USC · 5 days ago
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Los Angeles, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$175K/yr - $198K/yr
5+ years expUSC's Viterbi School of Engineering is seeking a Chief Marketing and Communications Officer to lead the school's marketing, communications, and brand strategy. This role involves developing integrated marketing strategies, overseeing executive communications, and enhancing the school's visibility through creative storytelling and digital practices.
E-CommerceFashionInternetRetail
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
Creativity, strategic judgment, and agility in a complex, rapidly evolving higher education and media environment
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
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
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
Benefits
Hybrid flexibility; this position is expected to maintain a strong onsite presence across the School’s departments, research institutes, and administrative units to ensure meaningful engagement and consistent service delivery.
Company
USC
USC is the UK's leading multi-branded high-street fashion retailer.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
unknown2013-02-28Acquired
Leadership Team
A
Angus Morrison
Co-Founder
David Douglas
Founder
Recent News
2025-10-09
Company data provided by crunchbase