Vice Chancellor for Government Relations
Vice Chancellor for Government Relations
About The State University of New York :
The State University of New York (SUNY) seeks an experienced and highly skilled Vice Chancellor (VC) for Government Relations. It is an exciting time to join SUNY, and under the leadership of Chancellor John B. King, Jr. the VC will join a highly collaborative team working to implement policy, advance SUNY's strategic priorities, and build an extensive constituent network engaged with upholding SUNY's mission.
Job Description:
The Position
Reporting to the Office of the Chancellor, VC will oversee the operations of local, state, and federal government relations and strategic initiatives. This cabinet-level position will supervise staff responsible for Government Relations at all levels.
The VC will oversee the coordination of operations between System Administration and campus government relations staff; local, state, and federal government officials and their staff; and the Chancellor's executive staff, SUNY Research Foundation staff, and other SUNY, campus, and local officials.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Manage and oversee the Office of Government Relations, including developing and implementing legislative strategy to advance SUNY's four priority pillars (Student Success; Research and Scholarship; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Economic Development and Upward Mobility).
- Build and maintain strong relationships with government officials and their staff, including developing a keen understanding of and tracking proposals, legislation, and other legislative activity.
- Monitor, coordinate, and draft university responses to proposed legislation, rules and regulations.
- Organize and host legislative receptions and advocacy events at the local, state and federal levels in partnership with other SUNY offices.
- Communicate the university's position on legislative proposals to the proper officials.
- Serve as the principal focus of inquiries from government officials.
- Develop and enhance relationships with state and national associations of colleges and universities in matters of mutual concern.
- Collaborate with leadership and others in providing accurate information to the campuses on matters of governmental concern.
- Oversee the operation of the federal liaison office of the university.
- Provide oversight to the state director of the New York State Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), ensuring alignment with SUNY's mission and goals.
- Manage efficient and effective response to inquiries from local, state, and federal officials and their staff, demonstrating deep understanding of their interests and SUNY's objectives.
- Regularly engage with academic, administrative, and student leadership to ensure alignment of government relations strategies with broader university objectives.
- Analyze emerging public policies, regulations, and trends that might impact SUNY and proactively develop strategies to address them.
- Manage the process between SUNY and the Governor's Office for Appointments to College Councils, Community College Boards of Trustees, and University Board of Trustees.
- Advise the Chancellor, SUNY Trustees, campus leaders, and others on policies of the Board and College Councils.
- Collaborate with external constituencies on behalf of the Chancellor; represent the Chancellor on committees, boards, and at events as required.
- Develop and implement long-term strategic plans.
- Design and lead campaigns - in coordination with the Office of the Chancellor and the Communications & Marketing team - to advocate for SUNY's interests, harnessing the power of its alumni, students, faculty, and staff.
- Perform other duties as necessary and appropriate.
Requirements:
Qualifications
- A mission-driven, dedicated, and self-motivated person with a high degree of honesty, integrity, professional judgment, and political acumen.
- Deep understanding of public policy (with specific focus on higher education) and the budget, legislative, and regulatory process.
- Strong skills to communicate, lead, and persuade effectively with all levels of internal and external constituents, both verbally and in writing.
- Excellent consulting, strong project management skills, relationship-building, and strategic thinking skills.
- Understanding of how to work with senior leadership of academic institutions and the on-campus dynamics of large research and public universities and colleges.
- A Bachelor's degree is required. Other advanced degrees are preferred.
- A minimum of 7-10 years of higher education, government, legislative affairs, and/or campaign experience with advancing levels of responsibilities and duties.
- Experience managing others and interacting with government officials is required.
Additional Information:
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Interested candidates are invited to apply online. Please submit a cover letter, resume and four professional references when applying. The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Application Instructions:
State University of New York System Administration is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction, or retaliation.
Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@oer.ny.gov.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY's 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the state's only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2022, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit www.suny.edu.
