Admissions & Compliance Manager

The mission of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is to improve the well-being of vulnerable individuals and communities, advance social and economic justice, and eradicate pressing societal problems in complex and culturally diverse urban environments throughout Southern California, the nation, and the world. Our mission is achieved by providing students with experiential, practice, and competency-based learning, and culturally responsive training that is informed by evidence and best practices.

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, the Office of Academic Affairs is seeking an Admissions & Compliance Manager.  The Admissions and Compliance Manager oversees the admissions processes for degrees and certificates within the SDP School of Social Work, ensuring equitable, transparent and efficient selection of candidates while maintaining compliance with academic standards and legal regulations. This role requires coordination with academic programs and departments, recruitment and admissions teams, and regulatory bodies locally and nationally, particularly in terms of social work and nursing, to uphold integrity and adherence to internal and external policies. Key responsibilities include streamlining admissions procedures, ensuring program, certificate and reporting compliance, analyzing data for continuous improvement, and fostering an inclusive applicant experience. The Manager will champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within admissions and compliance efforts. This position demands excellent organizational and leadership skills, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and a commitment to upholding the highest standards of academic excellence and regulatory compliance.

• Manages the on campus, hybrid, and online admissions pipelines for SDP School of Social Work programs. Provides assistance and support to Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and faculty program directors as needed in the planning, design, development and implementation of short and long-term admissions and compliance-related projects. Plans, coordinates, schedules and organizes project activities to meet objectives.
• Prepares status reports on project plans, progress and results of activities. Develops, enhances and maintains information systems to support project operations.
• Coordinates and assembles confidential documentation. Ensures completeness and accuracy of the documentation for review and/or approval. Maintains confidential files. Coordinates and monitors distribution of confidential materials.
• Assists formation of ad hoc committees and monitors progress toward completion of assigned tasks. Ensures that committee reports and recommendations are submitted in a timely manner. Follows up with implementation as appropriate.
• Serves as key resource for project information. Interfaces with faculty, staff, and/or external contacts necessary to complete assignments. Resolves problems and/or questions referred by project staff or administrators.
• Develops, prepares and edits reports, publications, presentations, official correspondence, newsletters, articles, bulletins, brochures, manuals and other training materials, advertising copy, etc., as needed or assigned. Identifies and determines topics or subjects for various projects.
• Researches, gathers, organizes and summarizes data for admissions and compliance projects. Develops, evaluates, recommends and implements procedures for data acquisition, management and quality control. Analyzes data for trends or conclusions and presents results and recommendations to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
• May directly or indirectly manage staff assigned to a project. Plans and staffs project operations based on proposed activities and timelines. Makes hiring, promotional and salary decisions, when necessary, in accordance with university policy. Provides training and technical supervision to staff, as needed. Motivates and monitors the progress of work performed by project staff.
• Designs and creates documents using computerized graphics, desktop publishing and word processing software. Determines type(s) of artwork (e.g., illustrations, photos, charts, graphs, design covers) to accompany documents while considering compatibility, content, audience, style, format, intent, etc.
• Manages all aspects of publication production to meet all applicable deadlines.
• Evaluates response to documentation and/or publications for effectiveness. Makes recommendations for future documentation and/or publications.
• Develops and manages project budgets. Provides historical data and projections. Prepares and/or directs the preparation of financial reports as required.
• Coordinates and/or links project operations with other administrative functions on and off campus and/or within the school.
• Performs additional tasks and responsibilities as may be assigned by the dean.

This is for a full-time, fixed-term position.

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Minimum Experience:

• 5 years of admissions, compliance operations, or related project administration experience.
• Knowledge of accreditation requirements and standards.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with a variety of people, including internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience utilizing change management principles to accomplish goals through collaboration, coordination, effective coaching and mentoring others.
• Effectively utilizes systems thinking approaches and strategic planning to scale up operational processes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in relevant field
• 5-7 years of admissions or compliance project operations experience, preferably in social work education or higher education administration.
• Demonstrated proficiency with systems-based, data-driven quality improvement processes, learning management systems, or similar digital learning platforms preferred.

Compensation: The annual base range for this position is $89,635.64-$117,000.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action 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 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. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix Dfor specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.  

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree Minimum Experience: 5 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Administrative or project administration experience.