Managing Director - Psix

The Cornell College of Human Ecology invites an entrepreneurial, strategic, and collaborative leader to join the Purpose Science and Innovation Exchange as Managing Director. This is an exciting opportunity to help build an emerging initiative at the intersection of pioneering research, innovation, and impact.

Established in 2025, PSiX is built on the simple yet powerful premise that the science of purpose can drive human flourishing. This effort is committed to rigorous and pioneering research and fostering an innovative ecosystem that accelerates the translation of purpose insights into solutions. Working alongside the founding Director, Purpose Commons, Lab of Labs faculty members, and PSiX researchers and staff, you will help advance a shared mission: to establish PSiX as a leading global hub for purpose research and transformative discovery. Our work receives generous support from national foundations and alumni donors.

What We Are Looking For

As Managing Director, you will play a central leadership role in shaping PSiX’s strategic direction, organizational development, and long-term sustainability. Working closely with the founding Director, you will translate ambitious ideas into actionable strategies, build partnerships that expand the initiative’s reach, and establish the operational and financial foundation needed for lasting impact.

This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage an established organization. You will help build, shape, and grow a new initiative, developing its business model, cultivating external partnerships, advancing funding opportunities, strengthening communications, and guiding the day-to-day work that moves its mission forward.

Key Responsibilities

• Shape strategy and drive execution: Partner with the founding Director to develop and implement PSiX’s vision, strategic priorities, and sustainable business model.
• Build strategic partnerships: Cultivate relationships with researchers, collaborators, funders, and external organizations to expand PSiX’s network and impact.
• Advance funding and resource development: Lead and contribute to grant development, proposal writing, pitches, and strategies for securing external funding.
• Oversee operations and financial performance: Manage day-to-day operations, financial oversight, project coordination, and organizational effectiveness.
• Lead the team: manage the work of multiple PSiX team members; oversee the work of many others on a project/as-needed basis.
• Create and steward a culture of collaboration: Coordinate across researchers, staff, and partners while keeping the team aligned around shared goals and priorities.
• Strengthen communications and visibility: Develop compelling communications that convey PSiX’s mission, research, and potential for real-world impact.
• Represent PSiX across Cornell and beyond: Serve as a key representative of the initiative, attend internal meetings on behalf of the Director, and act as a primary point of contact for collaborators and partners.

Required Qualifications & Success Factors

• Bachelor’s degree with 5-7 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experiences.

• Demonstrated leadership and management including mentoring and relationship building skills.

• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to translational research and community partnerships.

• Passion and vision for improving the science of purpose, together with the skills required to share this vision with scientists and supporters.

• Exceptional project management skills.

• Demonstrated skill in understanding cultural differences.  

• Proven experience connecting inclusion, belonging and wellbeing practices to business goals. 

Preferred Qualifications

• MPA, MPH, MBA, JD, or Doctoral/terminal Degree preferred. 
• Experience in higher education innovation or translational science organizations.
• Business management experience.
  
  

This is a one-year, fixed-term, benefits eligible, in-person position based in Ithaca, NY on Cornell University’s campus. Annual renewal is possible contingent on available funding, work, and successful performance.

To be considered for this position, applicants must submit the following materials online:

1. Cover Letter – describing your relevant experience and qualifications

2. Resume/CV

No visa sponsorship or relocation assistance are provided for this position. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in US without sponsorship. Employment will end upon the expiration of work authorization in the US. Continued employment in this position is subject to eligibility to work in accordance with US immigration laws.

Rewards & Benefits

Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: https://hr.cornell.edu/benefits-pay.
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: https://hr.cornell.edu/jobs/your-total-rewards.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.

University Job Title:

Administrator V

Job Family:

Administration

Level:

G

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$115,191.00 - $140,789.00

Remote Option Availability:

Onsite

Company:

Contract College

Contact Name:

Sheri Spencer-Chrisjohn

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.

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

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2026-10-28