Associate Vice President, Career Services

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Vice President for Student Life the Associate Vice President (AVP) for Career Services provides visionary and strategic leadership for the Universitys career development enterprise. This is a pivotal moment for the University and for Career Services offering the opportunity to build on a strong foundation of impact relationships and reputation while expanding visibility access and engagement across the institution.

This position directly impacts student success institutional reputation alumni engagement and employer partnerships with areas of focus spanning early career exploration capacity building improved communication and advising alumni engagement and technology and data utilization. This position also provides the strategic vision centralized leadership and operational oversight necessary to deliver a cohesive high-quality career development experience for undergraduate graduate doctoral postdoctoral and alumni populations across multiple schools and campuses.

As Career Services chief ambassador the AVP collaborates with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders including academic affairs enrollment services alumni relations corporate partners faculty students and employers to foster meaningful partnerships that advance student success. The AVP leads a student-centered forward-thinking operation oversees assessment and outcomes reporting and inspires innovation in response to evolving student and workforce needs. This role calls for a charismatic collaborative and communicative leader who thrives on connection shared purpose and authentic engagement.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Institutional Leadership

• Provide university-wide strategic vision and expert leadership for undergraduate graduate Ph.D. postdoctoral and alumni career development through centralized leadership and multi-school collaboration.

• Serve as Career Services chief ambassador by building partnerships with academic and administrative stakeholders employers and alumni to advance a shared career development strategy and expand national and international visibility.

• Drive innovation and adoption of best and emerging practices in career services including program design delivery marketing assessment and continuous improvement.

• Identify oversee and optimize career-related business enterprise systems to support scalable data-informed service delivery.

• Serve as a member of the Student Life Senior Leadership Team and contribute to overall Student Life strategy vision and policy; represent the University in regional and national career services associations and benchmarking groups.

Career Services Operations & Impact

• Expand employer outreach including concierge coordination for globally recognized employers recruiting USC students and alumni.

• Advance career development experiences by recognizing that varied student populations approach career exploration and preparation differently.

• Oversee University Career Services operations across four functional teams: Career Engagement Employer Engagement Internship Engagement and Operations.

• Ensure efficient coordinated and revenue-generating operations.

Team Management

• Lead and supervise approximately twenty professional staff fostering a collaborative high-performing and student-centered culture.

• Direct managers in strategic planning policies procedures budgeting assessment staffing and professional development.

• Establish organizational structures reporting relationships and short- and long-term staffing plans aligned with institutional goals.

Operations & Services

• Lead and coordinate the university-wide network of school-based career services under the strategic direction of this office.

• Advance technology-enabled service delivery models including the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance efficiency and the student experience.

• Develop and administer departmental budgets and shared-service agreements across schools.

• Coordinate complex multi-unit contracts and agreements in partnership with central offices.

• Carry out special projects as directed by the Vice President.

Performing other related responsibilities as requested and when necessary. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters degree preferably in higher education administration college student personnel counseling or related field; equivalent combination of education and experience as substitute for minimum education.

• 15 years of progressively responsible experience in career services advising student life or related field.

• Eight (8) years of management experience.

• Proven record of leadership and accomplishment in a complex higher education setting.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and to work effectively under pressure.

• Proven ability to lead large-scale initiatives manage complex operations and drive institutional change.

• Track record of effective collaboration with executive leadership and external stakeholders.

• Exceptional communication decision-making and strategic planning skills.

• Deep commitment to student success belonging and community engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate In Higher Education or Counseling or in related field(s)

• Knowledge of USC students and academic programs policies and procedures.

• Demonstrated experience influencing university policy and managing cross-campus collaborations.

• Experience overseeing budget planning risk management or crisis response.

• Familiarity with compliance areas (e.g. Clery Act Title IX FERPA).

• Fluency in one or more languages and/or strong community relations background.

Required Documents and Additional Information

Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.

The budgeted salary range for this position is$183754 - $ extending an offer of employment the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position the candidates 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.

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 theBackground Screening Policy Appendix Dfor 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 or by email at. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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