Deputy Director, Alumni Strategic Initiatives

Deputy Director, Alumni Strategic Initiatives

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the city of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the "Trojan Family," which comprises the faculty, students, and staff that make the university a prime place to learn, grow, and succeed.

University Advancement is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture in which all advancement staff and our stakeholders have the opportunity to connect, belong, and grow while supporting the University of Southern California’s mission, values, and goals.

The USC Alumni Association – a department of University Advancement – has a mission to support the overall advancement of USC by engaging all alumni for life, building a culture of philanthropy among the Trojan Family, and acting as the representative voice for all USC alumni. With over 480,000 members worldwide, the USC Alumni Association provides a wide array of programs and engagement opportunities, and supports a vast system of alumni networks, support groups, and multicultural alumni organizations.

The USC Alumni Association seeks a Deputy Director, Alumni Strategic Initiatives who is a proven alumni engagement leader, collaborative partner, and strong strategic advisor to advance the strategic direction of USCAA. Reporting to the Associate Senior Vice President of Alumni Relations, the Deputy Director will ensure that the alumni experience is championed within the team and the wider university, and hold responsibility for developing key initiatives, and work directly with our most senior volunteers to ensure that outcomes are aligned with priorities.

As the Deputy Director, Strategic Alumni Initiatives, you will have a strong understanding of the importance of alumni engagement as it relates to fundraising and the donor pipeline and will be well-versed in approaches to build and sustain strong relationships and structures to support the mission of USC.

This is a hybrid position under our current work arrangement plan, with the expectation of on-site presence on our University Park Campus.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Direction, Execution, and Leadership (35%)

• Develop systems to effectively manage the essential activities of the organization, including strategic and annual operations planning, to ensure USCAA continues to progress toward its goals.

• Ensure implementation of priority efforts in collaboration with the ASVP, the alumni team, Advancement, volunteer leadership, and across campus.

• Lead the development of a strategic direction tracking and project management tool; be responsible for co-leading the quarterly check-in meetings with the ASVP.

• Demonstrate mature judgment, impeccable integrity, and excellent skills to establish an environment of confidentiality and handle sensitive matters in a discreet manner.

• Represent the university and the alumni association professionally both internally and externally.

•  Perform other duties, as assigned.

​Board Management (35%)

About the Board:

The USC Alumni Association Board of Governors is a premier volunteer organization that provides critical advice and support in developing and implementing USC Alumni Association programs and services. Members also play important roles as ambassadors, greeting alumni at events and informing them about alumni programs and benefits. The Board promotes the advancement of the university and engages alumni of all ages and backgrounds. Its members represent each of the USC Alumni Association’s major constituent groups, as well as all the university’s major academic units. Members are appointed for one to three-year terms. Specifically, you will:

• In partnership with the ASVP, manage the USC Board of Governors, including the planning and execution of their meetings and calendar of events.

• Ensure that there is effective documentation and standard operating procedures, develop a stewardship program, and ensure that the board committees have clearly defined goals and are actively working towards increasing and enhancing the alumni engagement and student experience.

• Perform other duties, as assigned.

Volunteer Experience (30%)

Oversee unique engagement opportunities for new and existing volunteers with the Alumni Association and across campus. This would include providing leadership, su