Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Educational Innovation

Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Educational Innovation

To date, what is happening in the brain has not been firmly connected to what is happening in the classroom. The mission of the USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education (CANDLE) is to bring educational innovation and developmental affective neuroscience into partnership, and to use what is learned to guide the transformation of schools, policy, and the student and teacher experience for a healthier and more equitable society. By inventing new study methods and launching a transdisciplinary conversation about the goals and processes of education in the modern era, CANDLE integrates research in schools and laboratory settings, leveraging the expertise of both practitioners and scientists. Located in USC Brain and Creativity Center, the Center serves as a dynamic hub for translating this research back to educators and policymakers. 

A core focus for the Center is to ensure that the science that is developed is put into practice and policy for the betterment of the educational system.  CANDLE conducts synergistic field and laboratory research to learn more about how educators and students think and feel, and how these thoughts and feelings are related to their brain development, deep learning, health and achievement in various contexts, now and over time. We document live teaching and learning while simultaneously capturing physiological data, and then follow up in the lab with interviews, authentic learning and teaching activities, and brain scans.  CANDLE provides a much-needed forum for scientists and educators to work together by facilitating in-depth conversations, professional learning centers and scientific gatherings. The Center helps educators answer the “so what?” question about neuroscience—what neuroscience means for structures and practices in schools and how neuroscience informs the professional toolkit needed by teachers in contemporary classrooms. CANDLE also helps neuroscientists know what kind of work is needed most by educators in the field.

Summary

The USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education (CANDLE) seeks a highly motivated and entrepreneurial Project Manager to support the development, implementation, and growth of strategic initiatives that translate research into educational practice and policy.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director and working closely with the Center's scientific, educational practice, operations, and program leadership teams, this position will help advance CANDLE's mission by supporting the development of new project lines, strategic partnerships, district engagement efforts, revenue-generating initiatives, and externally funded opportunities.

The Project Manager will play a central role in expanding the reach and impact of CANDLE's work by helping educators, school systems, and organizational partners apply developmental affective neuroscience, Science of Learning and Development (SOLD) principles, transcendent thinking, and whole-child approaches to educational improvement and redesign.

This position requires a unique blend of project management expertise, educational leadership experience, relationship development skills, and the ability to work across research, practice, fundraising, and organizational development functions.

This position will report to the Executive Director.

Primary Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Strategic Initiatives and Project Development

• Support the Executive Director and senior leadership team in identifying, developing, and launching new strategic initiatives.

• Manage the planning and implementation of complex projects that advance CANDLE's research, educational practice, and public engagement objectives.

• Develop project plans, timelines, implementation strategies, budgets, deliverables, and reporting systems.

• Coordinate cross-functional teams that include researchers, educators, consultants, district partners, and external collaborators.

• Support the development of new service offerings, partnership opportunities, and revenue-generating initiatives.

District and Educational Partnerships

• Build and maintain relationships with school districts, educational organizations, foundations, intermediary organizations, and strategic partners.

• Support district engagement efforts focused on educational redesign, educator learning, leadership development, and implementation of transcendent thinking approaches.

• Assist in the development and execution of partnership agreements, pilot programs, and implementation plans.

• Represent CANDLE in meetings, presentations, conferences, and professional learning events.

Program Design and Delivery

• Collaborate with the Educational Practice team in the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of professional learning experiences and innovation programs.

• Support planning and delivery of CANDLE's Innovation Lab, COLABs, educator learning communities, workshops, design sprints, and related initiatives.

• Coordinate logistics, communications, partner engagement, implementation support, and evaluation activities.

Fundraising and Business Development

• Identify and track funding opportunities aligned with CANDLE's strategic priorities.

• Assist with proposal development, grant writing, budgets, concept papers, presentations, and funder communications.

• Support donor cultivation activities, partnership development efforts, and strategic outreach.

• Contribute to the development of sustainability strategies for new and existing initiatives.

Operations and Project Management

• Establish project management systems, workflows, documentation processes, and reporting mechanisms.

• Monitor project progress, risks, budgets, timelines, and deliverables.

• Prepare reports, briefing materials, presentations, and project updates for leadership, partners, and funders.

• Coordinate activities across program, research, communications, and operations functions.

• Support continuous improvement efforts through data collection, stakeholder feedback, and evaluation findings.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong knowledge of Science of Learning and Development (SOLD) frameworks and their application in educational settings.

• Deep understanding of whole-child development approaches and educational transformation efforts.

• Familiarity with USC CANDLE's research, frameworks, and approach to translating developmental affective neuroscience into practice.

• Understanding of transcendent thinking and its implications for teaching, learning, identity development, purpose, meaning making, and educational redesign.

• Experience working with school systems, district leadership teams, educational networks, or intermediary organizations.

• Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects from concept through implementation.

• Experience supporting organizational growth, partnership development, and new initiative development.

• Demonstrated success in proposal development, grant writing, fundraising support, or business

• development activities.

• Strong facilitation, presentation, and relationship management skills.

• Ability to work effectively across research, practice, operational, and external partnership environments.

• Excellent written communication and project management capabilities.

• Commitment to educational equity, human development, and innovation in education.

• Familiarity with educational research methodologies and evidence translation.

• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams that include researchers and practitioners.

• Experience supporting large-scale implementation of educational innovation initiatives.

• Experience developing and scaling educational innovations across multiple districts, schools, or educational networks.

Minimum Education

• Master's degree required

• Doctorate preferred

Preferred Fields

• Education

• Educational Leadership

• Learning Sciences

• Human Development

• Public Policy

• Organizational Leadership

• Nonprofit Management

• Related fields

Minimum Experience

• 10 years of progressively responsible project or program management experience

Preferred Experience

• 7–10+ years working with school systems, educational innovation organizations, research-practice partnerships, foundations, or educational nonprofits

Applications should be submitted via usccarreers.usc.edu and should include the following:

• Resume or CV and a cover letter, including any other documents requested (Our system will allow you to add additional documentation by clicking the “upload” button in the same section where you attach your resume.)

The annual base salary range for this position is $165,000-$180,000. 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 equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

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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