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Assistant Vice President of Issues Management and Crisis Communications

Required Qualifications (as evidenced by an attached resume):

Bachelor’s degree (foreign equivalent or higher). Seven (7) years of full time progressively responsible experience in crisis management, emergency response, risk management communications, or a related leadership role, preferably in a large and complex organization. Experience advising executive leadership in high-stakes environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

Advanced degree (foreign equivalent or higher). Ten (10) years of full time progressively responsible experience in crisis management, emergency response, risk management communications, or a related leadership role, preferably in a large and complex organization. Experience managing crises in a university or academic setting, with familiarity in the unique challenges of a campus environment. Experience navigating complex governance structures, including working with multiple agencies, faculty governance, and/or unions. Experience with public affairs and media relations strategies in the context of reputational crisis mitigation.

Brief Description of Duties:

Stony Brook University, a premier public university with a global reputation for excellence, seeks a dynamic and highly strategic Assistant Vice President for Issues Management and Crisis Communications to lead the university’s preparedness, response, and resilience strategies. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Marketing and Communication, the Assistant Vice President for Issues Management & Crisis Communications will serve as a key advisor and executive leader, coordinating across academic, operational, legal, communications, and public safety functions to ensure an integrated approach to crisis prevention and response. The Assistant Vice President for Issues Management & Crisis Communication plays a critical leadership role in coordinating communication during emergencies and crisis situations. This position ensures that messaging is strategic, timely, and aligned across the organization. Incumbent must have a demonstrated capacity to lead under pressure, make rapid and sound decisions, and act with integrity and discretion. In-person presence during critical incidents, including evenings and weekends, is required as needed to support effective crisis response efforts.

Strategic Leadership:

+ Develop and oversee a university-wide crisis management framework addressing natural disasters, public health emergencies, reputational threats, cyber events, campus safety incidents, and other critical disruptions. Role also requires active engagement and management of the growth and success of the broader MARCOM team in support of the mission, vision and values of the fully integrated team of marketing and communications professionals.

Direct Executive Counsel:

+ Serve as the principal advisor to the President, the Cabinet and the University's VP Council on all matters relating to crisis response, risk mitigation, and emergency planning. Provide timely, decisive recommendations in high-pressure situations.

Crisis Response Strategy and Execution:

+ Lead or coordinate the university’s emergency response during crisis events. Serve as the primary liaison with external agencies, including local, state, and federal authorities and stakeholder groups.

Risk Assessment & Mitigation:

+ Identify vulnerabilities across campus systems, operations, and communications.

+ Design and implement risk-mitigation strategies in collaboration with relevant departments.

Policy Development:

+ Establish clear crisis protocols, decision trees, and continuity of operations plans that are regularly tested and updated.

Training & Preparedness:

+ Lead campus-wide education, simulation exercises, and training initiatives to ensure readiness across administrative and academic units.

Communication Coordination:

+ Collaborate closely with the Office of the President, the MARCOM VP, the AVP of Communications and the Sr. Director of External Communications to manage message development before, during, and after crises.

Other duties or projects as assigned as appropriate to rank and departmental mission.

Key Attributes:

+ Self-Starter: Capable of operating with autonomy, initiating action, and navigating institutional complexity.

+ Strategic Thinker: Able to anticipate risks and develop long-range plans.

+ Strong Communicator: Skilled in delivering clear, persuasive guidance to diverse stakeholders.

+ Collaborative Leader: Comfortable working across disciplines, units, and cultures.

+ Calm Under Pressure: Exhibits poise and clarity in high-stress, rapidly evolving situations.

Special Notes:

This is a Management Confidential position. This is a full time appointment. FLSA Exempt position, not eligible for the overtime provisions of the FLSA. Minimum salary threshold must be met to maintain FLSA exemption.

This position requires an on campus presence and is not eligible for hybrid or alternative workplace arrangements.

For this position, we are unable to sponsor candidates for work visas.

This position will remain posted until filled or for a maximum of 30 days. An initial review of all applicants will occur two weeks from the posting date. For full consideration, applications must be received before the initial review date. If within the initial review no candidate was selected to fill the position posted, additional applications will be considered for the posted position; however, the posting will close once a finalist is identified, and at minimal, two weeks after the initial posting date.

Stony Brook University is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace and educational environment that is safe, accessible, and free of all forms of discrimination, sexual misconduct or research misconduct, among other infractions. In support of this commitment, certain candidates for employment will be required to disclose such employment-related misconduct findings and pending investigations or proceedings, and final candidates for certain faculty and staff positions will authorize their current and previous employer(s) from the last seven (7) years to disclose such information to the University. A final offer may be contingent on the satisfactory outcome of this disclosure and review process. If the University becomes aware of a failure to disclose or misrepresentation of any such matter after your employment commences, you may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination.

Resume/CV and cover letter should be included with the online application.

_Stony Brook University is committed to excellence in diversity and the creation of an inclusive learning, and working environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status and all other protected classes under federal or state laws._

If you need a disability-related accommodation, please call the university Office of Equity and Access (OEA) at (631) 632-6280 or visit OEA (https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/oea/) .

_In accordance with the Title II Crime Awareness and Security Act_ a _copy of our crime statistics can be viewed_ here (https://www.stonybrook.edu/police/) _._

Visit our WHY WORK HERE (https://www.stonybrook.edu/jobs/working-here/) page to learn about the **total rewards** we offer.

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**Job Number:** 2502663

**Official Job Title:** : Senior Assistant to the Vice President

**Job Field** : Administrative & Professional (non-Clinical)

**Primary Location** : US-NY-Stony Brook

**Department/Hiring Area:** : Marketing & Communications

**Schedule** : Full-time

**Shift** : Day Shift **Shift Hours:** : 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. :

**Posting Start Date** : Jul 22, 2025

**Posting End Date** : Aug 21, 2025, 11:59:00 PM

**Salary:** : Commensurate with experience

**Appointment Type:** : Regular

**Salary Grade:** : MP4

**SBU Area:** : Stony Brook University

**Req ID:** 2502663