Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives & Communications

About this role

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, S

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