The American Film Showcase grant, now in its 14th year at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, is the premier film and TV diplomacy program of the U.S. Department of State, and the largest arts exchange program of the U.S. Government. Each year, AFS partners with U.S. Embassies and Consulates in more than 60 countries to develop their film, TV, and digital storytelling exchange programs.  AFS sends American films, filmmakers, and industry experts abroad to lead screenings or filmmaking workshops. In addition, AFS produces regional workshops and a Los Angeles-based residency for international filmmakers. Currently, AFS is funded to produce, over the course of one grant cycle, up to 60 international weeklong exchanges for American filmmakers, four regional and U.S.-based weeklong workshops for international filmmakers, two international alumni film festival exchanges, and up to 20 virtual master classes and multi-day workshops.

JOB SUMMARY

The Program Administrator oversees the programming of the exchange programs of the American Film Showcase, serving the diplomacy goals of up to 50 U.S. Embassies each year, by planning and overseeing all in-person and virtual international film exchanges, as well as designing and implementing regional and U.S.-based film workshops.  This position evaluates and develops operating procedures and best practices around AFS exchanges, designs special workshops to serve U.S. Embassy or Department of State priorities and international filmmaker needs, and consistently communicates the status of exchanges within the organization and with the grant funding body.  The Program Administrator builds and maintains a network of American film and TV professionals who serve as film experts on AFS exchanges, as well as serves as the primary resource for American foreign service officers, offering guidance on how to implement and lead AFS film-related exchanges and workshops effectively.

The position offers the opportunity for significant international travel while working closely with filmmakers, American diplomats, and international arts organizations. 

The ideal candidate will have significant experience within the American film and TV industry, familiarity with international film or TV trends, extended international experience, as well as awareness of international relations. This candidate should be a natural leader, an exceptional written and oral communicator, have a timely and proactive work style, flexible and calm in the face of challenges, a creative problem-solver, passionate about international travel, team player, and adept at connecting with people from different cultural backgrounds.   This position requires significant international travel as well as regular early morning and evening calls with U.S. Embassies around the world.

This position is based in Los Angeles at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.  It is a full-time, hybrid in-person and remote, fixed-term position.  U.S. citizenship required due to federal regulations.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

•   Oversees and implements the Exchanges Program of the American Film Showcase.  Plans and develops, in collaboration with U.S. Embassies and Consulates, the programmatic content of all weeklong international film exchanges, virtual exchanges ranging from 3 hours to 10 days, and regional and U.S.-based workshops.  Assesses the effectiveness of programs and modifies exchanges goals and activities for more impactful engagements.   Tracks and identifies trends in U.S. cultural diplomacy as well as global film and TV trends to maintain AFS’s relevance and demand in the field. 

•   Develops all written communication, both specific and general, related to best practices, operating procedures, opportunities, and policies for all exchanges for dissemination to U.S. Missions. Navigates the occasionally conflicting requests of U.S. Embassies, the U.S. State Department, the American film experts, and the requirements of the university.  In doing so, resolves problems and establishes new program precedents and exceptions.

•   Maintains and builds a network of American professionals in film, TV, animation, gaming, and AI who, as independent contractors for USC, serve as AFS experts, traveling abroad to teach various aspects of filmmaking to a range of audiences.  Provides leadership and guidance when working with these experts as they develop curriculum and presentation materials for targeted audiences.  Understands the skills sets of the experts and appropriately selects professionals to serve the goals of specific U.S. Missions. Develops evaluation methods to gauge the effectiveness of potential and current experts.

•   Serves as the primary point of contact for the AFS network of American film experts, international exchange participants, foreign service officers, and local employees at U.S. Missions and international partner cultural institutions.  Liaises all communication between U.S. Embassies and exchange experts. Navigates cross-cultural communication, managing embassy expectations and preparing American experts for possible cultural barriers inherent in international exchanges.

•   Working closely with U.S. Department of State, develops the goals and curriculum of the many major AFS-produced regional and U.S.-based 1-2 week filmmaking workshops including drafting program proposals, identifying instructors, recruiting and selecting participants through a competitive process, and collaborating with AFS colleagues on event logistics, promotion, and reporting, and assessment.

•   Effectively and regularly communicates the detailed status of exchange programs and workshops to the AFS staff, as well as the grant funding body, identifying problems and offering solutions.  Develops and maintains systems to share information consistently within the organization. The Program Administrator will work in tandem with other AFS staff who oversee the budgets and logistics of each program.

•   Regularly travels and represents AFS on international exchanges and workshops, overseeing the implementation of programs, and occasionally speaking on panels and for press about AFS.

•   Contributes to the annual AFS grant writing process by providing lessons learned and innovative exchange ideas that address U.S. public diplomacy needs.  In collaboration with the Program’s Director, develops proposals for special projects and additional funding opportunities.

Required Qualifications:

• Available for early morning and evening calls with U.S. Embassies around the world

• 7-10 years of work experience in American or international film or TV production, filmmaker development programs, public diplomacy programming, or film festival programming
• A strong sense of international socio-political dynamics
• A wide range of relationships across the American film and TV industry
• The ability to shift communication styles between working with artists as well as American diplomats
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to oversee multiple projects daily
• Exceptional writing and communication skills
• Adaptable and resourceful in the face of unexpected problems
• Outstanding people skills to collaborate with many types of individuals in diverse cultural settings
• Problem identification and resolution
• Available to travel internationally for 7-10 day trips, multiples times during grant cycle

Preferred Qualifications

•  International work experience, particularly in the developing world
• Fluency in a second language

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $88,006- $95,000. Salary would be offered based on skills and education level. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope of 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.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 3 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Directly related professional experience in area of program specialization. Current employees apply here