Associate Vice President, Executive Communications and Strategic Initiatives

The Office of USC Communications is seeking an Associate Vice President, Executive Communications and Strategic Initiatives (AVP) to provide strategic leadership and oversight of the university’s executive communications function. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Communications, this role serves as a key advisor to the President and senior leadership on messaging strategy, executive positioning, and institutional communications.

The AVP oversees the executive speechwriting function for the President and works in close partnership with senior university leadership and University Communications to shape messaging that advances the institution’s mission, reputation, and strategic priorities. This position ensures consistency of voice and alignment across all presidential communications while directing high-impact materials including speeches, correspondence, board communications, and digital content.

The AVP leads the executive communications team, manages complex communications initiatives, and collaborates with administrators, policy advisors, and deans to deliver cohesive, strategic messaging across the university. This role also guides major campaigns and institutional initiatives, leveraging analytics and insights to evaluate effectiveness and inform future communications strategy.

This position requires exceptional judgment, political acumen, and the ability to manage highly sensitive and high-profile communications with discretion and precision.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Developing, coordinating, and executing communications materials for the President and senior leadership that align with university priorities and enhance the institution’s global presence

• Serving as the final editor for all presidential communications prior to submission to the Office of the President

• Managing executive communications, projects, and a team of professionals, including oversight of the executive speechwriting function

• Directing the creation of speeches, scripts, talking points, correspondence, board communications, and digital content representing the President

• Partnering with senior leadership to craft issue-related communications and strategic messaging initiatives

• Identifying and developing content for strategic communications, including op-eds, speeches, social media, and multimedia materials

• Overseeing content strategy and management for presidential and institutional initiatives to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with university goals

• Managing and developing content for the President’s official social media channels, ensuring consistent voice, tone, and branding

• Establishing and analyzing metrics to evaluate engagement and effectiveness of communications strategies

• Advising the President on messaging strategy, speech development, and executive positioning

• Collaborating with senior administrators, policy advisors, and communications staff to ensure cohesive messaging across the university

• Handling highly sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and strong political judgment

• Building relationships across campus to identify and elevate stories that reflect the university’s impact

• Fostering a workplace culture aligned with the USC Code of Ethics

Perform other related duties as assigned. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, or in related fields

• 10 years of professional experience in writing for organizational executive leadership

• Experience in journalism and/or public relations, writing for the leaders of organizations in multiple formats.

• Strategic communications experience at a large, complex organizations.

• Demonstrated proficiency with writing fundamentals (e.g., grammar, syntax, AP style).

• Advanced judgment, analytical, and decision-making skills, and advanced political acumen.

• Expert knowledge and understanding of communications principles, concepts, practices and technical requirements in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides and project management software.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision, deftly handle time-sensitive matters, meet strict deadlines, and accomplish high-profile and sometimes confidential tasks.

• Superior interpersonal, analytical, and written and oral communication skills to facilitate executive-level decision making.

• Demonstrated experience interacting with a broad spectrum of leaders and community members, exercising diplomacy, good judgment and discretion.

• Ability to present ideas and solutions in non-technical, business-friendly terms and translate complex ethical, legal and compliance concepts.

• Proven facilitation and negotiation skills and ability to manage highly confidential, complex and politically sensitive matters.

• Demonstrated experience with office management communication software/tools (e.g. Google suite, Slack, Skype) and social media management.

• Demonstrated success in managing communications, projects and a team of professionals.

• Exceptional writing and storytelling ability with the capacity to turn complex information into compelling, concise and persuasive communications.

• Deep familiarity with the issues, structures and audiences within the higher education landscape.

• Demonstrated experience working with administrative, governance, budget and employment policies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 12 years of professional experience in communications content or speechwriting at a public or private higher education institution, particularly with a president and/or senior leadership.

• Ability to handle constructive feedback and adapt quickly to meet the needs of the assignment, including delivering multiple revisions and seeking approval within matrixed organizations.

• Experience working in higher education administration or governmental administration (e.g. federal, state or local legislative or executive administration).

Required Documents and Additional Information

Resume and cover letter required (may be submitted as one attachment).

The annual base salary range for this position is $255,000-$270,000. 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.

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.

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree In Journalism Or Public Relations Or in related field(s)
Minimum Experience: 10 years writing for organizational executive leadership
Minimum Skills: Experience in journalism and/or public relations, writing for the leaders of organizations in multiple formats. Strategic communications experience at a large, complex organizations. Demonstrated proficiency with writing fundamentals (e.g., grammar, syntax, AP style). Advanced judgment, analytical, and decision-making skills, and advanced political acumen. Expert knowledge and understanding of communications principles, concepts, practices and technical requirements in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides and project management software. Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision, deftly handle time-sensitive matters, meet strict deadlines, and accomplish high-profile and sometimes confidential tasks. Superior interpersonal, analytical, and written and oral communication skills to facilitate executive-level decision-making. Demonstrated experience interacting with a broad spectrum of leaders and community members, exercising diplomacy, good judgment and discretion. Ability to present ideas and solutions in non-technical, business-friendly terms and translate complex ethical, legal and compliance concepts. Proven facilitation and negotiation skills and ability to manage highly confidential, complex and politically sensitive matters. Demonstrated experience with office management communication software/tools (e.g. Google suite, Slack, Skype) and social media management. Demonstrated success in managing communications, projects and a team of professionals. Exceptional writing and storytelling ability with the capacity to turn complex information into compelling, concise and persuasive communications. Deep familiarity with the issues, structures and audiences within the higher education landscape.
Preferred Experience: 12 years in communications content or speechwriting at a public or private higher education institution, particularly with a president and/or senior leadership
Preferred Skills: Demonstrated experience working with administrative, governance, budget and employment policies and processes. Ability to handle constructive feedback and adapt quickly to meet the needs of the assignment, including delivering multiple revisions and seeking approval within matrixed organizations. Experience working in higher education administration or governmental administration (e.g. federal, state or local legislative or executive administration).

                                                  

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 [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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