The Office of USC Communications is seeking a Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives & Communications to lead high-impact communications initiatives that advance the University of Southern California’s reputation and bring USC’s most important institutional priorities to life.
Reporting to the Interim Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, the Senior Director will serve as a senior strategist and cross-functional leader responsible for developing and executing integrated communications strategies for major university initiatives. Working across USC’s schools, units and leadership teams, this role will translate institutional priorities into compelling narratives and coordinated programs that engage audiences in Los Angeles and around the world.
The Senior Director will join USC at an extraordinary moment in the university’s history. Los Angeles will soon welcome the world for a mega event, creating a unique opportunity to showcase USC’s people, expertise, impact and enduring relationship with the city it calls home. At the same time, USC is preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary, honoring the university’s history while looking ahead to its next chapter.
This role requires an exceptional strategic thinker and relationship builder who can move fluidly between vision and execution, navigate a large and complex organization, align diverse stakeholders around shared objectives, and turn ambitious ideas into disciplined plans with measurable results.
This is a fixed-term (3 year) position with an anticipated end date of June 30, 2029.
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Lead communications strategy for major university priorities, developing integrated strategies and initiatives that strengthen USC’s reputation and bring the university’s most important stories to life.
Provide strategic communications leadership for USC’s engagement with a global mega event, identifying and activating opportunities to showcase USC’s people, expertise, impact and deep connection to Los Angeles before, during and following the event.
Lead communications strategy for USC’s 150th anniversary, developing a compelling, university-wide narrative and integrated program that celebrates USC’s history and impact while building excitement for its future.
Serve as a senior strategic advisor to the Interim Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer and university leaders on brand positioning, institutional priorities and high-profile communications opportunities.
Lead complex, cross-university strategic initiatives from concept through execution, establishing clear objectives, strategies, workstreams, milestones and measures of success.
Build alignment and collaboration across USC, partnering with schools, administrative units and communications teams to create cohesive strategies, messages and experiences across the university.
Identify distinctive opportunities to elevate USC’s story and reputation, connecting the university’s academic excellence, research, innovation, student experience, athletics, arts and culture, alumni impact and relationship with Los Angeles.
Provide leadership across strategic initiatives, setting clear direction, fostering accountability and collaboration, and continuously improving how strategic communications initiatives are planned and delivered.
Performs other related duties as assigned. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in communication, business administration, psychology or a related field.
Six (6) years of experience in management and/or leadership roles.
12 years of experience in project management, business administration, business strategy, human resources and/or related areas.
Experience developing and implementing strategic plans, programs or initiatives from concept through execution.
Experience leading complex, cross-functional projects and aligning stakeholders and resources around organizational objectives.
Experience developing project proposals, establishing and tracking measures of success, resolving implementation issues and presenting results and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
Proven success leading teams, with the ability to establish goals and objectives, coach, develop and create accountability.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and demonstrated experience leveraging project portfolio management tools.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in communication, business administration, psychology or a related field.
Eight (8) or more years of experience in management and/or leadership roles.
15 or more years of professional experience, with experience in higher education and/or another large, complex, mission-driven organization.
Experience developing and leading enterprise-wide strategies and strategic initiatives within complex organizations, including translating strategic vision into actionable plans, programs and day-to-day operations.
Experience leading organizational change and complex project implementation, including establishing metrics, monitoring progress and pipelines, developing methodologies and systems, and using results to guide continuous improvement.
Collaborative leadership and management style, with experience building effective partnerships across organizational functions, developing and supporting teams, navigating conflict, facilitating resolution and identifying and solving complex organizational challenges.
CAPM, PMP or similar project/program management certification preferred.
The Opportunity
Few institutions have the opportunity to tell their story at moments as consequential as those ahead for USC. With Los Angeles preparing to welcome the world for a mega event and USC approaching its 150th anniversary, the university has an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate its impact and shape the story of its future.
The Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives & Communications will play a central role in that work, creating communications programs that connect USC’s people, ideas and accomplishments with the Trojan Family, Los Angeles and audiences around the world.
This is an opportunity for a strategic, creative and collaborative leader to help shape how one of the world’s leading private research universities presents itself at a pivotal moment in its history.
Required Documents and Additional Information
Both a resume and cover letter are preferred (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.
The budgeted salary range for this position is $225,000-$240,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.
To support faculty and staff well-being, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of benefits and perks to help protect their and their dependents’ health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package.
Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree Business Administration Or Bachelor's degree Psychology Or Bachelor's degree Communication Or Bachelor's degree in related field(s)Minimum Experience: 6 years in management/leadership roles. 12 years in HR, project management and/or business administration, or business strategy.
Minimum Skills: Demonstrated experience building out programs from concept to implementation, developing strategic plans and roadmaps and aligning resources to meet established organizational objectives. Experience implementing and recommending best practices for continuous improvement and program planning. Demonstrated experience and success developing project proposals, tracking results, resolving issues and presenting value-add. Proven success leading teams with demonstrated leadership values, relationship building and coaching skills. Ability to mentor and develop teams by outlining goals and objectives, and encouraging continuous realignment and training. Excellent presentation, collaboration, and written and oral communication skills and capabilities. Ability to exercise discretion with confidential information. Proficiency with Microsoft Office. Demonstrated excellence leveraging project portfolio management (PPM) tools.
Preferred Education: Master's degree Business Administration Or Master's degree Psychology Or Master's degree Communication Or Master's degree in related field(s)
Preferred Certifications: CAPM, PMP or other similar certifications.
Preferred Experience: 8 years or more in management/leadership roles. 15+ years in higher education and/or finance.
Preferred Skills: Proven experience with conflict resolution, mediation, counseling, and identifying and resolving problems. Collaborative leadership and management style. Ability to drive change while maintaining fair and consistent work environments. Experience spearheading strategies for complex organizations. Demonstrated experience partnering with HR leadership to develop and execute strategic visions. Expertise overseeing and directing people services metrics, progress progression, pipelines, methodology creation, and project implementation. Ability to lead strategic initiatives in daily operations, providing guidance and support as necessary. Experience managing the implementation of HR systems and initiatives, providing strategic support to drive organizational change.
USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.
We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.
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