Assistant Director Lab’s Strategic IT Programs [Hybrid]
No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position.
The work location is Ithaca, New York with the possibility of a hybrid work schedule that would be determined by the supervisor. 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.
About the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is the world's leading resource for conservation, research, education, and participatory science focused on birds and biodiversity. The Lab is a vibrant unit within Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), where twelve world-class, mission-driven programs are directed by full-time faculty and other renowned professionals. Lab staff teach undergraduate courses, advise graduate students, collect and disseminate world-famous digital resources on biodiversity, and engage with partner organizations and public citizens around the world to conduct scientific enterprises and conservation action. 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 non-profit sectors, and conservation-minded citizens from the United States and beyond.
The Lab’s Innovation & Integrated Technology Office (LiiT) provides strategic technology leadership to advance the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s mission. Working across centers and in partnership with Cornell University and external collaborators, LiiT connects technology investments, platforms, data, and services to the Lab’s goals in biodiversity science, public engagement, training, conservation action, and workplace collaboration.
LiiT’s IT Innovation Roadmap is organized around five interconnected pillars: Enterprise Data, Cloud & AI; Digital Engagement & Next-Generation Experiences; Customer Service & Experience Excellence; Digital Convening & Partner Networks; and Operational Excellence & Resilience. Together, these pillars guide the development of shared capabilities that support the Lab’s programs, strengthen global partnerships, and translate scientific knowledge into conservation impact.
Guided by the themes of ONE Lab, SCALE, and RESILIENT, LiiT advances cross-center collaboration, coordinated program delivery, responsible adoption of AI, and reliable, secure technology operations. Its work brings strategic planning and implementation together through clear priorities, effective governance, resource coordination, and measurable outcomes.
What will you do:
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is seeking a strategic and execution-focused Assistant Director, Lab’s Strategic IT Programs, to lead the coordinated planning, delivery and governance of IT initiatives supporting Lab-wide, cross-center, and center-led strategic programs, ensuring alignment with the Lab’s goals and IT Innovation Roadmap. As a member of the technology leadership team, this individual will connect the Lab’s technology roadmap with program needs and ensure that initiatives are effectively governed, coordinated, and delivered across centers.
Working closely with the Senior Technology Officer, center leadership, program owners, and technical teams, the Assistant Director will translate program objectives into technology requirements and actionable delivery plans; coordinate resources and dependencies; establish clear responsibilities, milestones, and measures of success; and provide visibility into progress, risks, and outcomes. The role will establish and manage technology governance and portfolio prioritization processes, helping leadership make informed decisions about investments, capacity, and competing demands.
Success requires strategic judgment, strong program management, and the ability to secure…