Associate Director, Executive Communications - Advancement

Responsibilities

• The Associate Director, Executive Communications for Advancement serves as the lead writer and communications strategist for presidential materials connected to the Advancement division. Reporting to the Director of Executive Communications, the Associate Director develops speeches, remarks, correspondence, and strategic messaging that articulate the president’s philanthropic and strategic priorities and elevate Advancement’s goals and objectives to accelerate institutional momentum.
• Working in close partnership with the Office of Advancement, the Associate Director ensures that all presidential messaging related to fundraising, campaign activity, donor engagement, and board‑level philanthropy is aligned, consistent, and reflective of institutional strategy.
• The Associate Director’s portfolio includes the president’s most consequential Advancement related communications: campaign moments, principal donor engagement, high‑stakes events, and materials where the President’s Office and Advancement intersect. The role requires exceptional writing ability, discretion, and judgment under tight deadlines, along with the strategic insight to connect presidential messaging to fundraising goals, institutional priorities, and reputational considerations.
• - Executive Writing & High Profile Communications:
• - Serve as President's Office lead writer for presidential philanthropic and engagement communications, partnering closely with Advancement to ensure all materials connected to fundraising, campaign activity, and donor engagement reflect the president’s voice and institutional priorities. Develop high‑profile presidential content including speeches, talking points, Stony Brook Foundation Board remarks, principal and major gift correspondence, and Advancement‑related event scripts.
• - Philanthropic Partnering & Advancement:
• - Provide writing and editing support for strategic presidential communications of the President’s Office, leveraging direct exposure to presidential priorities and decision-making to develop donor, campaign, and engagement materials that are accurately aligned with the president's voice and institutional objectives.
• - Reputational Management:
• - Support donor‑sensitive and reputationally significant issues‑management communications, working confidentially with the President’s Office and the Office of Advancement.
• - Other duties or projects as assigned as appropriate to rank and departmental mission.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (foreign equivalent or higher). Four (4) years of full time experience in communications for executive leadership in higher education or with a corporate, healthcare, governmental, or non-profit organization.
• Writing samples will be requested from those candidates selected for an interview.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree (foreign equivalent or higher) in English, Communications, or related field.
• Advanced degree (foreign equivalent or higher).
• Additional years (5+) of full time experience in communications for executive leadership in higher education or with a corporate, healthcare, governmental, or non-profit organization.
• Experience providing strategic communications materials for a president or other executive leadership position in higher education or an academic medical center.
• Experience writing for donor and volunteer leadership audiences.