Technical Event Support Assistant

Technical Event Support Assistant About the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 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 teaches undergraduate courses, advise graduate students, collect and disseminate world-famous digital resources on biodiversity, and engage with partner organizations and public citizens around the world to conduct scientific enterprises and conservation action. 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 Cornell Lab is committed to fostering a healthy workplace that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds as well as supporting growth and advancement opportunities. The Lab welcomes staff who are still learning in their careers and who are motivated to take on new challenges. The Opportunity The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is seeking a Technical Event Support Assistant to join our collaborative IT team. In this role, you will provide audio/visual and technology support for meetings, conferences, webinars, distance-learning programs, special events, and public-facing spaces. You will play a key role in ensuring seamless technology experiences for staff, faculty, students, visitors, and online audiences while helping the Lab leverage innovative technologies to advance its mission. We are looking for a customer-focused, adaptable, and technically skilled professional who enjoys solving problems, learning new technologies, and working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders. What You Will Do

• Provide audio/visual support for teleconferences, webinars, hybrid and virtual events, distance-learning programs, and recorded presentations.
• Troubleshoot technical issues and deliver real-time support for presenters, moderators, attendees, and event participants.
• Research, recommend, and support the implementation of new AV technologies and system enhancements.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and vendors to plan, install, maintain, and optimize AV equipment and technology solutions.
• Support technology operations within conference rooms, event spaces, and the Visitor Center, including public-facing systems and computing resources.
• Install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot hardware, software, printers, and related technologies.
• Manage service requests and projects through ticketing and issue-tracking systems.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, knowledge resources, and operational procedures.
• Partner with colleagues across IT, Visitor Center Operations, Facilities, Events, and Administrative teams to ensure successful technology support and event execution.
• Assist with recording, editing, and distributing digital content for internal and external audiences.
• Provide occasional evening and weekend support for events and special programs. This is an excellent opportunity for a technically skilled and service-oriented professional who enjoys working at the intersection of technology, events, and customer support. If you are excited by the prospect of making a meaningful impact while expanding your skills in a dynamic environment, we encourage you to apply with your resume and cover letter! This position is fully on-site. This is a full-time (39 hours per week), benefits-eligible position with a regular schedule of Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, because this role supports conferences, meetings, and special events, the schedule will vary based on operational needs. Candidates should be prepared to work occasional evenings, weekends, and modified hours to provide event support. What We Need A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Two years’ experience or equivalent combination of both education and experience.
• Knowledge of common Web conferencing technologies (Zoom, Teams, Zoom Webinars, etc…).
• Knowledge of standard and specialized technological equipment, and ability to keep abreast of latest trends in the field. Knowledge of computer operation (Mac and Windows) and integration with audio-video control systems and displays.
• Ability to maintain and upgrade equipment in the Visitor Center and Conference Rooms.
• Ability to troubleshoot problems under pressure and respond quickly to calls.
• Work requires sophisticated reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge must encompass a variety of audio and video control and switching systems, such as Crestron.
• A working knowledge of audio and video file types and codecs in both creating and playing back content.
• Knowledge of network media transmitting/multicasting environments.
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and wellbeing.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Effective, proven customer service skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; adherence to all confidentiality requirements.
• Ability to understand and communicate technical information in non-technical terms.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to pay close attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently to resolve most problems and work primarily under general supervision.
• Ability to maintain professionalism in a busy setting.
• Must be able to work independently while supporting the efforts of an overall team.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a strong customer service ethic required. It Would Be a Bonus if You Have Any of the Following
• Desirable skills and interests include experience providing IT desktop support services, Office Software, Video and Audio devices, computer, and network security.
• Able to lift 20 to 50 pounds. Important Notes About Applying
• A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.
• This position is fully onsite and located on the Ithaca campus and is expected to require weekends and evenings based on the event schedule/needs.
• There is no relocation assistance available for this position.
• There is no visa sponsorship available for this position. Rewards and Benefits
• This position is fully onsite and located on the Ithaca campus.
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
• 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: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell .
• 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. To offer greater flexib