Genetic Counselor I

Position overview

This role is for a Genetic Counselor I based on the Upper East Side in New York, within WCINYP Clinical Operations at Weill Cornell Medicine. The position is exempt and follows a 35-hour work week. It reports to the Genetic Counselor III, where that role exists within the department.

Compensation

The posted salary band for this New York City position is $96,700 to $107,100 per year.

What you will do

• Meet with patients and families to gather medical, family, and psychosocial histories tied to the referral question, then assess the likelihood of a genetic condition and recommend next steps.
• Record patient information accurately and clearly in the medical record and prepare written communication as needed.
• Keep pedigrees current for each patient and family, and maintain records and databases with accurate information.
• Explain diagnostic and screening tests in detail, including their advantages, limits, and potential risks.
• Choose appropriate genetic tests as part of the assessment process and secure informed consent from patients and families when required.
• Review genetic test reports, consult resources such as ClinVar and gnomAD when useful, and communicate results clearly to patients and families.
• Discuss what test results may mean for relatives and help arrange family testing when appropriate.
• Refer patients to physicians, therapists, and other specialists when additional counseling, evaluation, or treatment is needed, and connect them with support groups or specialty clinics when possible.
• Support case management across the care journey, including chart review before visits, monitoring results, and arranging follow-up.
• If assigned to research clinics, coordinate subject visits, manage scheduling, obtain research consent as needed, and maintain IRB protocol approvals.
• Carry out literature reviews, stay current in the field, and take part in genetics conferences and lectures offered by the medical college or outside community organizations.
• Help interview and select applicants for the Weill Cornell MS in Genetic Counseling program.
• After one year following completion of the MS degree, mentor and supervise genetic counseling students in the Weill Cornell MS in Genetic Counseling program.
• Handle other related responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Genetic Counseling from an ACGC-accredited program.
• At least one year of clinical experience, including time completed during the master’s program.
• Board certification by the American Board of Genetic Counseling, or eligibility for certification.
• Strong understanding of human, medical, and public health genetics and genomics.
• Ability to listen actively, conduct interviews effectively, and respond with empathy to patient concerns.
• Skill in using genetic counseling methods to support informed decision-making and adjustment to genetic risk or disease.
• Comfort working in a client-centered, noncoercive, values-based counseling approach.
• Ability to adapt counseling techniques for different care delivery settings.
• Capacity to communicate sensitively and respectfully with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to write clear, concise clinical and scientific material for audiences with different levels of knowledge.

Working conditions

This is standard office-based work.

Equal opportunity and diversity

Cornell states that it welcomes students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and does not discriminate on the basis of legally protected characteristics. The institution also says it supports an inclusive workforce, encourages candidates from historically underrepresented or marginalized identities, and follows applicable affirmative action obligations for qualified protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, and certain Native American preferences as allowed by law.