All Things Urban

Cornell is a privately endowed research university and a partner of the State University of New York. As the federal land-grant institution in New York State, we have a responsibility—unique within the Ivy League—to make contributions in all fields of knowledge in a manner that prioritizes public engagement to help improve the quality of life in our state, the nation, the world.

The mission of the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, established jointly by Cornell University and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, is to transform key industries through technological innovation, deep-tech startups, and uniquely skilled talent. The Jacobs Institute is part of Cornell Tech, a novel model for graduate education that fuses technology with business, creative thinking, and social consciousness. The Cornell Tech campus, located on Roosevelt Island, in the heart of New York City, brings business leaders and tech entrepreneurs together with faculty and students in a catalytic environment to produce visionary ideas that will reinvent the way we live.

We are seeking a full-time leader for the non-academic elements of our Urban Tech Hub. This will be the Jacobs Institute’s third industry-focused hub, joining our Health Tech and Connective Media hubs. It will include a two-year Master’s degree program beginning in 2020 (to be led by a faculty member) and accompanying programming and research that will position the Jacobs Institute and Cornell Tech as global leaders in urban technology, focusing on critical urban sectors from transportation to infrastructure to proptech to community tech. Success of the hub will be measured by our ability to attract top students and place them in excellent positions; research leadership; and impact on both public and private spheres through thought leadership, partnerships, startups, tech transfer, and the convening of important gatherings.

The Role:

As the first full-time hire of the new hub, the Hub Director will be integral in helping us refine and establish our unique take on Urban Tech. You will lead the development of a vision and initial execution for non-academic programming and partnerships, coordinating with faculty leadership. You will also partner with our faculty in catalyzing and stewarding collaboration with Cornell’s Colleges of Engineering and Architecture, Art and Planning, and our partner departments at the Technion. You will be the hub’s liaison to the public and private sectors in all areas of urban technology, forging partnerships with industry and community, and raising funds as necessary. This is a senior role reporting to the Director of the Jacobs Institute. The initial appointment will be for 24 months, with the potential for renewal. It is possible that the role will involve supervision of a small staff, depending on our growth trajectory and resources.

As Hub Director you will:

• be the external face of the Urban Tech Hub (in partnership with the faculty program director), sharing our internal success and bringing industry knowledge to the Jacobs Institute and Cornell Tech communities;
• work with the academic program faculty to complement the Master’s curriculum with projects and partnerships connected to the greater New York and global communities;
• assist faculty members in finding and developing relationships with industry, government, and NGO partners;
• assist Career Services and our Studio team with recruiting companies to participate in Studio challenges, internship hiring, and the hiring of graduates;
• work with the faculty program director as a liaison to Cornell (Ithaca) and Technion staff and faculty who are interested in working with the Urban Tech Hub.

Among the keys to success that we will be looking for are these:

• You are passionate about the past, present, and future role of technology in cities.
• You have a good grasp of the challenges that cities, non-profits, and private firms face in their day-to-day operations and want to help tackle those challenges.
• You are known, and know others, who operate at the intersection of technology and challenges faced by cities and private businesses operating in urban environments, and enjoy collaborating with them.
• You are a leader with experience developing a vision, communicating it to others, and getting a diverse group of people on board to accomplish shared goals
• You are an executor. You turn ideas into action. You care about and make an impact.
• You are an excellent speaker and presenter who can share the Urban Tech Hub vision with the world.
• You are an excellent listener who can synthesize the interests and concerns of students, faculty, and staff.
• You are excited by the prospect of working with some of the world’s leading researchers in technology and helping them further their research.

Required and Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous work in a university setting, the public sector, or a technology company in the urban tech space. Experience with all three is preferred.
• 5+ years developing and managing strategic partnerships with large organizations.
• Graduate degree (MBA, MPA, MUP, PhD) required, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

We’re not fully sure whether this role is open to international candidates. If you would need visa sponsorship or work authorisation, we recommend checking directly with the employer before applying.