The Labor and Employment Law Program is based in New York, NY, within the Cornell University ILR School located at 570 Lexington Ave. Position may be located in New York City, Buffalo, Ithaca, or other locations in New York State.

The School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University has two immediate openings for Cannabis Workforce Initiative Associate- Senior Extension Associate for the Labor and Employment Law Program in the NYC Extension/Outreach Division of the School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Our Team:

The Cannabis Workforce Initiative (CWI) is a collaboration between the Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) Labor and Employment Law Program (LEL) and the Workforce Development Institute. The Initiative promotes and supports social equity in the adult-use cannabis market through quality workforce development and legal education, with the goal of creating equitable workplaces and generational wealth in communities impacted by the war on drugs. 

ILR’s focus is offering legal instruction and resources to employers/ entrepreneurs, community and advocacy organizations, and individuals, including those with criminal records and others harmed by the criminalization of cannabis.  We offer training on the labor and employment law obligations of employers/entrepreneurs to ensure a just, fair and discrimination-free work environment and to increase the likelihood of success for new business owners. Instruction also is provided to justice impacted individuals and communities to promote social equity goals of NY’s cannabis law.

What you will do:

These Senior Extension Associate positions are part of the Labor and Employment Law Program’s Cannabis Workforce Initiative (LEL/CWI). They are responsible for programming and administration in the Initiative, including topics ranging from best practices in hiring people impacted by mass incarceration, employment rights of justice-involved people, equal employment rights, drug testing, wage and hour requirements, labor relations and human resource practices to hire and retain the best employees.

The Senior Extension Associates will collaborate with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders to develop and deliver programs and services. They also will evaluate and monitor the quality, impact, and outcomes of education, training, technical assistance, consulting and research activities of the program to ensure that it meets stated programmatic goals.

In this role, you will:

• Design curriculum and deliver training programs (in-person and remotely, as needed) related to the NYS cannabis industry, including developing a broad range of legal education programs for varied and diverse audiences, working with colleges and universities, employers, social equity licensees, unions, community groups, advocacy and reentry organizations throughout NYS.
• Prepare instructional materials, guides, toolkits, articles, reports, and other resources for use in training, on websites, with stakeholders.
• Evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of the training and resources.
• Remain current in the new national field of Cannabis Law and its impact on Labor and Employment Law broadly defined (while cannabis remains a schedule one substance under federal law but is increasingly legalized for adult and medical use in states and other jurisdictions around the nation).

Senior Extension Associate position is an academic, full-time, non-tenure track, term position with an initial appointment through June 30, 2024. The position may be reappointed based on recommendations by the Program Director and Associate Dean for Outreach as well as available funding and work.

More information about the ILR School can be obtained at our web site, http://www.ilr.cornell.edu and Labor Employment Law Program https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/labor-and-employment-law-program

What we need:

• Graduation from an accredited law school and admission to the bar in a state or territory of the US.
• Five or more years of labor and/or employment law litigation experience.
• Demonstrated legal research and writing ability (law journal articles, legal briefs, research and program reports, informational brochures, policy briefs, instructional materials, etc.).
• Exceptional interpersonal communication skills (oral, written, etc.).
• Five or more years of experience working with people of diverse backgrounds.
• Minimum of one to three years’ experience developing and delivering educational programming to diverse audiences via multiple modalities, including in-person, print, and virtual programming.
• Travel within NYS will be required.

You will be a top candidate with our preferred qualifications:

• Three to five years of experience working with worker rights organizations.
• Familiarity and experience with developing cannabis law in NY and other jurisdictions.
• Experience in successful grant writing and grant management.
• Fluency in Spanish.
• Admitted to the NYS bar.

ILR School appreciates employees by providing the opportunity to pilot a 3:2 campus-to-home hybrid schedule after a period of orientation and acclimation.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Cornell appreciates employees with great rewards & benefits:

Cornell provides great benefits that include educational benefits, access to a plethora of wellness programs, employee discounts with local and national retail brands, health care options to choose from, generous paid leave provisions and superior retirement contributions.

Cornell has also been nationally recognized as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives. For more information click here.

To Apply:

Interested parties should submit a vita and letter of application describing qualifications and research agenda, teaching/training experience and diversity & inclusion statement.  

As part of the university's comprehensive vaccination program, all Cornell employees are required to have and provide proof of an FDA-or WHO-authorized or approved COVID-19 primary vaccination or have obtained a university-approved disability/medical or religious exemption, regardless of their role and work location.

New hires are required to provide documentation showing primary vaccination status (that is, completion of two shots of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one shot of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson) before their first day of work. If a new hire's vaccination is not complete or information is not received by their start date, the first day of work will be delayed. It is possible in some cases that an offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.