Assistant Director, Master's Program Office

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

5d • $35 - $39 • Hybrid

About The Position

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 join the "Trojan Family," which is comprised of distinguished faculty, staff, students, and alumni locally, nationally, and globally.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Higher Education, Leadership, and Data (HELD) Program Office requires an Assistant Director (Student Services Advisor II) with student advisement experience and strong communication skills to report to the Director. The applicant should be dependable, empathic, and detail-oriented.

The summary of the position is provided below:
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.
This is an hourly, non-exempt position. This position is hybrid with some on-campus requirements, including some evenings and/or weekends.

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. We work to improve learning opportunities and outcomes in urban settings and to address disparities that affect historically marginalized groups. We teach our students to value and respect the cultural context of the communities in which they work and to interrogate the systems of power that shape policies and practices. Through innovative thinking and research, we strive to solve the most intractable educational problems.
• 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
• Master's degree
• Doctorate

Responsibilities

• 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. The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

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. 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 [phone], or by email at [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level