Associate Director, Executive Communications - Advancement

Stony Brook University • Stony Brook, NY

1d

About The Position

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 closely with the Office of Advancement, the Associate Director ensures presidential messaging related to fundraising, campaign activity, donor engagement, and board-level philanthropy is aligned, consistent, and reflective of institutional strategy. The role covers consequential Advancement communications, including campaign moments, principal donor engagement, high-stakes events, and materials where the President’s Office and Advancement intersect. It requires exceptional writing ability, discretion, sound judgment under tight deadlines, and strategic insight to connect presidential messaging to fundraising goals, institutional priorities, and reputational considerations.

The Associate Director serves as the President’s Office lead writer for presidential philanthropic and engagement communications, developing speeches, talking points, Stony Brook Foundation Board remarks, principal and major gift correspondence, and Advancement-related event scripts. The role also provides writing and editing support for strategic presidential communications and supports donor-sensitive and reputationally significant issues-management communications confidentially with the President’s Office and the Office of Advancement. Other duties or projects may be assigned as appropriate to rank and departmental mission.

This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt appointment. The position is not eligible for overtime provisions, and the minimum salary threshold must be met to maintain FLSA exemption. The position is eligible for $4,150 in annual UUP location pay, paid biweekly. The employer is unable to sponsor work visas. Applicants should include a resume/CV and cover letter with the online application; writing samples will be requested from candidates selected for an interview.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (foreign equivalent or higher).
• Four years of full-time experience in communications for executive leadership in higher education or with a corporate, healthcare, governmental, or nonprofit organization.
• Writing samples will be requested from candidates selected for an interview.
• Submit a resume/CV and cover letter with the online application.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree (foreign equivalent or higher) in English, Communications, or a related field.
• Advanced degree (foreign equivalent or higher).
• Five or more years of full-time experience in communications for executive leadership in higher education or with a corporate, healthcare, governmental, or nonprofit 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.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the President’s Office lead writer for presidential philanthropic and engagement communications, partnering with Advancement to align materials with 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.
• Provide writing and editing support for strategic presidential communications, including donor, campaign, and engagement materials aligned with presidential priorities and institutional objectives.
• Support donor-sensitive and reputationally significant issues-management communications confidentially with the President’s Office and the Office of Advancement.
• Perform other duties or projects as assigned in keeping with the role’s rank and departmental mission.

Benefits

• $4,150 annual UUP location pay, paid biweekly.
• The employer directs applicants to its WHY WORK HERE page to learn about total rewards; specific additional benefits are not listed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level