Title: Strategic Portfolio Manager

Location: Midtown

Org Unit: Business Transformation and Strategy

Work Days:

Weekly Hours: 35.00

Exemption Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $154,000.00 - $173,000.00

*As required under NYC Human Rights Law Int 1208-2018 - Salary range for this role when Hired for NYC Offices

Position Summary

The Strategic Portfolio Manager reporting to the Executive Director of Business Transformation and Strategic Planning is responsible for overseeing and advancing a portfolio of strategic academic initiatives aligned with the institution's mission, long-term strategic plan, and operational priorities. This role serves as a key partner to academic leadership, facilitating the planning, governance, prioritization, and execution of transformational initiatives across academic affairs, faculty affairs, student success, accreditation, research, patient access and care, and institutional effectiveness.

The position drives portfolio management disciplines, ensures strategic investments deliver measurable outcomes, and establishes governance structures that enable transparent decision-making, resource optimization, and organizational alignment.

Job Responsibilities

Manage a comprehensive portfolio of institutional strategic initiatives and transformation programs. Develop portfolio roadmaps aligned with institutional strategic priorities.
Establish and maintain portfolio governance frameworks, methodologies, and reporting standards. Lead prioritization exercises to ensure alignment of initiatives with strategic objectives and available resources.
Monitor portfolio performance, dependencies, risks, and resource allocation. Facilitate executive-level portfolio reviews and strategic planning sessions.
Partner with academic leadership to translate strategic goals into measurable initiatives and implementation plans. Support development and execution of multi-year academic strategic plans.
Identify opportunities to improve academic effectiveness, operational efficiency, and academic innovation. Ensure initiatives support institutional mission, accreditation standards, and student success outcomes.
Track strategic key performance indicators (KPIs) and institutional performance measures.
Lead change management activities associated with academic transformation initiatives. Develop stakeholder engagement strategies to drive adoption and sustainable outcomes.
Facilitate cross-functional collaboration among academic and administrative units. Identify barriers to execution and proactively implement mitigation strategies. Promote a culture of continuous improvement and data-informed decision-making.
Prepare executive dashboards, briefing materials, and strategic updates for senior leadership. Coordinate governance committees, steering groups, and strategic review meetings.
Develop recommendations for executive leadership regarding portfolio investments and priorities. Maintain transparency of initiative status, risks, resource constraints, and benefits realization.
Establish performance measurement frameworks for strategic initiatives. Analyze institutional, academic, and operational data to support decision-making. Monitor achievement of strategic milestones and organizational outcomes.
Support academic investment planning and resource allocation processes. Collaborate with finance, academic affairs, and operational leaders on business cases and investment proposals. Track initiative budgets, projected benefits, and return on investment.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership or related field

Experience

7+ years of experience in strategic planning, portfolio management, business transformation, program management, or institutional effectiveness.
Experience working within higher education or academic environments.
Demonstrated experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives.
Experience developing executive-level presentations, dashboards, and governance reporting.
Experience developing business cases, strategic recommendations, and executive proposals.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Skilled in translating strategic goals into actionable roadmaps, milestones, and measurable outcomes.
Strong facilitation and consensus-building skills in complex academic environments.
Ability to navigate organizational change and ambiguity while maintaining focus on strategic outcomes.
Strong analytical and critical-thinking capabilities with the ability to synthesize complex information into actionable insights.
Ability to evaluate risks, dependencies, capacity constraints, and organizational impacts.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to lead organizational change initiatives and drive adoption of new processes, programs, and operating models.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly PowerPoint and Excel.
Ability to leverage technology to improve portfolio visibility, reporting, and decision support.
Adaptable and flexible.

Licenses and Certifications

Working Conditions/Physical Demands

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “any person, any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRRA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

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