SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Brooklyn, New York - United States
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University seeks an accomplished, strategic, and politically astute legal executive to serve as its next Chief Campus Counsel. Reporting through the SUNY Office of General Counsel and serving as the principal legal advisor to the President and senior leadership team, the Chief Campus Counsel will provide counsel across one of New York's most complex public academic health sciences institutions.
Located in Brooklyn, SUNY Downstate is Brooklyn's only academic medical center and one of SUNY's four academic health centers. Founded in 1860, the institution includes five schools and colleges, a teaching hospital, extensive research programs, and a broad network of clinical and community partnerships. With a longstanding commitment to healthcare access, educational excellence, and service to historically underserved communities, SUNY Downstate plays a vital role in advancing healthcare and workforce development throughout New York State.
The Chief Campus Counsel will serve as a trusted advisor on matters spanning governance, academic affairs, healthcare operations, labor and employment, research, compliance, investigations, public-sector law, transactions, and enterprise risk management. The successful candidate will help leadership navigate the legal, regulatory, operational, and political complexities associated with a highly visible public academic medical center.
This is an especially compelling time to join the organization. SUNY Downstate and University Hospital are advancing significant modernization and reinvestment initiatives designed to strengthen healthcare services, enhance infrastructure, improve patient outcomes, and position the institution for long-term success. The Chief Campus Counsel will play a key role in supporting these efforts and helping guide the organization through a period of continued transformation.
Candidates should possess a J.D., admission to the New York State Bar (or the ability to obtain admission), and substantial experience advising higher education institutions, academic medical centers, healthcare organizations, government entities, or similarly complex organizations. The ideal candidate will bring exceptional judgment, political acumen, and the ability to translate legal complexity into practical, mission-focused solutions.
Interested parties can send resumes, nominations, and inquiries to Werner Boel and Taeler Kaufmann at [email protected].
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive learning, living and working environment that encourages equality and fosters a healthy, safe and nurturing environment for all staff, faculty and students. SUNY Downstate provides equal opportunity in employment of new hires, transfers, outside contractors and all current staff. It is also the policy of SUNY Downstate to provide a space where students, faculty, staff and guests are free from harassment and discrimination including sexual harassment and sexual violence.
The University is dedicated to fairness and equity for all persons engaged in its educational programs, employment and related activities and adheres to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity/access laws including the provisions of Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1973, the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, NYS 129-b, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and other related laws and regulations.