University Executive Director of Policy

City University of New York • New York, NY

48d • $150,000 - $199,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The City University of New York (CUNY) seeks a dynamic, strategic, and solutions-oriented professional to serve as Executive Director of Policy in the Office of Strategy and Policy Implementation (OSPI). This leadership role is critical in shaping and advancing university-wide policy initiatives that support CUNY's mission to provide a first-rate public education to all students, regardless of means or background. This critical role requires a collaborative thought leader to lead and support University-wide efforts to establish and maintain robust policy and programming priorities across the CUNY system. Reporting to the Senior Vice Chancellor of Strategy and Policy Implementation, the Executive Director will set and execute a forward-looking policy agenda for the City University of New York. The role will provide high-level research, policy analysis, writing, and project management support on initiatives related to OSPI's portfolio, including Government Relations, Advancement, Executive Search, the Chancellor's Office, and the Center for Inclusivity and Equal Opportunity. The Executive Director will serve as a thought partner, advisor, and driver of institutional change, building frameworks for policy innovation, assessment, and continuous improvement across the University.

Requirements

• This position is in CUNY's Executive Compensation Plan. All executive positions require a minimum of a bachelor's degree and eight years' related experience.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in higher education administration, public administration, policy, or a related field.
• Eight to ten years of experience in policy development, public administration, and/or higher education.
• Proven leadership experience in policy strategy, advocacy, or institutional planning.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across diverse teams.
• Strong analytical and research capabilities, including experience with data-driven decision making.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with:
• higher education systems, public policy, and government relations.
• Federal, New York City, and State policy environments.
• Proven track record of successful policy advocacy and implementation.
• Strong presentation, consultation, and group facilitation skills with experience presenting to a wide variety of audiences including executives.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively and collaboratively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to independently establish plans and successfully execute multiple assignments with conflicting priorities and concurrent deadlines in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement short and long-term policy agendas aligned with CUNY's strategic goals and institutional priorities.
• Provide strategic support to the Senior Vice Chancellor in planning and executing policy initiatives across departments and campuses.
• Collaborate with academic and administrative units to ensure policies are aligned with University's goals.
• Conduct impact analyses and assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies.
• Monitor changes in federal, state, and local regulations and assess their impact on university policies.
• Analyze trends and events outside CUNY, including developments in the economy, government policy, and higher education in general.
• Support the revision and updating of policies to reflect emerging best practices and institutional needs.
• Respond to emerging issues by developing timely and effective policy solutions.
• Coordinate and lead policy advocacy efforts across various departments and campuses.
• Conduct in-depth research and prepare high-quality written materials to support OSPI initiatives.
• Build and maintain partnerships with think tanks, policy organizations, and higher education associations to advance CUNY's policy agenda.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees