[Nhcoll-l] Job Opening at the Macaulay Library, Cornell Lab of Ornithology--Program Manager

[Matthew Medler]

The following position is available in the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It is currently posted on the Jobs at Cornell web page at https://cornellu.taleo.net/careersection/10164/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=25127


Program Manager-25127

Library Administrator III - Band F
Lab of Ornithology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Cornell University



The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is currently seeking a Program Manager. Duties include:

•        Oversee the continued development and implementation of ML’s overall collection strategy and will supervise and lead the management of all administrative, operational and collection activities of ML.

•        Represent ML from a management perspective in meetings and other interactions within the Lab and the University.

•        Ensure that the management, administrative and collection functions of ML operate smoothly and according to Lab and University policy.

•        Collaborate with other ML Leadership Team members to implement and communicate the vision of the Program Director and the objectives of ML’s strategic plan into a formulated operating plan, including annual and long-term goals, strategies and finances.

•        Collaborate on the setting of activities, projects and strategies that align with ML’s mission and Lab priorities.

•        Provide direction and accountability for all day to day collections operations.

•        Ensure that priorities are set and met for the development of ML collections, management of media submissions, management of media-specimen preparation and preservation, metadata record creation and enhancement and media distribution.

•        Facilitate interdisciplinary dialog and collaboration among the multiple functional areas of ML, such as collections development, collections management, research and interpretation, media engineering, and software/database development.

•        Working with the Senior Director of Administration and Operations, oversee the creation, planning, scheduling, and coordination of program and project budgets, the monitoring of expenses, and the facilitation of long-term financial planning which includes assessing risks and benefits of expending program funds with regards to personnel, research, training, productions, collection initiatives, technology, and general program management.

•        Collaborate with other Program Directors and Administrators in the Lab to meet the goals and objectives of Lab’s strategic plan and explore opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

•        Provide regular and accurate administrative and financial status reports on program operations to the Lab Administration.

•        Collaborate with Human Resources and other supervisors in ML to oversee personnel needs and manage personnel issues including conflict resolution and performance improvement plans.

•        Represent and act as programmatic liaison for ML with other institutions, organizations and individuals, within and outside of the United States.

Annual term appointment with possibility of renewal based upon performance and availability of funding.



Applicants to provide cover letter, resume, contact information for 3 references.



Required Qualifications:

•        Bachelor’s degree; 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent.

•        Proven project management, resource management, and supervisory experience and the ability to coalesce staff and resources around a common goal.

•        Prior experience working in a library, museum, or similar setting with understanding of the importance of collections and collections management procedures/technology.

•        Significant knowledge of, and experience using, media technology; including audiovisual collection development, editing and manipulation technology.

•        Must have excellent time-management and negotiation skills.

•        Must have a record of successfully meeting schedules and milestones of projects involving multiple stages, participants and stakeholders.

•        Must provide high level customer service skills and demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships with a diverse clientele.

•        Proven ability to work in a team environment and independently to accomplish required tasks to achieve program objectives while creating a high-quality and respectful work environment.

•        Demonstrated ability to present ideas clearly and concisely in oral and written form to a broad range of people.

•        Ability to establish and maintain a safe, productive and respectful working environment.

•        Demonstrated ability to organize and facilitate meetings.

•        Proven ability to work effectively with researchers, curators, and archivists in a dynamic, creative, multi-disciplinary environment.

•        Must be logical and analytical with ability to develop new or revised systems, procedures and work flows.

•        Experience working on multiple projects on tight timeframes with multiple stakeholders and ability to hold people accountable for expectations.

•        Demonstrated ability to assess the risks and benefits of different options and using sound business practices, make decisions that protect the interest and further the mission of ML and Lab.

•        Ability to quickly understand and translate business needs as expressed by stakeholders.

•        Ability to balance the goals of the Program with financial stability and sustainability of the Program.

•        Must be fluent with modern computers and applications including project management tools, report generation, presentation graphics tools, word processing, spreadsheets and graphs, email, internet browsing.

•        Proven budget and grant management skills.

•        The ability to obtain and maintain a valid NYS driver’s license.

•        Ability to work weekends or evening when required in order to meet pressing deadlines.

•        Ability to travel when necessary.

Preferred Qualifications:

•        Advanced degree with at least 6 years of management and collections experience.

•        Advanced knowledge of digital media technology and digital asset management.

•        Strong interest in advancing the cause of scientific conservation and the Lab of Ornithology’s mission of applying research to interpret and conserve the earth's biological diversity.

•        Experience in managing scientific or research projects.

•        Working knowledge of accounting and other administrative functions.


The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is the world's leading resource for conservation, research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. 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 citizens around the world to conduct scientific research and conservation actions. 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 Macaulay Library (ML) at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (the Lab) is the world’s largest (over 250,000 media assets) and oldest (started in 1929) scientific archive of biodiversity media recordings (audio, video and photos); it is the most heavily used archive of its kind in the world. ML assets are media-based biological specimens, much like the specimens in more traditional biological collections, but that uniquely capture the behavioral traits of living organisms. ML media specimens are used extensively in scientific research, having been cited for use in over 600 scientific publications. They are also used for a diversity of non-scientific purposes, including museum exhibits, educational resources, phone/tablet “apps”, commercial products and numerous artistic productions (e.g., Hollywood and documentary films, broadcast television, musical compositions and other high-visibility endeavors). Altogether, ML processes over 350 requests for media per year from outside clients (scientists, educators, museums, artists, etc.), with many of the requests custom tailored and being for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of individual media assets. ML media assets are also used extensively by other units within Cornell University and other Lab programs, for example in media-rich websites. With an annual operating budget that exceeds $1.5 million, ML is involved in a complex mixture of organized and departmental collection, production, outreach, educational and research activities.



Matthew Medler
Collections Management Leader
Macaulay Library
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850



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