Executive Director, Career Services (Student Life)

About USC

University of Southern California (USC) is a constellation of schools, centers and institutes where some of the brightest minds, working together in a dynamic and collaborative environment, are leading the way to the future of education and a healthier, more joyful and more sustainable Los Angeles and world. USC is a leading private research university which offers students a world-class education with highly ranked programs in virtually every field - from cinema to the sciences - as well as unparalleled research, internship, and professional opportunities in a wide array of organizations including nonprofits, Fortune 500 companies and global businesses.

About USC Career Services

The mission of the USC Career Center is to provide exceptional career services to all members of the Trojan Family. Whether you are deciding on a major, exploring career options, seeking a job or internship, or looking for professional networks, the USC Career Center is committed to helping you achieve your professional goals.

About the Opportunity

A leadership position within the USC Career Center, university-wide career services, and Student Life, the Executive Director of Career Services reports to the Associate Vice Provost for Student Life and exercises significant autonomy in overseeing student and alumni career engagement, student internship engagement, employer engagement, career outcome reporting, and career services communications.

The Executive Director leads a team of approximately 20 professionals, as well as numerous graduate and undergraduate student workers, and works closely with the Associate Vice Provost for Student Life to create and oversee the implementation of a strategic plan for the Career Center. Additionally, the Executive Director is responsible for maintaining partnerships with USC's school- and department-based career centers to maximize opportunities and resources for undergraduate and graduate students and alumni (in collaboration with the USC Alumni Association).

We are seeking an aspirational and inspirational leader that maintains a student-centered forward-thinking focus. The candidate's leadership should aim to empower the talented team of career professionals in a collaborative, authentic, and action-oriented style.

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a cover letter with your resume - this can be added at the same place in application process either as a separate document or one document with resume.

Key Job Duties

• Work collaboratively in the Career Center and across the university to ensure that career services are inclusive, equitable, coordinated, and aligned with USC's strategic plan and priorities.
• Lead, supervise, train, develop, and hold accountability for a large and talented team; inspire, empower, and build a team-centered culture that directly drives student success.
• Oversee Career Center strategic planning efforts, annual goal setting, development and articulation of learning/service outcomes, and budget forecasting and oversight; partner with the Employer Engagement team to continually cultivate external funding sources to meet revenue targets.
• Strengthen and expand partnerships with school representatives and employers in business and industry, government, non-profit, education, and other professional sectors.
• Ensure career outcomes are collected and analyzed annually; coordinate the preparation and dissemination of First Destination Survey reports.
• Continually work to expand relationships with employers to recruit USC students for internships and full-time roles, including employers with a global footprint, partner in the oversight of USC global career services, China Career Services in Shanghai.
• Stay focused on the future of career services and technology; serve as a key campus resource providing expert, reliable information concerning career services trends, employment trends, and changes in technology impacting the work; make strategic decisions about integrating emerging technologies into service delivery.
• Represent USC to a wide stakeholder base including employers, students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni; maintain involvement on regional and national career services professional associations.
• Serve on Student Life committees and other committees as appropriate.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated skill, experience, and expertise in managing complex organizations with multifaceted job responsibilities related to career planning, international career services, employer relations, communications, and internships.
• Experience managing operational budget with multiple funding sources and revenue targets.
• Demonstrated skill in staff supervision; proven leadership in selecting, supervising, managing and motivating teams.
• Track record of creative approaches to accomplishing goals, a record of continually improving processes and service quality, and experience with strategic planning.
• A comfort with conflict; be willing to lean into tough conversations as a strategy to build teams and move goals forward.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain sincere relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate broadly across an institution coupled with the ability to distill complex organizational information and concepts to a broad array of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of assessment and program evaluation strategies.
• In-depth understanding of higher education administration with relevant experience in management of university programs and services that support students.
• Involvement and leadership in professional associations (e.g., NACE, MPACE, NCDA, NAPSA, ACPA).
• Advocacy for students' success and wellbeing -- academic, personal, and professional; a comfort with and desire to interact with students.
• Ability to prioritize multiple demands and possess the ability to operate in a fast- paced environment requiring high responsiveness.
• Master's degree in a relevant field.

Required Skills and Education

• Bachelor's degree in any discipline.

• Ten years of experience in progressively responsible positions within career development services and/or student affairs, or comparable business experience.

Salary Range: The annual base salary range for this position is $155,000- $165,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) 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

Minimum Education:
Bachelor's degree
Minimum Experience:
10 years
Minimum Field of Expertise:
Bachelor's degree in counseling, higher education, human resources, or related fields. Ten years' experience in corporate and/or higher education institutions, with supervisory/managerial experience. Excellent leadership and guidance skills, with demonstrated ability to manage, balance, and prioritize different tasks and projects. In-depth knowledge of federal immigration regulations, interpreting and providing guidance as to their pertinence to international students. Advanced knowledge of employer recruiting strategies, job market trends, and occupational, career, and employment information sources. Mastery of Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite software. Demonstrated experience with office management communication software and tools (e.g., Google suite, Slack, Skype) and social media management. Demonstrated experience managing multi-platform communications and marketing plans involving publications, videos, websites, social media, and public speeches and presentations. Superior level of professionalism, exceptional attention to detail, and exemplary communication (oral and written), presentation, and public-speaking skills. Proven business savvy, interpersonal skills, and ability to deliver quality services, and passion as it relates to impact on outcomes. Demonstrated experience interacting with a diverse individuals and groups, exercising diplomacy, good judgment, and discretion.