Temporary Project Associate - Cornell University's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Remote)
Temporary Project Associate - Cornell University's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Remote) Who We Are What You Will Do This is a part time, one-year fixed term position with the possibility of renewal based on available funding, performance, and business needs. Given the scale and collaborative nature of the initiative, we are seeking a part-time Project Associate to support coordination, communication, and reporting across the consortium. This role will be scheduled to work 13-14 hours per week. The role focuses on maintaining continuity, organizing information, and preparing materials in draft form for the Lead PI, PIs, and project team.
Key Responsibilities
Project Coordination (30%) Attend PI and project meetings; prepare clear, concise meeting notes and circulate them promptly Track action items and follow up with team members to support timely progress Provide gentle, consistent reminders to ensure alignment with agreed timelines and deliverables Project Communications (25%) Prepare and circulate monthly project digests, summarizing key updates, milestones, and upcoming activities Collect and organize inputs from project partners and synthesize them into structured drafts Website & Documentation (30%) Develop and maintain a project website (e.g., GitHub Pages or similar platform) Ensure content (team information, outputs, updates) is current and well organized Maintain shared folders and project documentation in a clear and accessible structure Reporting (15%) Assist in the preparation of mid-year and annual reports, including coordination of inputs across teams and supporting financial reporting Maintain an up-to-date overview of project expenditures, tracking budgets and expenses in coordination with the Lead PI Working Style and Expectations The Project Associate will work closely with the Lead PI and PIs, particularly in the initial phase, with increasing autonomy over time The role emphasizes preparation of well-structured drafts (e.g., web pages, monthly digests), which are then reviewed and finalized by the Lead PI The time commitment is up to ~33% annually (approximately 4 months per year) and is variable throughout the year, with expected periods of higher intensity (e.g., reporting and review milestones)
Qualifications
Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., environmental science, engineering, public policy, or related discipline) Experience in project coordination or management, preferably in academic or research settings Strong organizational skills and attention to detail Clear and concise writing ability, with experience preparing summaries or structured documents Ability to manage tasks across multiple stakeholders and follow through independently Preferred Experience supporting research projects or grant-funded initiatives Familiarity with collaborative tools (e.g., Google Workspace, GitHub, project management platforms) Basic experience with website maintenance Compensation $32.27 Hourly