The Research Foundation for SUNY at Cortland is seeking a full-time Program Administrative Assistant to support the Migrant Education and Tutorial Services (METS) Program at SUNY Cortland. This position plays a key role in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of the METS office by providing comprehensive administrative support to the program and its director. Responsibilities include managing personnel paperwork, assisting with the compilation and submission of program reports, and tracking budgets and expenditures. The position offers some flexibility for remote work.This is a temporary position that is currently grant funded for 1 year, 9/1/2025-8/31/2026. Continuation of appointment depends on available grant funding.
As a Research Foundation employee at SUNY Cortland, this position includes yearly cost of living increases and access to professional development opportunities. This position also includes retirement benefits, attractive Health Care options, including dental and vision insurances, and paid parental and family leaves. This position also offers paid time off and supports a work/life balance.
Salary Range:$38,000-$43,000
What makes SUNY Cortland a great place to work?
- Generous benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, various retirement program options, paid family leave and/or parental leaves, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, long term disability and tuition reimbursement.
- SUNY Cortland prioritizes work-life balance and well-being in all forms. The university’s state-of-the-art Student Life Center is free for employees to use, with membership options for families. SUNY Cortland’s Child Care Center welcomes the children of employees and community members, as space allows. Alternate work schedules are available with a supervisor’s approval.
- Professional development opportunities exist through training, continuing education programs, tuition reimbursement and conference travel, based on funding.
- Cortland County and surrounding areas offer easy access to arts, entertainment, outdoor recreation and much more. Experience Cortland dives deep into the region’s offerings
Major Responsibilities
- Support functions and responsibilities required in METS office
- Perform general office duties including answering the telephone, opening mail, greeting visitors, handling routine items, researching and/or gathering information for direct response or for the program director’s response, scheduling and coordinating meetings, copying, collating, and faxing, ordering and organizing supplies and materials, filing
- Coordinate resources, establish and maintain office procedures
- Monitor and maintain financial records of grant budgets and expenditure
- Process invoices, time sheets and travel reimbursements
- Process and prepare financial reports and reconcile accounts under the direction of the program director
- Compile and complete reports for the program as needed
- Process, prepare, maintain and update personnel forms in accordance with Research Foundation and NYS requirements
- Create and implement summer programming for school aged children under the guidance of the program director
- Organize METS program recruitment efforts
- Create, monitor and implement additional parent outreach efforts through correspondence, workshops, and virtual training
- Schedule, monitor and update on-boarding of new employees with the Human Resources Office and NYS required training and modules while simultaneously working with the NYS MEP support team to reconcile personnel data.
- Assist in the planning, preparation and facilitation of meetings, workshops and special events; preparation includes but is not limited to making reservations, ordering food, paying bills and invoices, table clean up, and administrative duties in support of the meeting, event, or workshop
- Order, organize and compile educational and instructional materials
- Update and maintain the local METS website at SUNY Cortland
- Complete annual and ongoing training provided by NYS MEP and SUNY Research Foundation
- Participate in local and state professional development opportunities as assigned by the program director
Functional and Supervisory Relationships
Reports to the program director. Provides support to the educational tutors and works closely with the data specialist in the office. Interacts with public school staff, families, community agencies/programs, and SUNY staff.
Required Qualifications
- High School diploma or its equivalent with a minimum of 2 years of office experience work-or- an associate’s degree in administrative support, services, clerical, and/or business administration with 1 year office experience work.
- Demonstrated use of software programs such as Microsoft Office, including Excel, and Word in addition to the use of virtual platforms and databases.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with publishing software
- Experience working in a higher education environment
- Prior experience working with NYS and/or federal grants
- Demonstrated experience working with expenses and budgets
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Effective interpersonal skills
- Effective communication skills
- Demonstrated computer skills, Microsoft Word, Excel and emailing functions
- Virtual platform experience
- Ability to build positive working relationships
- Ability to be flexible and balance several tasks concurrently
- Attention to detail
- Demonstrated experience working with expenses
- Demonstrated ability to work independently under supervision, as well as part of a team
About the University
A top public university of approximately 6,600 students located in the geographic center of New York State, SUNY Cortland provides accessible, affordable education to students from across the U.S. body. One of 13 comprehensive universities in the State University of New York system, SUNY Cortland prides itself on its rigorous undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences, education, and professional studies. For more than 150 years, SUNY Cortland has provided unmistakable value for students seeking a well-rounded academic, athletic, and social experience. The University ranks among the top campuses in the nation on Money magazine’s “Best Colleges for Your Money List,” fields a powerhouse Division III athletics program and boasts an impressive network of alumni making a difference in education, business, government, fitness, medicine and many other fields.
EEO Statement
As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer, The Research Foundation for SUNY will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, physical and mental disability, criminal record, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, status with respect to receiving public assistance, domestic violence victim status, a disabled, special, recently separated, active duty wartime, campaign badge, Armed Forces service medal veteran, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.