Public Safety Ambassador at Cornell University in Ithaca (Main Campus)

Public Safety Ambassador

Location: Ithaca (Main Campus) · Onsite

This position is located on the Cornell University Campus in Ithaca, New York.

No Visa sponsorship or relocation is available for this position.

The Opportunity:

The Division of Public Safety (DPS) is a team of public safety professionals that work collaboratively with our community to keep Cornell a safe and healthy campus to learn and live. The Public Safety Division is comprised of the Public Safety Communications Center, University Police Department, Emergency Management, Clery Compliance, Access Control, Community Response Team, and Public Safety Ambassadors.

Housed within the Division of Public Safety, Cornell University’s Public Safety Ambassadors (PSA) are unarmed safety and security professionals who in collaboration with Public Safety Division Partners play a central role in ensuring a respectful safe environment to all those on Cornell campus.

In this role you will:

• Patrol designated areas of campus to help maintain a safe, respectful environment for all those on Cornell’s campus.

• Identify and report suspicious or hazardous situations.

• Conduct checks of essential university facilities and equipment.

• Ensure welcoming and safe environment through vigilance, adherence to safety protocols, and professional interactions with staff, visitors, and the public.

• Provide static security for high-profile events, including sporting events, student events, and invited speakers.

• Participate in planning for critical incidents and campus-wide emergencies.

• Support emergency response efforts by working alongside Public Safety Division partners to help ensure scene safety and provide traffic control.

• Work in integrated response teams that may include members of Cornell University EMS, Environment Health & Safety, Student and Campus Life, Community Response Team, Cornell University Police Department, and regional agencies.

• Be available for work assignments outside regularly scheduled shifts, including security for special events, athletic contests, staffing shortages, and weather or disaster emergencies.

• Ability to work varying schedules and hours as needed to support operational and business needs, which may include evenings, weekends, holiday, and special events.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

This is a unionized position within the Cornell Police Union. The current rate of pay is $23.79 per hour.

Application Requirements:

A cover letter and resume are required for further consideration for this position. When applying through our system, please attach both your resume and cover letter in either Microsoft Word or PDF format.

Required Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED and 1-2 years of relevant customer or public service experience.

• Must have the ability to work nights and weekends for additional work assignments outside regularly scheduled shifts, which may include security for special events, athletic events, staffing shortages and weather/disaster emergencies. Shift assignments may change to meet needs of the department.

• Must possess and maintain a valid NYS Driver’s License with a good driving record. Out-of-state employees must obtain and show proof of a NYS license within 30 days of starting employment.

• Must be able to obtain and maintain background checks and meet physical requirements.

• Must be able to pass a psychological examination.

• Must have or be able to obtain NYS Security Guard License.

• Demonstrated history of ethical and professional behavior.

• Must have demonstrated interpersonal skills, customer service orientation, flexibility, and effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing.

• Ability to effectively manage emergency situations in a calm, logical manner and make quick decisions.

• Ability to understand, follow, and enforce safety codes, regulations, and procedures.

• Ability to conduct security patrols without direct supervision.

• Whether dealing with a routine call for service or an emergency, utilize a solid understanding of campus operations, while employing sound judgment, critical problem-solving skills, and empathy to resolve the situation at hand.

• Maintain certification in Responding to Emergencies and automated external defibrillator (AED/CPR/First Aid).

• Ability to perform the requirements as a Campus Security Authority pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (20 U.S.C. §1092 (f) (Clery Act).

• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

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Preferred Qualifications

• 2 or more years of relevant security experience or public safety experience.
• Current NYS Security Guard certification.
• Familiarity with the university context.
• Knowledge of public security codes, policies, and regulations.

Benefits and Perks:

• 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 flexibility for observing faiths and traditions, we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell.
• 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. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

University Job Title:

Public Safety Ambassador

Job Family:

Cornell University Police Union

Level:

PSA1

Pay Rate Type:

Hourly

Pay Range:

Refer to Union Pay Rates Link Below

Remote Option Availability:

Onsite

Company:

Contact Name:

Sarah Oliveira

Contact Email:

seo29@cornell.edu

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.

Current Employees:

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Online Submission Guidelines:

Most positions at Cornell will require you to apply online and submit both a resume/CV and cover letter. You can upload documents either by “dragging and dropping” them into the dropbox or by using the “upload” icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website.

Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu.

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing mycareer@cornell.edu.

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

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 (VEVRAA) 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.

2026-11-04