Assistant Vice President, Alumni Affinity Engagement

Assistant Vice President, Alumni Affinity Engagement

USC University Advancement is seeking a strategic and community-minded Assistant Vice President, Alumni Affinity Engagement to lead efforts that foster deep connections between USC and its various alumni communities. This senior leader will oversee a dynamic team responsible for engaging a broad portfolio of affinity-based and international alumni groups through meaningful programs, events, and volunteer opportunities.

Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations, the AVP will shape and execute strategies that create welcoming and enriching experiences for alumni to stay connected and give back to the university. Through thoughtful stewardship and collaborative leadership, this role will drive engagement, build lifelong relationships, and help expand the culture of philanthropy across USC’s global Trojan Family. This is a unique opportunity for a visionary leader who values connection, representation, and impact to cultivate thriving alumni communities that reflect USC’s mission and values.

This is a hybrid-fixed position under our current work arrangement plan, with the expectation of an on-site presence for 3 days/week on the University Park Campus. Late nights, weekends, and travel are required for this position.

University Advancement is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all, where all advancement staff and our stakeholders have the opportunity to connect, belong, and grow while supporting the University of Southern California’s mission, values, and goals.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Direction (40%)

  • Provide strategic direction for the teams within their portfolio to include identity-based affinity groups, veterans, alumnae engagement, and international alumni engagement. 

  • Develop in partnership with the director, a robust international engagement program that strategically engages our international alumni through volunteer leadership, networks, consistent programming and communications. 

  • Ensure each programmatic area of their portfolio has clearly outlined goals, operating plans, and measures of success that are tracked in a way that shows growth and depth of engagement. 

  • Manage the budgets for each area of responsibility 

  • Demonstrate mature judgement, impeccable integrity and excellent skills to establish an environment of confidentiality and handle sensitive matters in a discreet manner.

  • Represent the university and the alumni association professionally both internally and externally.

  • Perform other duties, as assigned.

• Leadership & Program Management (30%)

  • Create protocol and procedures that ensure the continuity of service delivery to our alumni across our team

  • Establish policies, standard operating procedures, goals, metrics and other key performance indicators to measure the ongoing effectiveness of the programs under their leadership. 

  • Create and lead an innovative outreach effort that accelerates growth in alumni volunteerism and engagement within their scope of responsibility. 

  • Collaborate across all areas of the USCAA team to provide leadership and opportunities for shared growth in programs and engagement.

  • Ensure that volunteers and their respective leadership structures, are representative of the breath of the Trojan Family, have strong succession planning, and are aligned with the strategic direction of the USC Alumni Association.

  • Develop and maintain relationships with key volunteer leadership, support the Board of Governors committees, and identify opportunities to grow the USCAA volunteer and engagement pipeline

  • Lead, mentor, and inspire new and existing staff members through a combination of transparency, effective communication, and modeling of collaborative behavior. 
    

• Philanthropy (30%)

  • Responsible for developing and supporting the Affinity Engagement team in achieving their fundraising goals for operational and scholarship support. 

  • In partnership with the Director of Business Development, identify opportunities and solicit for corporate and affinity partnerships. 

  • Maintain a portfolio and solicit prospects and donors 

  • Partner with the development teams to ensure a healthy pipeline of donors, especially within international relations. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree or combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.

• Minimum of twelve years of professional experience in alumni engagement and program management, or related function/field with progressive management and leadership responsibilities. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to prepare clear and concise reports and deliver formal presentations to senior management and other audiences.

• Possess a strong track record of working with teams to envision and execute strategic initiatives that will increase engagement and philanthropic support. 

• Ability to juggle a vast quantity of incoming information, interruptions, and inquiries with a high level of professionalism and tolerance for ambiguity.

• Demonstrated ability to serve different audiences and to work to build consensus among team members; excellent skills to advise and consult management on all aspects of communications including dealing effectively with sensitive or complex issues of information. 

• Proficiency with Salesforce and the Microsoft suite of applications as well as other applications, programs and databases; demonstrated experience with web and new media technology.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree

• Advanced knowledge of current affairs and issues in higher education with ability to quickly and thoroughly understand the changing higher education landscape 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Strong project/program management skills with demonstrated effectiveness in data analysis, critical thinking, creative problem solving, consulting, facilitation, negotiating, influencing, people leadership and strategic decision-making skills.

• Thorough knowledge of market research and of current/emerging marketing trends and best practices including digital strategies/technologies.

In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, community, well-being, open communication, and accountability.

Required Documents 

Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.

Compensation and Benefits

The budgeted salary range for this position is $210,015 - $250,000. 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 alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

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. You can learn more about USC’s comprehensive benefits here.

Minimum Education: Master's degree Additional Education Requirements: Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 12 years Minimum Skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to prepare clear and concise reports and deliver formal presentations to senior management and other audiences. Strong track record of working with teams to envision and execute strategic initiatives that will increase engagement and philanthropic support. Ability to process a vast quantity of incoming information, interruptions and inquiries with a high level of professionalism and tolerance for ambiguity. Demonstrated ability to serve different audiences and to work to build consensus among team members. Excellent advisory and consultative skills. Experience advising senior management on all aspects of communications, including dealing effectively with sensitive or complex issues of information. Proficiency with Salesforce and the Microsoft suite of applications as well as other appropriate applications, programs and databases. Demonstrated experience with web and new media technology. Preferred Education: Master's degree Preferred Experience: 15 years