Assistant Director, Master's Program Office

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Higher Education, Leadership, and Data (HELD) Program Office at USC's Rossier School of Education is seeking an Assistant Director (Student Services Advisor II). This role requires a candidate with student advisement experience and strong communication skills, who is dependable, empathetic, and detail-oriented. The Assistant Director will advise graduate students on degree requirements, evaluate unusual student circumstances, and propose solutions. They will also provide leadership and training to student service team members, maintain student records, monitor student progress, analyze data, and design reports. The position involves budget analysis and tuition projections related to student management. Communication will be key, involving composing messages to students, partners, and stakeholders through various channels. Collaboration with other university offices and faculty is essential for resolving student issues and supporting academic progress. The role includes designing and executing student events and programming, with some evening and weekend work required. Continuous training in university software, processes, and policies is expected, and the Assistant Director will serve as a subject matter expert for the program team. This is an hourly, non-exempt, hybrid position with some on-campus requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 3-5 years of professional experience, preferably in higher education.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills that enable the employee to adequately assess students’ needs and guide them to the appropriate university resources and successfully network with students, staff, and faculty.
• Demonstrated ability to provide critical thinking and problem-solving skills and to work independently.
• Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize projects in the face of changing priorities and fluctuating workloads.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, Internet, web content-management systems, social media, and database computer programs.
• Ability to work effectively with students in a holistic manner with enthusiasm for providing excellent student-centered services.
• Ability to embrace, promote and articulate Rossier School of Education’s mission: To prepare leaders to achieve educational equity through practice, research and policy.
• Minimum Experience: 3 years
• Minimum Skills: Directly related experience in student services and programming with ability to lead

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Education, Counseling, Social Work, Business, Social Sciences or other appropriate field.
• Experience in providing academic advising to graduate students
• Experience in managing large events with over 100 attendees
• Strong commitment to excellence
• Action and detail orientation to ensure accuracy in complex task
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work well independently and with a team
• Ability to manage and analyze data
• Ability to troubleshoot student issues utilizing multiple resources effectively
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to excel in a fast-paced environment
• Adapts well to change
• Highly motivated to ensure student success
• Positive and enthusiastic demeanor

Responsibilities

• Advise online and/or in-person graduate level students on the requirements of their degree, evaluate unusual student circumstances, gather relevant information, and propose solutions.
• Provide leadership and training to student service team members, including occasional supervision of graduate student worker(s).
• Create and maintain student records in databases.
• Monitor and track student progress and records, analyze student data, design reports, and propose and execute strategic plans to manage student populations.
• Participate in budget analysis and tuition projections as they relate to student management and programming execution.
• Compose communications to individual students, groups, and strategic partners, using email, social media messages, reports, guides, recorded advising modules, newsletters, and live online or in-person sessions.
• Collaborate with other university offices to resolve issues of petitions, financial aid, grades, fees, etc.
• Collaborate with faculty regarding student progress, grades, texts and assignments, course scheduling, and instructional resources.
• Design and execute student events and student success programming, including but not limited to orientation, webinars, receptions, conferences, and commencement, both in person and online, with some evening and weekend requirements.
• Seek training in university software, processes, and policies, maintain currency of training, and serve as a source of expertise for the program team.
• Provide academic counseling for online and in-person graduate students—primarily master’s.
• Advise on matters of curriculum, course, and degree requirements, and monitor student progress in the program.
• Address any/all program advisement-related issues.
• Maintain all data related to the academic record of students through various program systems and databases.
• Coordinates registration activities, grading, degree progress, enrollment, degree verification, and transcripts.
• Analyze student data, identify challenges, and propose and execute strategic plans to manage student populations and/or issues.
• Produce reports based on student record data, as needed, such as for program scheduling or program development purposes.
• Evaluate student academic, administrative, or personal problems and concerns, and refer student to the appropriate student services office for additional support.
• Guide students through petition and other record-related processes and policies.
• Liaison with other offices on behalf of students to facilitate problem resolution.
• Provide leadership and guidance to our advising team and student worker(s) who perform similar work, set priorities and timelines for the team’s work, and monitor and evaluate our delivery of student services.
• Collaborate with faculty and administrators regarding student progress, grades, assignments, course scheduling, policies, and student support services or resources.
• Maintain a network of Rossier and University contacts with pertinent offices to collaborate with and that serve our programs and students, including but not limited to Admissions, Credentialing, Accreditation, Registrar, Degree Progress, Fieldwork, Graduate School, etc.
• Design and execute student events and student success programming including newsletters/job board, orientation, trainings, webinars, receptions, conferences, and commencement, both in person and online, with some evening and weekend requirements.
• Maintain currency on university policies, procedures and regulations pertaining to registration, course and degree requirements, graduation requirements, petitions and other student services.
• Participate in budget analysis and tuition projections as they relate to student advisement.
• Ensure students are associated with the correct courses in the online learning system and are connected with their instructors and thesis chairs as appropriate/necessary.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.

Benefits

• 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.
• We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level