Claas Cordes studied drama, theatre and media at Giessen University from 1986 to 1992. Between 1992 and 2000 he held a number of managerial roles at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar, most recently as Personal Assistant to the Dean. From 2000 to 2003 he was Director of Public Relations at Schauspiel Leipzig, a theatre in the city. He was appointed Chancellor of what is today the Eberswalde University of Applied Sciences for Sustainable Development on 1 January 2004, and was re-confirmed in this office in 2009. Claas Cordes lectured at the universities of Weimar, Leipzig and Erfurt as well as the music and theatre universities in Weimar and Leipzig. Since December 2014 he has been the Chancellor of HTW Berlin.

• Central administration departments, university library, Information Technology Centre, Central Unit Sports, coordination of faculty administrations
• Financial, HR, legal and infrastructure matters
• Budget coordinator
• Supervises all academic and non-academic members of staff with the exception of the professors
• Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• Quality management of the central administration
• Represents the University Board in matters involving the Staff Council
• Represents the University Board in matters involving the Finance Work Group or Budget Committee of the University Council