Job Overview: Staff Assistant, University Police

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Staff Assistant to join the Department of University Police & Public Safety. As the only academic medical center in Brooklyn, SUNY Downstate serves one of the most diverse populations in the world.

In this role, you will provide critical administrative and financial backbone support to the police department and transportation units. You will act as a key liaison for personnel transactions, budget tracking, and the management of university identification services.

Key Responsibilities & Departmental Support

Administrative & Personnel Management

Operational Support: Assist the Department Administrator with time sheets, attendance reporting, and general office management.
Personnel Transactions: Create and track personnel-related documentation and manage department phones.
Transportation Unit: Provide specialized administrative assistance to the University Police Transportation Unit as requested.

Financial Tracking & Budgeting

Budget Monitoring: Track the department’s annual budget, including monthly expense variants and specific overtime tracking for Patrol and Transportation staff.
Purchasing: Assist with the creation of requisitions, professional purchasing, and the meticulous tracking of departmental expenditures.
Reporting: Prepare comprehensive monthly financial and operational reports for the Chiefs and Senior Leadership.

Identification Services (ID Office)

Credentialing: Manage the distribution of Downstate IDs to faculty, students, staff, and vendors, ensuring strict eligibility verification.
Orientation Support: Coordinate ID distribution during large-scale student and staff orientations.
Office Coverage: Provide phone and front-desk coverage for the ID Office to ensure consistent service.

Requirements & Qualifications

Education & Experience

Option A: Bachelor’s Degree in a related area plus 2+ years of administrative or financial assistance experience.
Option B: 4+ years of administrative experience with a financial background (accepted in lieu of a degree).
Option C: A satisfactory equivalent combination of the above training and experience.

Core Competencies

Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
Communication: Outstanding interpersonal and organizational communication skills with a strong customer service focus.
Discretion: Proven ability to handle highly confidential departmental information with absolute discretion.
Organization: Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to prioritize multiple projects in a high-pressure environment.

Schedule & Compensation

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday; 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Full-Time).
Salary Grade/Rank: SL-2.
Salary Range: Commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Bargaining Unit: UUP (United University Professions).

Why Join SUNY Downstate?

SUNY Downstate is a leader in healthcare education, ranked among the top five U.S. medical schools for training doctors by Castle Connolly Medical. By joining the University Police support team, you are contributing to the safety and operational efficiency of a world-class metropolitan medical center.

As an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, SUNY Downstate fosters an inclusive environment and encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Application Information

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, SUNY Downstate will not ask for your current or prior compensation history until a conditional offer of employment is made. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact ada@downstate.edu.

The Organization & Culture SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is the only academic medical center for health education, research, and patient care located in Brooklyn. In 2026, the institution is at a historic crossroads. Its culture is defined by resilience and a deep-seated mission for health equity. Following a major “transformation” plan initiated by New York State in 2024–2025, the university has pivoted away from maintaining a traditional, high-deficit inpatient hospital and toward becoming a world-class “Integrated Outpatient & Urgent Care Hub.” For the workforce and students, the environment is intense and clinical, driven by the challenge of serving one of the most diverse and medically underserved urban populations in the United States.

The Location: East Flatbush, Brooklyn

The Urban Campus: Located at 450 Clarkson Avenue, the campus is a sprawling complex in the heart of Brooklyn. It is a critical anchor for the borough’s healthcare infrastructure.
Neighborhood Impact: Downstate is one of Brooklyn’s largest employers. Its presence is vital to the East Flatbush economy, and its students are deeply embedded in the local community through outreach and neighborhood clinics.
A “New” Downstate: By 2026, much of the physical footprint is being reimagined. While some inpatient services have been redistributed to neighboring facilities (like Kings County Hospital), Downstate has expanded its Center for Determinants of Health and its biotech incubator, the Downstate Biotechnology Incubator, which supports early-stage life science companies.

Workplace & Academic Highlights (2026)

The Five Schools of Excellence: Downstate remains a powerhouse of education through its five distinct colleges:
- College of Medicine: One of the most diverse medical schools in the country.
- College of Nursing: Focused on addressing the regional nursing shortage.
- School of Health Professions: Training the next generation of therapists and technicians.
- School of Graduate Studies: Leading research in neuroscience and molecular biology.
- School of Public Health: Centered on urban health and social justice.
2026 Salary & Wage Landscape (Brooklyn Market):
- Registered Nurses (RN): Salaries in Brooklyn for SUNY-affiliated roles typically range from $105,000 to $135,000, often including state benefits and pension options.
- Medical Residents: First-year residents (PGY-1) earn approximately $72,000 to $78,000, following recent cost-of-living adjustments in the 2025–2026 contract cycles.
- Faculty & Researchers: Academic faculty salaries vary widely by specialty, with Associate Professors in clinical roles often exceeding $220,000.
The “Brooklyn Biotech” Focus: A major 2026 highlight is the expansion of the Biotech Incubator. Working here as a researcher or entrepreneur provides access to high-end wet labs and a direct pipeline to Brooklyn’s burgeoning “Tech Triangle” talent.
Comprehensive State Benefits: As a SUNY institution, employees receive the high-tier New York State benefits package, including the NYS Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP), robust pension plans (NYSLRS), and significant tuition assistance for employees and their families.

Strategic Values: “Equity & Transformation”

Health Equity as Strategy: The core 2026 mandate is eliminating health disparities. This isn’t just a slogan; Downstate’s research specifically targets conditions that disproportionately affect Brooklyn residents, such as maternal mortality, hypertension, and diabetes.
The Outpatient Pivot: Strategically, Downstate has moved toward a “Prevention First” model. By investing in a state-of-the-art Ambulatory Surgery Center in 2026, they aim to treat patients more efficiently and at a lower cost than the traditional inpatient model allowed.
Academic Integration: Even with the restructuring of the University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), the university has strengthened its clinical partnerships with NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County and Maimonides Medical Center, ensuring students have access to a massive and varied patient volume for clinical rotations.

To apply for this job please visit www.downstate.edu.