Careers

USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education develops empathy, understanding and respect through testimony, using its Visual History Archive of more than 55,000 video testimonies, academic programs and partnerships across USC and 170 universities, and award-winning IWitness education program. USC Shoah Foundation's interactive programming, research and materials are accessed in museums and universities, cited by government leaders and NGOs, and taught in classrooms around the world. Now in its third decade, USC Shoah Foundation reaches millions of people on six continents from its home at the University of Southern California.

55,000 people shared their most joyful and painful memories with USC Shoah Foundation for the benefit of future generations. The stories in the Institute’s vast Visual History Archive® connect people to the past, and to each other.  The institute offers academic programs for educators (k-university), scholars, students, organizations and other individuals who are connected through their deep engagement with the content of the Visual History Archive.  These audiences are motivated to preserve the memories contained in the Visual History Archive, share them, research them, connect with each other and act for the greater good. The Senior Director of Academic Programs is responsible for ensuring that these audiences can become an empowered, engaged network of individuals and organizations connected to each other and to the Institute dedicated to making positive change through testimony.  

The Senior Director of Academic Programs will lead a dynamic team, mentoring staff's productivity and growth while promoting new initiatives and positive change for programs across the institute. This role will function as a partner for USCSF and USC colleagues and oversee all aspects of the programs division implementation of the institute’s strategic and academic plans. They will own the creation and maintenance of new strategies and provide a program plan to advance projects that make the Institute a dynamic, innovative leader in education strategy, including at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. This individual will collaborate with diverse stakeholders internally and externally to provide pathways for growth and sustainability. The Senior Director will prioritize service excellence, strategic vision and innovation in all responsibilities, ensuring a plan for a successful future.  They will lead a division responsible for meeting the goals of the Strategic Plan across the institutes key audiences, interacting with lay leadership and working closely with Advancement and Monitoring and Evaluation teams. This role will execute USCSF's strategic vision while championing USCSF's ethics, culture and values.

The successful candidate will have:

• Experience developing strategic plans and roadmaps and aligning resources to meet established organizational objectives.

• Experience building out programs from concept to implementation.

• Advanced knowledge of continual improvement processes for incremental or breakthrough advances.

• Experience and success developing project proposals, tracking results, resolving issues and presenting value add.

• Experience driving cross-functional programs and managing competing priorities.

• Ability to mentorteam members on program planning, improvement processes, data collection and reporting.

• Proven success leading a team with demonstrated leadership values and coaching skills.

• Ability to drive change and develop transformative environments for strategic growth.

• Demonstrated excellent relationship building skills.

• Excellent presentation communication and collaboration capabilities and demonstrated high level writing ability.

• Leverage the institute’s many platforms to effectively engage and communicate customized information to the various audiences of the institute.

• Proven planning and organizational skills, effective time management abilities and a growth mindset.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Plans and develops program objectives and content for the educator, scholar, organization and community audiences, including the development of online engagement platforms if necessary. Researches and identifies trends and needs and establishes program directions accordingly. Assesses quality of program operations. Modifies existing program services or creates new program offerings to maintain or enhance program standing.

• Directs the delivery of services to targeted program participants or beneficiaries. Sets and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria. Provides for quality assurance reviews and addresses areas in need of attention.

• Provides for and coordinates with other members of senior staff for the development and maintenance of automated or manual systems and procedures to facilitate program operations

• Directly or indirectly manages all staff assigned to the program, usually through subordinate managers or supervisors. Oversees performance appraisal process for program staff and remains informed of any disciplinary actions required.

• Develops and manages program budgets covering operations, endowments and sponsored projects.

• Identifies fundraising and development opportunities. Seeks funds for program operations from private and public sources. Writes grants to fund programs, or works with faculty, researchers and/or staff to develop proposals. Serves as programs primary fundraiser and interacts regularly with support groups.

• Directs the development of marketing and promotional strategies as necessary for program outreach to include personal networking, publications, newsletters and related communications materials, and events planning.

• Represents the program in community service activities

• Other duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Education:

• Master's degree, EdD, PhD preferred in a related field

• Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

Minimum Experience:

• 7 years

Minimum Field of Expertise:

• Directly related program management and academic experience. Expert knowledge of field, education, community engagement or outreach experience and/or active in related organizational engagements. Ability to manage sponsored projects and fundraise.

Preferred Education:

• EdD, PhD

Preferred Experience:

• 10 years

• University administration experience

Skills: Other:

• Budget development and analysis

• Communication - written and oral skills

• Conceptualization and design

• Conflict resolution

• Consulting

• Development/fundraising

• Interpretation of policies/analyses/trends/etc. Interviewing

• Knowledge of applicable laws/policies/principles/etc.

• Managerial skills

• Marketing

• Negotiation

• Networking

• Organization

• Planning

• Problem identification and resolution

• Public relations

• Public speaking/presentations

• Research

• Scheduling staff

• Staff development

• Statistical analysis

Supervises: Level 4/5

• Manages through subordinate supervisors

Minimum Education:Master's degree. Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum educationMinimum Experience:7 years. Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum experience Minimum Field of Expertise:Experience developing programs, partnerships, and funding sources. Proven experience in management/leadership roles, overseeing staff and building and maintaining relationships with domestic and international stakeholders. Experience resolving inquiries and complaints, and presenting information to varied audiences and maintain confidentiality. Proven analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in specialized areas. Outstanding interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, with exemplary attention to detail. Experience in higher education and/or customer service. Proven ability to plan, implement, coordinate and organize program logistics. Demonstrated database/data entry experience. Proven project management and problem solving skills, able to handle multiple timelines, changing priorities, and fluctuating workloads.