Job Details

Director, Strategic Planning and Public Relations

Position Number: 6318271
Location: Albany, NY
Position Type: Public Relations, Marketing and Communications

Director, Strategic Planning and Public Relations

Category:Administrative and Professional
Department:Executive Office
Locations:Albany, NY
Posted:Jun 23, 2025
Closes:Open Until Filled
Type:Exempt
PositionID:189496

About The Research Foundation for SUNY:
The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (RF) is the largest comprehensive university-connected research foundation in the country.

Our mission is to provide talent, services, and technology that empower SUNY to research, innovate, and transfer discoveries that transform the world's knowledge economy.
Our vision is to make SUNY the best place for faculty, students, and staff to research, innovate and solve the world's most pressing problems.

The RF serves SUNY by providing essential administrative services that enable faculty to focus their efforts on educating students and performing life-changing research across a wide range of disciplines including Artificial Intelligence, Clean Energy, Biotechnology, Longevity, Substance Addiction, Nextgen Quantum Computing, Environmental Health, and Resiliency.We work with the academic and business leadership of SUNY campuses to facilitate research and discovery by administering sponsored projects and delivering intellectual property and technology transfer services that fuel innovation and move ideas and inventions to the marketplace.

The RF is committed to diversity, inclusion, and a working environment that enhances productivity creates personal and professional opportunities, unleashes everyone's full potential, and fuels innovation. We hold the organization and each other to the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and ethical behavior.
Visitwww.rfsuny.organd connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Learn about SUNY atwww.suny.edu.

Job Description:
FUNCTION AND SCOPE:
The Director of Strategic Planning and Public Relations provides oversight for the Research Foundation's (RF) strategic plan and partnerships with external constituents. Working directly with the Chief Operating Officer, this position will define the strategic methodology of the plan and coordinate the RF's impact with SUNY's strategic plan, RF Board of Directors, and the RF leadership team. The director is responsible for developing a communication framework in support of the strategic plan that aligns with RF's operating Plan, SUNY, and System Administration. The Director will also be responsible for ensuring the delivery of core and consistent messaging to internal and external constituencies including RF Leadership, RF Board of Directors, employees, the business community, media, government, community groups and general public; interacting regularly with SUNY System Administration leadership and communication executives and staff, and campus personnel including, but not limited to, Public Information Officers, Campus Research Administrators, Operations Managers, state and federal elected officials, and state and federal agency staff. The Director will develop and operationalize the means and methods focused on strategic planning and public relations to execute on the RF's mission to provide talent, services, and technology that empower SUNY to research, innovate, and transfer discoveries that transform the world's knowledge economy.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Planning

Lead the development and implementation of the RF's strategic plans, ensuring alignment with overall corporate goals and objectives.
Conduct comprehensive analysis of internal and external factors, market trends, and competitive landscapes to identify opportunities and risks.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams both within RF and externally with SUNY System Administration and campuses to gather insights and input for strategic planning processes.
Define key performance indicators and metrics to measure the effectiveness and success of strategic initiatives and core operations.
Monitor and evaluate the progress of strategic initiatives, adjusting as necessary to ensure their successful execution.
Collaborate with the RF Leadership Team and RF's President to prepare content for the President's Report section of the RF Board of Directors meetings, including storyboard and presentation development.
Collaborate with RF's Leadership Team to develop RF's annual Operating Plan.
Stay updated on industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies to enhance the company's strategic planning capabilities.

Public Relations

In collaboration with RF leadership, develop and implement inspiring internal and external communications strategies and supporting programs that articulate RF and SUNY's role and mission strategically and proactively to elevate and differentiate the organization among all key audiences.
Manage and support RF's corporate narrative and story-telling campaigns, working in concert with all departments to identify unique, compelling story angles and communicating those messages to relevant parties (internal and external) in a way that generates results and helps achieve goals.
Manage media relations activities and coordinate press inquiries.
Write, produce, and edit press releases, media advisories, executive correspondence, scripts, briefings, presentations, strategic messages for and support RF leaders and staff in creating and presenting clear and consistent audience-focused messaging.
Develop and execute an internal communications strategy to ensure employees are informed on organizational news, events, and objectives.
Monitor and analyze communication metrics to ensure the effectiveness of strategies.
Coordinate with Information Technology Services and other departments, including Industry and External Affairs, to ensure effective RF web presence and maintenance of brand and communication standards.
Function as the official spokesperson for the RF, as appropriate, working closely with SUNY System Administration.
Oversee the production and development of all marketing and communications strategies for RF, specifically in its pursuit of raising the visibility of SUNY research and innovation.

SPECIAL SKILLS

Extensive, expert, leading-edge knowledge of the profession of strategic planning or public relations and its planning, tools, and technology.
Fundamental understanding of organizational and individual psychology.
Ability to manage through conflict and work effectively on high-stakes projects under tight and challenging deadlines.
Understanding of the nuances of complex situations, relationships, and communications tactics.
Knowledge of RF and SUNY history, operations, services, constituencies, and strategy.
Intermediate level proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other business operating technologies.
Technological competence and ease in communicating with a wide range of storytelling and social media platforms and tools.

Requirements:
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree and at least seven years in a leadership position required. Master's degree in a related field preferred. Experience in strategic planning, partnerships, and communications required.
Progressively more responsible career progression, including 10+ years in strategic planning or public relations leadership positions for high-profile organizations with demonstrated outcomes in public, government, and media relations and developing and managing integrated communications systems.
Experience in advancing policy changes in a regulated environment; higher education experience is desirable.
Exceptional oral and written communication and presentation skills.
Compensation for this position:Thecompensation for this role is between $146,837- $189,507. Thepay will depend on a variety of factors that may include but are not limited to experience, education, training, and certifications

Additional Information:
As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer, The Research Foundation for SUNY will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy-related conditions, reproductive health decisions, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, familial status, citizenship, physical and mental disability, prior arrest or conviction record, genetic characteristics/genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, military status or service, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under federal, state or local law. The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.
The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

The Research Foundation for the State University of New York is not an agency or instrumentality of the State of New York. Employees of the Research Foundation for the State University of New York are not state employees, do not participate in any state retirement system, and do not receive state fringe benefits. The Research Foundation for the State University of New York operates under a contract with The State University of New York and receives no directly appropriated state funding.

Application Instructions:
Applicants interested in applying MUST submit the following documents:
1. Resume/Cv
2. Cover Letter

After submitting your resume/CV, the subsequent pages enable you to upload your cover letter and additional documents.

To apply, visit: https://rfsuny.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp;jsessionid=9A6AD5A81CC5E7C67600C621808DC022?JOBID=189496