Associate Vice President, Educational Partnerships

USC University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 257,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Southern California is seeking an Associate Vice President of USC Educational Partnerships to lead the university's educational partnerships and community-based programs. This senior executive will shape strategy, oversee a large team, and secure funding to sustain programs like the NAI, guiding outcomes from early engagement to college access and career success.

The AVP will direct an operating budget of $7–8 million, with most funding secured through fundraising, grants, and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required; combined experience/education may substitute for minimum education.
• 10 years of progressively responsible experience, including leadership in a university, educational, or similarly complex mission-driven environment.
• Eight (8) years of leadership and administrative management in education, higher education, K-12 educational partnerships, or college and student success.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and coordinates the strategy and operations of USC Educational Partnerships programs and activities.
• Develops and strengthens cradle-to-college-and-career pathways through early engagement to graduation and career success.
• Sets department goals, evaluates program effectiveness, and directs action for growth and improvement.
• Manages the Educational Partnerships workforce and staffing structure; mentors leaders and staff.
• Represents USC Educational Partnerships with university leadership, districts, community organizations, donors, and national networks.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Budgeting

Fundraising

Program management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Master’s degree in Higher Education, Public Administration, Business Administration or in a related field(s)

Doctorate in Higher Education, Public Administration, Business Administration or in related field(s)

Job description

Associate Vice President, USC Educational Partnerships

USC Educational Partnerships, within University Relations, seeks an accomplished senior executive to serve as Associate Vice President, USC Educational Partnerships, leading the University’s educational partnerships and community-based programs. The Associate Vice President (AVP) is the senior executive responsible for the strategic leadership, institutional stewardship, and overall performance of USC Educational Partnerships. As a member of the USC University Relations executive team, this position establishes vision, objectives, and strategy for the department’s complex portfolio and translates University priorities into coordinated programs, partnerships, operating systems, and measurable outcomes. The position provides direction and executive oversight for a collective of more than 150 full-time and part-time employees, teachers and other temporary staff, contractors, student workers, volunteers, and interns. The AVP also administers an annual operating budget of between $7–8 million, approximately 80 percent of which is secured through fundraising, grants, and sponsored funding led or directly supported by this position.

The Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI) at USC supports nearly 1,400 students annually through college‑access and success programming spanning sixth grade through college graduation, as well as approximately 200 children through early literacy programs. NAI is a rigorous, seven‑year pre‑college enrichment program designed to prepare students from South and East Los Angeles for admission to a college or university. The program supports students through the college application and financial aid processes and provides case management through college graduation. Since its first graduating class in 1997, more than 1,700 students have completed the program, with 83 percent enrolling as freshmen at four‑year universities and 42 percent enrolling at USC.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversees, directs, and coordinates the strategy and overall operations of all USC Educational Partnerships programs, projects, services, events, and activities.
• Develops, implements, and continuously strengthens an integrated cradle‑to‑college‑and‑career educational pathway that supports students, families, and communities from early engagement through college access, enrollment, persistence, graduation, and career success.
• Establishes department‑wide goals, priorities, performance standards, and outcome measures; evaluates program effectiveness and directs corrective action, improvement, replication, or responsible growth.
• Holds executive accountability for the quality, integrity, and outcomes of the NAI program and the complete Educational Partnerships portfolio.
• Directly and indirectly manages the Educational Partnerships workforce, primarily through subordinate directors, managers, and professional staff; determines organizational structure, reporting relationships, and staffing needs.
• Develops high‑performing teams and emerging leaders through coaching, professional development, succession planning, and meaningful delegation.
• Represents USC Educational Partnerships credibly and effectively with University leadership, school districts, community organizations, families, students, alumni, donors, funders, public officials, and regional and national education networks.
• Serves as a principal public representative and spokesperson for the portfolio at conferences, community events, the NAI Annual Gala, partner convenings, donor engagements, and other internal and external forums.
• Advises University Relations leadership on Educational Partnerships strategy, performance, financial position, emerging opportunities, material risks, community concerns, and matters requiring executive action.
• Develops and administers the Educational Partnerships operating budget; establishes financial priorities, approves expenditures, monitors performance, and provides timely financial reporting to University Relations leadership.
• Leads or directly supports the fundraising required to sustain the portfolio, including donor and funder cultivation, prospecting, pipeline development, grant writing, proposal development, and stewardship, in alignment with USC protocols.
• Manages relationships with approximately 20 major donors and grantors annually and maintains executive relationships with the leadership and teams of approximately 50 school partners each academic year.
• Works with USC Development and Advancement, Contracts and Grants, Sponsored‑Project Accounting, business offices, and other University units on pre‑award and post‑award requirements, grant administration, revenue goals, reporting, and stewardship.
• Develops, implements, interprets, and administers departmental policies, procedures, protocols, and internal controls in alignment with University requirements.
• Ensures compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, USC policies, Department of Education and TRIO requirements, grant and contract terms, financial controls, human‑resources requirements, and safety and security protocols.
• Coordinates security and emergency‑response procedures with the USC Department of Public Safety and other relevant University offices.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Public Administration, Business Administration or in a related field(s); combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.
• 10 years of progressively responsible experience, including leadership in a university, educational, or similarly complex mission‑driven environment.
• Eight (8) years of leadership and administrative management in education, higher education, K‑12 educational partnerships, or college and student success.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate in Higher Education, Public Administration, Business Administration or in related field(s).
• 15 years of progressively responsible experience, including leadership in a university, educational, or similarly complex mission‑driven environment.
• 10 years of leadership and administrative management in education, higher education, K‑12 educational partnerships, or college and student success.

Ideal Candidate Profile

This is an exceptional opportunity for a senior executive who brings a rare combination of institutional fluency, community credibility, executive leadership and firsthand understanding of the college‑access pathways this portfolio exists to create. The strongest candidates will offer substantial leadership and administrative experience in education, higher education or K‑12 educational partnerships, ideally reflecting 10 or more years, along with comparable depth of hands‑on experience advancing college access and student success. Additional attributes include: Fluency in institutional governance, budgeting, advancement, sponsored programs, academic operations and cross‑unit decision‑making; Executive oversight of federally and institutionally funded initiatives and community‑based programming, with a record of expanding programs responsibly while preserving quality; Demonstrated ability to set strategy, lead multiple major initiatives simultaneously, manage through subordinate directors and managers, develop emerging leaders and navigate change while maintaining operational excellence; Significant expertise in budgeting, finance, fundraising, donor stewardship, grant development, sponsored‑program administration, compliance and resource allocation; Established, trusted relationships across school districts, school sites, community organizations, families, students, alumni, donors, funders and University partners, together with deep knowledge of the Los Angeles educational landscape; Experience approaching this work from multiple viewpoints, including direct service, program management, executive leadership, institutional partnership and community engagement, and firsthand understanding of the student and family experience within college‑access pathways; The ability to translate frontline and community realities into senior institutional strategy, exercise executive judgment and political acumen, and represent USC credibly across constituencies; and Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.

Required Documents and Additional Information

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

Annual Base Salary Range

The annual base salary range for this position is $220,000-$257,000.

Benefits and Perks

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Southern California 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. USC provides 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 [phone], or by email at [e-mail]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

Company Culture

USC is a leading private research university located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles – a global center for arts, technology and international business. As the largest private employer in the city – responsible for more than $5 billion annually in economic activity in the region – we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills. As a USC employee, you will enjoy excellent benefits and perks, and you will be a member of the Trojan Family - the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who make USC a great place to work.

Administrative and Legal Policies

Notice of Non‑discrimination. Employment Equity Read USC’s Clery Act Annual Security Report. USC is a smoke‑free environment. Digital Accessibility.

Additional Education Requirements

Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education. 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.