Working Title: Communications & Change Management Specialist (CEMI) [Remote] [2-Year Term]

No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position.

This is a 2-year term appointment that may be ended or extended based on organizational needs, funding availability, and performance.

About the Cornell Experience Modernization Initiative

The Cornell Experience Modernization Initiative (CEMI) is a multi-year program designed to improve the experience of students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, patients, and partners by unifying and enhancing administrative systems and processes across all Cornell University locations. Its name CEMI is said as "See Me" because the focus is on you: the people who use Cornell's systems and data to accomplish your goals.

What will you do:

The CEMI Communications & Change Management Specialist supports complex, university-wide initiatives within the Cornell Experience Modernization Initiative through strategic communications and organizational change management. The role focuses on helping individuals and teams understand, prepare for, and adapt to changes in processes, technologies, and ways of working through effective, audience-centered communication and engagement. The role requires adaptability as priorities shift and evolve, and strength in navigating differing perspectives and priorities with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment without direct supervisory authority.

Operating with a high level of independence and judgment, this position works with program teams, leaders, subject matter experts, and communication and change management colleagues to design and deliver communication and engagement approaches aligned with established program goals and priorities. Approximately 50% of the role is focused on communications strategy development, content creation, and community engagement, with the remaining 50% supporting organizational change management activities.

This is a 2-year term appointment that may be ended or extended based on organizational needs, funding availability, and performance.

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.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and at least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, organizational change management, or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing communication strategies for complex initiatives in a decentralized organization (higher education, nonprofit, or similar environment preferred).
• Familiarity with organizational change management concepts and methodologies.
• Completion of Prosci Change Management training and/or certification, or a demonstrated willingness to obtain certification within a defined timeframe
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly, concisely, and persuasively at levels from executive leadership to individual contributors.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills, with careful attention to detail and ability to work independently within established direction, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Comfort operating in an environment with evolving priorities, ambiguity, and multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Proven ability to build productive working relationships and influence community understanding through communication expertise.
• Strong editorial judgment and commitment to high quality content.
• User-centered mindset and commitment to positive community experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Teams, and SharePoint, with comfort working in Salesforce, Marketing Cloud, and Smartsheet, or similar applications.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working on large‑scale transformation or multi‑year program initiatives, particularly involving technology adoption or business process redesign.
• Experience supporting organizational, technology, or process‑driven change initiatives, ideally within a complex, decentralized, or higher‑education environment.
• Completion of Prosci Change Management training and/or certification.

Application Information:

• A resume is required for further consideration for this position. A cover letter expressing alignment with Cornell's mission and this role is strongly encouraged. When applying through our system, please remember to attach your application materials (Cover Letter and Resume) in PDF format.
• No Visa Sponsorship of any kind is available for this position.
• No Relocation assistance will be provided for this position.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is based in Ithaca, New York, however, the successful applicant may perform this role remotely anywhere within the United States. Employees who work remotely may receive multiple W-2 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. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the remote or 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. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• 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. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell
• 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. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

University Job Title:

Project Associate II

Job Family:

Administration

Level:

F

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$81,460.00 - $94,669.00

Remote Option Availability:

Remote

Company:

Endowed

Contact Name:

Maria Avila

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.

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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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2026-05-22