Director, Food Industry Leadership Program

The USC Marshall School of Business invites applications for the position of Executive Director, Food Industry Programs within the Office of Executive Education. This leadership role oversees one of Marshall’s flagship initiatives—the Food Industry Management (FIM) Program—as well as future programming serving the evolving needs of retail, CPG, bottling, distribution, and food provision sectors. The Executive Director will lead strategy, curriculum, stakeholder engagement, and industry partnerships to elevate USC’s longstanding impact on the food industry.

The FIM Program, delivered in partnership with the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC), has for over 68 years provided high-potential leaders with transformative learning experiences that prepare them to take on executive roles across the food sector. Rooted in USC Marshall’s global reputation and supported by deep industry collaboration, the program combines academic rigor with practical application and serves as a key talent pipeline for the industry.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Serve as the strategic and operational leader of USC Marshall’s Food Industry Programs, including the FIM program and related initiatives.

• Partner with USC faculty, executive education staff, and external stakeholders to design, update, and deliver world-class executive education offerings tailored to the food industry.

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with senior leaders in grocery, retail, CPG, bottling, and food distribution companies, as well as the WAFC and other industry associations.

• Provide thought leadership and curriculum guidance, leveraging emerging industry trends to ensure content relevance and strategic alignment with business needs.

• Lead student and participant recruitment and serve as the primary face of the FIM program in the food industry community.

• Develop and steward an advisory board of senior industry leaders to ensure continued relevance and support for USC’s food industry programming.

• Collaborate with the Assistant Dean of Executive Education to secure additional philanthropic and sponsorship support for scholarships, program growth, and innovation.

• Support post-program engagement, including alumni relations and ongoing learning opportunities.

• Track and report outcomes of the program, including participant satisfaction, promotion rates, and industry impact.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 10 to 15 years of leadership experience in the food industry, with a demonstrated track record of success. Longer tenures are highly preferred.

• Deep knowledge of food sector segments including grocery/retail, consumer packaged goods, and/or bottling.

• Recognized credibility and professional respect within the food industry community.

• Experience in executive education, leadership development, or talent pipeline initiatives a plus.

• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and program management skills.

• Experience working across academic, corporate, and nonprofit environments preferred.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred).

• Experience: 15+ years of program or business management experience, including direct experience in the food industry.

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex programs and build trusted partnerships with senior leaders.

• Excellent communication, strategic thinking, and team collaboration skills.

Anticipated Hiring Range:

The annual salary range for this position is $104,394.49 – $148,872.99. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers a variety of factors including job responsibilities, candidate experience, market data, and internal equity.

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.

• Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.

• USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions*; tuition benefits for staff and their family; free Professional Development classes; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses and