Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Educational Innovation

University of Southern California•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

The USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education (CANDLE) is dedicated to fostering a partnership between educational innovation and developmental affective neuroscience. Its mission is to leverage this synergy to transform schools, policy, and the experiences of students and teachers, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more equitable society. CANDLE achieves this by developing novel research methodologies and initiating transdisciplinary dialogues on the objectives and processes of modern education. The Center integrates research conducted in both school and laboratory settings, drawing upon the expertise of practitioners and scientists alike. Housed within the USC Brain and Creativity Center, it serves as a vibrant nexus for translating research findings back to educators and policymakers, with a strong emphasis on ensuring that scientific discoveries are practically applied and inform policy for the improvement of the educational system. CANDLE conducts synergistic field and laboratory research to gain deeper insights into the cognitive and emotional processes of educators and students, and how these relate to brain development, deep learning, health, and achievement across various contexts and over time. This involves documenting live teaching and learning scenarios while simultaneously collecting physiological data, followed by laboratory sessions including interviews, authentic learning and teaching activities, and brain scans. The Center also provides a crucial platform for collaboration between scientists and educators through in-depth discussions, professional learning centers, and scientific gatherings. It assists educators in understanding the practical implications of neuroscience for school structures and practices, and how it informs the professional skills required by teachers today. Furthermore, CANDLE helps neuroscientists identify the most needed areas of research by educators in the field.

Requirements

Master's degree required
10 years of progressively responsible project or program management experience
Strong knowledge of Science of Learning and Development (SOLD) frameworks and their application in educational settings.
Deep understanding of whole-child development approaches and educational transformation efforts.
Familiarity with USC CANDLE's research, frameworks, and approach to translating developmental affective neuroscience into practice.
Understanding of transcendent thinking and its implications for teaching, learning, identity development, purpose, meaning making, and educational redesign.
Experience working with school systems, district leadership teams, educational networks, or intermediary organizations.
Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects from concept through implementation.
Experience supporting organizational growth, partnership development, and new initiative development.
Demonstrated success in proposal development, grant writing, fundraising support, or business development activities.
Strong facilitation, presentation, and relationship management skills.
Ability to work effectively across research, practice, operational, and external partnership environments.
Excellent written communication and project management capabilities.
Commitment to educational equity, human development, and innovation in education.
Familiarity with educational research methodologies and evidence translation.
Experience working with interdisciplinary teams that include researchers and practitioners.
Experience supporting large-scale implementation of educational innovation initiatives.
Experience developing and scaling educational innovations across multiple districts, schools, or educational networks.
Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
5 years, Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience
Directly related education and project administration experience in specialized field represented by project

Nice To Haves

Doctorate preferred
7–10+ years working with school systems, educational innovation organizations, research-practice partnerships, foundations, or educational nonprofits

Responsibilities

Support the Executive Director and senior leadership team in identifying, developing, and launching new strategic initiatives.
Manage the planning and implementation of complex projects that advance CANDLE's research, educational practice, and public engagement objectives.
Develop project plans, timelines, implementation strategies, budgets, deliverables, and reporting systems.
Coordinate cross-functional teams that include researchers, educators, consultants, district partners, and external collaborators.
Support the development of new service offerings, partnership opportunities, and revenue-generating initiatives.
Build and maintain relationships with school districts, educational organizations, foundations, intermediary organizations, and strategic partners.
Support district engagement efforts focused on educational redesign, educator learning, leadership development, and implementation of transcendent thinking approaches.
Assist in the development and execution of partnership agreements, pilot programs, and implementation plans.
Represent CANDLE in meetings, presentations, conferences, and professional learning events.
Collaborate with the Educational Practice team in the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of professional learning experiences and innovation programs.
Support planning and delivery of CANDLE's Innovation Lab, COLABs, educator learning communities, workshops, design sprints, and related initiatives.
Coordinate logistics, communications, partner engagement, implementation support, and evaluation activities.
Identify and track funding opportunities aligned with CANDLE's strategic priorities.
Assist with proposal development, grant writing, budgets, concept papers, presentations, and funder communications.
Support donor cultivation activities, partnership development efforts, and strategic outreach.
Contribute to the development of sustainability strategies for new and existing initiatives.
Establish project management systems, workflows, documentation processes, and reporting mechanisms.
Monitor project progress, risks, budgets, timelines, and deliverables.
Prepare reports, briefing materials, presentations, and project updates for leadership, partners, and funders.
Coordinate activities across program, research, communications, and operations functions.
Support continuous improvement efforts through data collection, stakeholder feedback, and evaluation findings.