PSch Associate Dean of Communications and Marketing

PSch Associate Dean of Communications and Marketing

POSITION DETAILS
The CUNY School of Medicine (SoM), located in the heart of Harlem, New York, is the only medical school in the City University of New York system and the only public medical school in Manhattan. Building upon 50 years of success as the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, the institution transitioned to the CUNY School of Medicine in 2016. The CUNY SoM offers an accelerated BS/MD degree (7-year program), post-baccalaureate Master’s Degree in Professional Studies program (1-year), and a Physician Assistant Master’s Degree (27-month program). True to its legacy of access, opportunity, and community transformation, the medical school’s mission remains to recruit highly talented students as diverse as New York City itself. CUNY SoM places a special emphasis on recruiting those who are underrepresented in the field of medicine and on training high-quality, culturally competent health professionals and scientists equipped to address the healthcare needs of New York’s medically underserved communities. As a significant priority, CUNY SoM also seeks to enhance the recruitment and retention of senior leadership, faculty, and staff to reflect the diversity of our student body more closely.

Reporting directly to the Senior Associate Dean for Institutional Advancement and serving as a member of the Dean's Cabinet, the Associate Dean of Communications and Marketing will be the primary resource on organizational positioning in public medical education, narrative strategy, storytelling, branding and marketing, social media, and public voice. The role will integrate strategic communications and marketing leadership with advancement partnership and executive-level external engagement, ensuring alignment across academic priorities, communications, and fundraising efforts. Working closely with the senior leadership team, University Communications, University Advancement, and the School of Medicine’s Foundation, this leader will shape an advanced integrated approach to communications and engagement that strengthens the reputation, trust, and alignment across a complex medical education enterprise.

The successful leader will leverage the CUNY School of Medicine’s public education position as an institution of choice for medical education, teaching, research, and public impact based on the school’s mission. This role is ideal for an exceptional strategic thinker who can translate complex work into impactful storytelling, drive audience engagement, and support growth through effective communications.

Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean for Institutional Advancement, the Associate Dean will be responsible for but not limited to the following:

Build and lead a high-performing communications team, advise senior leadership on executive communications and public relations, and create strategies to assist with translating the School of Medicine’s unique academic agenda into narratives and engagement initiatives that resonate with diverse audiences and advance the school’s long-term strategic goals.

Partner closely with the Development and Fundraising team to ensure seamless integration of philanthropic messaging, donor engagement communications, and campaign-related marketing; support philanthropic initiatives through compelling storytelling, donor engagement materials, campaign messaging, impact reports, solicitations, acknowledgments, and stewardship communications.

Collaborate with CUNY's marketing and communications teams to ensure aligned messaging, coordinated storytelling, and consistent brand experiences across clinical, academic, and research environments; provide strategic counsel to school leadership on reputation-building, issues management, media strategy, and institutional positioning.

Shape, refine, and steward the School’s brand narrative across all platforms, ensuring a cohesive and compelling story that highlights the school's mission, impact, and differentiation; lead a multi-platform content strategy—including web, digital, print, social media, executive communications, video, and campaign materials—that supports strategic objectives across education, research, clinical care, and advancement.

Provide direction about the development and maintenance of social media platforms, web content strategy and execution, and various communications frameworks that support school-wide priorities, including research visibility, faculty accomplishments, student success, and community engagement; strengthen the School’s engagement initiatives for students, alumni, affiliates, and various strategic partners through strategic communications, digital outreach, and signature publications.

Oversee internal communications to ensure clear, timely, and consistent messaging that aligns staff, leadership, and stakeholders with organizational goals and priorities; build and maintain relationships with media, industry leaders, sponsors, and business partners to support audience growth and visibility.

Direct, mentor, and evaluate a team of communications and marketing professionals and oversee budget planning, resource allocation, and long-term strategic planning for the marketing, communications, and public relations function.

Serve as a steward of CUNY SoM’s brand, ensuring consistent messaging and positioning across all platforms.

Provide strategic communications counsel to leadership to strengthen visibility and stakeholder engagement.

Lead media relations and external communications, including press inquiries, materials, and public-facing opportunities.

Build and manage relationships with media to secure strategic press coverage.

Proven success leading and developing large teams and managing complex portfolios under tight deadlines, ideally within research-intensive or decentralized academic or healthcare settings.

Build a dashboard to measure marketing effectiveness, brand perception, audience engagement, and ROI; leverage data, analytics, and emerging technologies to improve targeting, engagement, and marketing efficiency to attract students, faculty, and staff.

Use performance metrics and audience insights to refine strategy and improve digital reach and engagement.

Perform other job-related duties as assigned by the Dean, Senior Associate Dean, or designee.

QUALIFICATIONS
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. Additional qualifications are defined below.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS :

6–10+ years of progressive experience in an executive role leading and supervising strategic communications, public affairs, media, or related fields within complex, mission-driven organizations.

Develop and lead the execution of a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with organizational and fundraising priorities.

Exceptional writing and editing skills, with experience developing fundraising campaigns, donor communications, website content, and storytelling materials.

A passion for innovation in digital, multimedia, and emerging communications platforms, paired with strategic discipline and operational excellence.

Exceptional judgment, discretion, and credibility in crisis- and reputation-sensitive situations, including those involving science, public health, healthcare delivery, or institutional trust.

Demonstrated ability to build trust, influence without formal authority, and navigate complex institutional dynamics, particularly within faculty-driven or expert-led environments.

A deep appreciation for the role of science, evidence, and academic integrity in public communication, with experience translating complex research or health-related concepts for varying audiences.

Demonstrated experience working in a multiracial, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic community.

Deep knowledge of academic medicine, as well as the importance of inclusion in academic medicine.

Understanding and knowledge of the importance of addressing disparities in higher education and healthcare.

Demonstrated ability to develop and execute communications strategies aligned with organizational goals.

Experience advising or partnering with senior leadership on messaging, positioning, and external communications.

Strong leadership and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and drive work forward across teams.

Experience managing digital communications channels (email, website, and social media) and using performance metrics to inform strategy.

Experience managing media relations and developing press materials and public-facing communications.

Ability to translate complex or sensitive topics into clear, compelling, and audience-appropriate messaging.

Collaborative, proactive, and detail-oriented, with strong judgment and follow-through.

Lead digital communications across email, website, and social media platforms, including content planning and execution.

Coordinate communications across program, development, and leadership teams to ensure timely, high-quality execution and improve efficiency and collaboration.

Partner with Development to create donor-facing materials and support fundraising campaigns and initiatives.

CUNY TITLE
Professional School Associate Dean

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Salary Range: $109,554 - $225,000

Salary commensurate with education and experience.

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.

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY
CUNY Job Posting: Executive

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

Job ID:

32452

Location:

CUNY School of Medicine

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