Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

   

Cornell University is seeking a highly strategic, collaborative, and innovative leader to serve as its next Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (VP CHRO).

Reporting to the President, and serving as a key leader, connector, and strategist across all of Cornell’s campuses, which include over 18,000 employees and 11 unions, the VP CHRO is responsible for directing the University’s overall strategic and operational human resources functions.

DO NOT APPLY THROUGH THE CORNELL SYSTEM FOR THIS POSITION, INFORMATION MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLY TO ISAACSON, MILLER AS INDICATED BELOW.

APPLICATIONS

Cornell University has retained the services of Isaacson, Miller. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search linked below. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.

Rebecca Kennedy, Managing Partner

Dan Rodas, Partner

Angelo Alexander, Senior Associate

Nicole Sancilio, Managing Search Coordinator

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/cornell-university/vice-president-human-resources

THE OPPORTUNITY

As a trusted advisor to the President, Cabinet, Board of Trustees, and other institutional leaders, the VP CHRO will provide data-informed recommendations and pragmatic options on complex workforce, organizational, and cultural issues. Further, the VP CHRO will design, implement, and continually iterate on a change agenda that aligns with institutional priorities and capacity, while allowing flexibility for local needs and a shifting regulatory landscape.

About Cornell University

Cornell is a vibrant community of scholars, educators, students, and staff with cherished founding principles; world-class research; and curricula dedicated to preparing students to be well-educated, thoughtful citizens of the world. It is unique among its Ivy League peers as a private university with a land-grant mission, several New York State-supported colleges, and an international campus in Qatar. At this pivotal moment for American higher education—defined by financial pressures, workforce transformation, and evolving expectations of employees—the VP CHRO will guide Cornell through significant organizational change, some of which is already in process, while strengthening institutional trust, cohesion, and effectiveness.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the President, and serving as a key leader, connector, and strategist across all of Cornell’s campuses, which include over 18,000 employees and 11 unions, the VP CHRO is responsible for directing the University’s overall strategic and operational human resources functions. As a trusted advisor to the President, Cabinet, Board of Trustees, and other institutional leaders, the VP CHRO will provide data-informed recommendations and pragmatic options on complex workforce, organizational, and cultural issues. Further, the VP CHRO will design, implement, and continually iterate on a change agenda that aligns with institutional priorities and capacity, while allowing flexibility for local needs and a shifting regulatory landscape.

The successful candidate will be a highly visible, engaged, and credible leader who thrives in complexity and brings tested best practices, empathy, and resolve to lead through change. They will work to elevate HR’s role across the University as a strategic partner and ensure a consistent, influential presence in enterprise decision-making. Combining strategic acumen with operational depth, the VP CHRO will help Cornell balance competing priorities with clarity and decisiveness. With a deep commitment to Cornell’s mission and community, the next VP CHRO will play a vital role in shaping the University’s future as an engaged employer of choice and upholding its reputation as a world-class academic institution.

   

University Job Title:

VP, Chief Human Resources Officer

   

Job Family:

Human Resources

   

Level:

No Grade - Annual

   

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

   

Pay Range:

Refer to Posting Language

   

Remote Option Availability:

Onsite

   

Company:

Endowed

   

Contact Name:

Cyndi Morris

   

Contact Email:

[email protected]

   

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.

Current Employees:

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Online Submission Guidelines:

Most positions at Cornell will require you to apply online and submit both a resume/CV and cover letter.  You can upload documents either by “dragging and dropping” them into the dropbox or by using the “upload” icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website.

Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email [email protected].

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at [email protected].

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing [email protected].

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

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.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

2026-06-24