Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives & Communications

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 academ...