The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, staff, and students that make the university a great place to work.
The University of Southern California’s Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is seeking an experienced undergraduate academic advising professional to serve as an Associate Director of Undergraduate Advising. The Associate Director will advance USC Dornsife’s efforts to support students’ academic success, persistence, and timely progress toward graduation.
This position will supervise an established team of academic advisors and provide strategic and operational leadership for a designated advising cluster. The Associate Director will collaborate with faculty, advising leadership, and campus partners to ensure students receive consistent, holistic support that addresses their academic, developmental, personal, and social needs from matriculation through graduation.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership and Staff Development
- Provide leadership and day-to-day oversight for a designated Cluster Advising team, ensuring that the team’s work aligns with Dornsife and university priorities.
- Supervise and evaluate academic advising staff, set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and address performance concerns as needed.
- Support the professional growth of advising staff through coaching, mentoring, training, and opportunities for continued development.
- Lead regular individual and team meetings to communicate priorities, share updates, address concerns, and encourage collaboration.
- Communicate organizational changes clearly and support staff as new policies, procedures, systems, and expectations are introduced.
Advising Operations and Case Management
- Oversee team workload, appointment availability, office coverage, referral management, and other operational needs to ensure students receive timely and consistent support.
- Establish and maintain consistent expectations for advising practices, case management, documentation, communication, and student follow-up.
- Serve as a resource for advisors who need guidance on academic policies, procedures, student concerns, or appropriate next steps.
- Take the lead on difficult, sensitive, or critical advising cases that require additional experience, careful judgment, or coordination with university partners.
- Ensure that escalated student cases are addressed thoughtfully, documented accurately, and followed through to resolution.
- Oversee the implementation and communication of academic policies, procedures, deadlines, and university requirements within the cluster.
- Maintain a strong working knowledge of academic policies and advising practices in order to guide staff and respond effectively to complex situations.
Collaboration and Student Success
- Promote inclusive and equitable advising practices that support student access, academic progress, retention, and degree completion.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with the academic departments and programs served by the advising cluster.
- Collaborate with Dornsife leadership, faculty, admissions, and student services colleagues to address student needs and improve advising services.
- Lead or support advising initiatives, retention efforts, student programs, orientation activities, and other campus events.
Strategic Initiatives, Assessment, and Administration
- Review advising data, student trends, and service outcomes to identify areas of concern and recommend improvements to team practices and operations.
- Prepare and submit cluster-related reports, data, and updates to the advising leadership team.
- Partner with advising leadership and colleagues to help lead cross-cluster initiatives and special projects that strengthen advising practices, improve operations, and support shared student-success goals.
- Represent the advising cluster on assigned committees and working groups, contributing the perspective and needs of the cluster to broader discussions and initiatives.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree. Combined experience/education as a substitute for minimum qualifications.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience providing academic advising in a higher education setting. Combined experience/education as a substitute for minimum qualifications.
- Minimum Field of Expertise: Student personnel administration, academic advising.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s or Doctorate degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, Counseling or Related field.
- 7 years’ experience providing academic advising in a higher education setting.
- Supervision of 3 or more professional or student staff.
- Knowledge of USC programs, services and software.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced and team-oriented environment.
- Possess the flexibility in the face of changing priorities.
Required Documents:
- Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.
Salary range: The salary range for this position is $86,089.00 - $102,264.00. 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.
Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.
Required Documents and Additional Information:
- Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.
- Job openings are posted for a minimum of (5) five business days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.
- USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions after six months of employment; tuition benefits for staff and their family; free Professional Development classes; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses and free tram pick up services; discounts to sporting and other campus events.
Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
Minimum Experience: 5 years
Minimum Field of Expertise: Supervisory experience in student programs and services
USC is an equal opportunity 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 observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. 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 D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.
We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.
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