Career Launch Administrative Assistant

Thank you for considering a career with the Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY).

The team at RFCUNY is made up of dedicated, talented professionals committed to providing the services that allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries.

We are pleased that you are interested in exploring opportunities to join RFCUNY.

Primary Location:

Bargaining Unit:

No

This position is currently temporary until the end of September 2026 with the possibility of an extension. 

MISSION 

We build innovative educational and career development programs that strengthen and advance The City University of New York’s commitment to promoting equity and mobility for its students. 

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW 

The CUNY Office of Career and Industry Partnerships (OCIP) is dedicated to connecting academic pursuits with career preparation. OCIP works closely with industry and the public/nonprofit sectors to understand the skills required for the most in-demand jobs and trains City University of New York (CUNY) students in those skills to prepare them for early and sustained career success. 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION  

New initiatives will recruit undergraduate students from throughout CUNY who haven’t had substantial paid professional experience but who are ambitious, bright, and ready to practice what they are learning in the classroom in the work world. 

Interns will have the opportunity to build skills, extend their professional networks, add to their resumes, and support employers throughout NYC in several key industries, such as STEM and healthcare. Employers will benefit from CUNY students’ many talents and knowledge. These exciting new initiatives will be coordinated in CUNY’s Central Office of Academic Affairs and implemented at several CUNY colleges. 

Four to five college campuses will serve as industry “hubs”. These schools will specialize in internship placements within specific industries. Students will apply to specific hubs and once accepted into the program, apply to jobs within the industry. Each college hub will match students to their designated worksites and manage relationships between the student and employer. 

CUNY Career Launch seeks a detail-oriented professional to serve as the Career Launch Administrative Assistant. Reporting to the Student Success Senior Manager, the Administrative Assistant will serve a vital role in communications across various stakeholders and processes for the program.  

The Career Launch Administrative Assistant will be an employee of The Research Foundation of CUNY and will report to the Student Success Senior Manager. This is a full-time temporary position until the end of September 2026.  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Administrative Assistant’s core areas of responsibility include: 

Administrative Affairs (90%) 

• Serve as a point of contact for staff, students, and employer partners, responding to inquiries and resolving issues 

• Handle a high volume of inquiries via email and other communication channels, providing accurate information on program processes, timelines, and requirements 

• Escalate complex or sensitive issues to appropriate staff while independently resolving routine matters 

• Monitor incoming requests and ensure timely, consistent follow-up across stakeholders 

• Track and manage multiple concurrent requests, ensuring responses are provided within established timeframes 

• Maintain organized systems to monitor outstanding items and ensure no requests are missed 

• Troubleshoot operational challenges and implement solutions to maintain program flow 

• Identify and address day-to-day operational issues (e.g., scheduling conflicts, missing documentation, system access problems), applying established procedures and recommending improvements when patterns change 

• Exercise judgment in determining when to escalate issues 

• Coordinate and execute assigned projects from start to completion 

• Support project planning and implementation by managing timelines, coordinating logistics, and communicating with relevant stakeholders. Projects may include internship onboarding, events, or reporting cycles with responsibility for meeting deadlines and ensuring deliverables are completed 

• Maintain accurate records, including data entry and basic tracking/reporting 

• Perform regular data entry and updates across tracking systems, ensuring accuracy and completeness of student, employer, and program data.  

• Generate basic reports and summaries to support program monitoring and decision-making 

• Support cross-functional communication with students, employer partners, CUNY departments, and campus teams 

• Facilitate clear and consistent communication by drafting emails, sharing updates, and coordinating information across multiple groups 

• Ensure messaging aligns with program guidelines and institutional standards 

Other (10%) 

• Participate in departmental meetings and team activities 

• Attend regular team meetings, contribute updates on assigned work, and support collaborative planning and problem-solving 

• Take on additional responsibilities as needed to support program operations 

• Provide flexible support during peak periods, taking on tasks that align with program priorities and evolving needs 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

The successful candidate will have the following knowledge, skills and abilities: 

• At minimum, pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree 

• Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills to work and interact effectively, collaboratively, and cooperatively with a diverse community of students, faculty, staff and external partners. 

• Strong computer proficiency using standard office software programs and CRM databases, in particular Microsoft Office and Excel or Google Sheets. 

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and ever-changing work environment. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Experience in education or a related non-profit field 

• Experience working collaboratively in a team-oriented and outcomes-focused environment. 

• Experience with an NYC public sector or grant-funded project 

• Public speaking or group training facilitation experience 

Work Environment and Physical Requirements  

• Standard work schedule for all staff is 9am-5pm EST Monday - Friday. 

• This position currently is a remote (work-from-home) position. 

• A laptop and other necessary equipment may be provided to support remote work. 

• While performing these duties, the employee may be required to:  

• Sit for extended periods 

• Use a computer and other office equipment 

• Occasionally lift or move items up to 20 pounds 

• Reasonable accommodations will be provided to individuals with disabilities or other needs in accordance with RFCUNY policies and applicable laws. 

• Ability to travel to other CUNY sites as needed. 

To Apply 

Interested applicants should submit a resume and brief cover letter via OneRF application and email documents to careerlaunch@cuny.edu. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. 

Pay Range:

Minimum - Maximum: $60,000

RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.