Vice President of Communications

THE OPPORTUNITY
Founded in 1890, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has shaped contemporary biomedical research and education with programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. Home to eight Nobel Prize winners, the private, not-for-profit Laboratory employs 1,100 people including 600 scientists, students, and technicians. The Meetings & Courses Program hosts more than 12,000 scientists from around the world each year on its campuses in Long Island and in Suzhou, China. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL)’s education arm also includes an academic publishing house, a graduate school, and programs for middle, high school, and undergraduate students and teachers.
CSHL seeks a dynamic, visionary, and strategic Vice President of Communications (Vice President) to amplify and advance CSHL’s outreach, institutional profile, and scientific and educational impact. As the fulcrum of CSHL’s communications strategy, the Vice President will play a pivotal role in increasing the organization’s visibility, creating articulate and persuasive communications materials through a philanthropic lens, representing the organization as an active spokesperson, and reimagining the CSHL brand.
The Vice President will bring an innovative and comprehensive approach to branding and communications with the stature and demonstrated ability to build strong relationships and alliances with constituencies, both internally and externally. The successful candidate will serve as a visible and active spokesperson to external and internal audiences, including presentations about CSHL’s scientific and educational programs. The Vice President will revitalize CSHL’s institutional and program communication across multiple digital and media platforms, ensuring a cohesive and compelling narrative that resonates with the organization’s diverse audiences. They will elevate the visibility of CSHL’s initiatives at the local, national, and international levels by evolving the organizational brand, developing multimedia content, producing publications, and supporting Foundations for the Future, CSHL’s $500 million capital and endowment fundraising campaign to expand scientific and educational initiatives.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has retained Freeman Philanthropic Services, LLC to assist with this important recruitment.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
The Vice President will report to the Senior Vice President for Advancement and Special Advisor to President. They will manage, mentor, and develop a talented and diverse team of 12 staff including specialists in science writing, graphic design, video production, events, web development and social media.
The successful candidate will establish collaborative relationships and maintain consistent communications with colleagues across the organization. They will partner with scientific and educational staff to elicit and synthesize complex and nuanced information into compelling messages and communications strategies.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
The Vice President will be an inspired communications leader with a passion for advancing biology through research and education. They will respond effectively to the following key opportunities and challenges:
Strategic Leadership
• Craft and oversee the execution of a forward-thinking, long-term communications strategy that aligns with the CSHL mission, vision, and values.
• Develop, plan, and oversee CSHL’s annual communications goals, aligning closely with the goals of the President and the Advancement office.
• Create and facilitate opportunities to raise the visibility of CSHL’s scientists and leadership through media interviews, public speaking, op-eds, and other thought leadership contributions.
• Translate complex and nuanced scientific information into compelling messages and communications strategies.
• Serve as a visible, active, and dynamic spokesperson to external and internal audiences, including presentations about CSHL’s scientific and educational programs.
Media and Digital Presence
• Manage and grow media relationships and cultivate partnerships to enhance the organization’s visibility in traditional and digital media.
• Utilize effective media strategies to craft the organization’s strategy and overall message to engage the media, public and private funders, policymakers, the scientific community, and the general public.
• Spearhead digital communications strategies, leveraging online platforms including intranet and external website, social media, and multimedia content to expand organizational reach and engagement.
• Develop and monitor engagement metrics across multiple platforms, leveraging data to make informed decisions, refine strategies, and optimize communication.
Messaging Development and Leadership
• Oversee the design and production of compelling communications materials to effectively convey the organization’s messages and scientific impact across multiple media platforms.
• Collaborate with the Senior Vice President and Advancement team in crafting compelling and persuasive fundraising campaign communications (including donor appeals, emails, videos and social media content) to drive donor engagement, cultivate relationships, and meet fundraising goals.
• Plan and oversee the implementation of cultivation events with current donors in key areas of wealth, notably on Long Island, Brooklyn, New York City, and Florida.
• Develop new markets for events to engage new prospects and expand CSHL’s network.
• Ensure consistent and well-branded collateral and communications for all on-campus events, working in partnership with other Departments.
• Ensure the coherence and transparency of messaging across all organizational levels by managing internal communications channels including managing CSHL’s intranet.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with CSHL scientists, educators, and other key departments as well as external stakeholders to enhance collaboration and mutual understanding.
Brand Management
• Drive the development and evolution of CSHL’s institutional brand during its current rebranding process, ensuring a strong and positive visual identity that aligns with CSHL’s mission.
• Develop and implement effective crisis communications plans to protect and enhance the organization’s reputation in the face of sensitivities or challenges encountered.
• Provide high-level messaging counsel to CSHL’s scientists and leadership.
• Ensure the consistent and accurate implementation and usage of communication and graphic standards in all projects.

KEY QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS
The ideal Vice President will be a strategic and dynamic leader with the stature and professional experience necessary to effectively meet the responsibilities listed in the preceding section. The ideal candidate will possess the following characteristics:
• Passion, commitment, and understanding of the CSHL mission and values;
• Visionary communications and branding leader with a track record of providing strategic direction, leadership, and operational management of internal and external communications activities;
• Stature, self-awareness, and intellect to gain the trust and respect of the Board of Trustees, President and Chief Executive Officer, scientists, staff, colleagues, and the organization’s key audiences;
• Excellent communication (writing, speaking, presentation, and listening) skills and keen attention to detail, with the ability to translate complex and nuanced scientific information into compelling messages and communications strategies;
• Proven ability to build, expand, and strengthen communications, ideally for a complex not-for-profit organization focused on science, healthcare, or medicine;
• Highly advanced facilitation skills to promote collaboration across the organization, resulting in a thorough, inclusive, and integrated communications plan and materials;
• Demonstrated track record of leading and overseeing a robust communications team with direct experience in science writing, graphic design, video production, events, web development and social media;
• Affirming management and team building skills to help guide and mentor a diverse team of communications professionals, while maintaining best practices, collaboration, and shared accountability;
• Agility and judgment to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, act decisively, and set priorities among competing demands for resources;
• Well organized and creative problem solver with a high attention to detail;
• Direct experience leading communications in a scientific research, healthcare, or educational environment preferred; and
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in relevant fields preferred.

DIVERSITY
CSHL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other factors prohibited by applicable law. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
CSHL offers a comprehensive benefits package for this full-time, in-person position which includes great retirement benefits, exceptional health benefits, and access to the SightMD Center for Health & Wellness, Child Care Center, and Fitness Center. More information about CSHL’s benefits package can be found here .
CONFIDENTIAL INQUIRIES AND HOW TO APPLY
CSHL has retained Freeman Philanthropic Services, LLC (FPS) to assist in this executive recruitment. FPS is a national leader in recruitment for the nonprofit sector and related concerns and brings a proven track record of recruiting top talent to diverse institutions.
Please send all confidential inquiries, applications, and nominations directly to FPS via email at [email protected] .
All applications must include (1) an up-to-date resume (2) a letter of intent (addressed to FPS) that specifically cites the experiences that best prepare the applicant for this role and why this particular opportunity is the logical and desired next step in their career, and (3) a list of references. Additional materials and information will be requested during the search and interview process.