University of Southern California · 1 day ago
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Los Angeles, CA
Full-time
Hybrid
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$175K/yr - $198K/yr
5+ years expThe University of Southern California is seeking a Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for the Viterbi School of Engineering. This role provides strategic leadership in institutional marketing, communications, and brand reputation while overseeing the development of messaging frameworks and major campaigns.
EducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
Develop and execute an integrated, multi-year marketing and communications strategy aligned with the School’s mission, institutional priorities, and long-term strategic plan
Establish unified messaging frameworks that strengthen the School’s reputation among prospective students, alumni, donors, faculty, industry partners, and global audiences
Lead strategic planning across all three functional domains, ensuring coordination, efficiency, and consistent service delivery
Serve as the School’s lead spokesperson and primary communications advisor to the Dean and senior leadership
Direct executive communications, high-profile announcements, and internal School-wide messaging
Lead crisis and issues communications, ensuring timely, coordinated, and accurate messaging in partnership with the Dean’s Office, University Communications, and relevant campus partners
Oversee development of high-impact storytelling, campaigns, and multimedia content that amplify the School’s academic and research strengths
Direct the integration of creative, content, and digital workflows to ensure consistency and quality across platforms
Ensure strong governance for web publishing, digital channels, and brand standards across departments and institutes
Champion accessibility, usability, and audience experience across all digital platforms and communications materials
Maintain a close strategic partnership with Viterbi IT's Digital Communication Group, which supports WordPress governance, Sites@USC, the Viterbi Web Calendar, Image Archive, and digital signage infrastructure, ensuring aligned platforms and cohesive digital experience
Collaborate with VASE Admissions and Recruitment to align messaging, strengthen prospective-student engagement, and support coordinated student recruitment strategies across digital, social, and web channels
Drive adoption of AI-enabled tools to improve content creation, research discovery, workflow automation, and audience targeting
Use analytics, dashboards, and modern performance measurement tools to guide decision-making, assess impact, and optimize storytelling and digital reach
Foster a culture that embraces innovation, responsible experimentation, and continuous improvement
Build and mentor a collaborative, service-oriented team culture grounded in creativity, accountability, and strategic alignment
Ensure equitable baseline marketing coverage for all academic departments, research institutes, and administrative units
Partner with School leadership, department chairs, and center/institute directors to ensure coordinated support, accurate representation, and alignment with institutional goals
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree
5 years of management experience in marketing and public relations
Preferred
Advanced degree in marketing, communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field
Extensive experience leading complex, multi-channel communications and marketing functions in higher education, research, or other mission-driven organizations
Demonstrated success in developing and implementing comprehensive brand, creative, and digital strategies that advance institutional goals and enhance reputation
Proven ability to manage crisis communications and sensitive issues with discretion, clarity, and sound judgment
Experience overseeing internal communications and organizational messaging that promote transparency, engagement, and alignment across diverse audiences
Deep understanding of digital marketing, analytics, and emerging technologies, including AI-powered platforms that enhance content creation, automation, performance measurement, and strategic decision-making
Experience identifying and responsibly implementing AI applications to improve storytelling, workflow efficiency, and audience targeting while upholding institutional standards and ethical practices
Strong leadership and management skills with experience mentoring creative and communications professionals in a collaborative, service-oriented environment
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to advise senior leadership and represent the institution to internal and external stakeholders
Strategic thinker with a record of innovation, adaptability, and results-driven decision-making in complex organizations
Company
University of Southern California
University of Southern California is a private research university offering opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaboration.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
University of Southern California has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (253)
2024 (239)
2023 (172)
2022 (207)
2021 (182)
2020 (195)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$19.64MKey Investors
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research InstituteCalifornia Institute for Regenerative MedicineCDA Foundation
2025-02-04Grant· $10.8M
2025-01-30Grant· $5.93M
2024-07-30Grant
Leadership Team
David A Barnhart
Director, USC Space Engineering Research Center
H
Hossein Pourmand
Assistant Vice President, Research Initiatives, University Advancement
Recent News
2026-01-17
Sports Business Journal
2025-12-30
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