Department Manager - College of Arts & Sciences - Department of Music

Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences is a vibrant intellectual community of approximately 4,600 undergraduates, 1,400 graduate students, 640 faculty members and 280 staff members that embodies Ezra Cornell’s founding principle, “where any person can find instruction in any study.” As the university’s largest and most diverse academic unit, the College offers a rigorous liberal arts and sciences education across 28 departments and more than 25 programs, institutes and centers. Faculty teach more than half of all courses taught at Cornell while also engaging in curiosity-driven research, scholarship and creative works. They challenge students and colleagues to think critically and analytically, communicate effectively, and approach complex problems creatively and collaboratively.

Rooted in Cornell’s founding mission to do “the greatest good,” the College of Arts and Sciences is renewing that commitment by building a college focused on the public good—one that shares knowledge widely, addresses pressing societal challenges, and prepares graduates to be free and thoughtful citizens. The REACH strategic framework focuses on five interconnected priorities: 1) Research Excellence, 2) Educational Excellence, 3) Accessibility, 4) Contributions to American Society, and 5) Human Flourishing.

Located within the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest undergraduate college at Cornell, the Department of Music has approximately 30 faculty members and 55 studio instructors. We teach around 3000 students annually, many of whom participate in our 15+ ensembles, including the Glee Club, Chorus, Chorale, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and the Jazz Program. The Department has 30–40 declared majors active annually and an even larger community of music minors from nearly all of Cornell’s Colleges and Schools. The Department is dedicated to excellence in the study of music that reflects a concern for the constant interaction of scholarship, performance, and composition.

Manage the administrative and business operations of a complex academic department with extensive teaching, research, performance, and public engagement activities. Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the department's financial management, human resources, academic administration, facilities and space planning, and operational policies and procedures. Supervise all non-academic staff and direct the delivery of administrative services that support the department's instructional programs, undergraduate and graduate curricula, applied lessons program, academic scheduling and catalog, events, seminars, lectures, commencement activities, and other departmental initiatives.

Serve as the department's principal administrative advisor to the chair, providing guidance on organizational planning, resource allocation, policy interpretation, compliance, and operational effectiveness. Develop, implement, and continuously improve administrative processes that promote efficiency, consistency, accountability, and excellent service while supporting the department's academic mission. Coordinate activities across functional areas to ensure sound decision-making and effective use of departmental resources, recognizing the interdependence of financial, personnel, academic, and operational decisions.

Represent the department in collaboration with college and university offices on administrative, financial, human resources, facilities, and policy matters, building productive partnerships that advance departmental goals and ensure compliance with university policies and procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5-7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills and the ability to build collaborative relationships across a diverse organization.
• Experience with financial management, human resources, administrative technologies, and enterprise systems, along with the ability to interpret and apply institutional policies and procedures.
• Experience in higher education or a similarly complex organization is preferred.
• Interest in or appreciation for music and the performing arts is desirable.
• Demonstrated skill in understanding cultural differences.
• Proven experience connecting inclusion, belonging and wellbeing practices to business goals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters Degree
• Experience within Cornell University

No visa sponsorship or relocation assistance provided

Your completed application must include a resume and cover letter. We have found it most efficient to save as one document prior to attaching. We will be accepting applications through 10/13/2026.

University Job Title

Administrator IV

Job Family

Administration

Level

G

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Range

$86,672.00 - $105,933.00

Remote Option Availability

Onsite

Company

Endowed

Contact Name

Donna Lynch-Cunningham

Contact Email

dml336@cornell.edu

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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