Communications Lead

The mission of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is to champion social justice for the well‑being of individuals, families, and communities through innovative teaching of evidence‑based practice and practice‑based skills, pioneering transformative research, and cultivating leadership for social change throughout Southern California, the nation and the world.

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is seeking a Communications Lead to provide advanced‑level communications support for the school, with a specific focus on developing and executing content creation and development strategies. The ideal candidate will steer departmental public relations efforts while maintaining customer‑experience continuity and consistency for the school’s brand.

Reporting to the Dean of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, this position collaborates with a diverse community of faculty, staff, and students, as well as university leadership, central administration, members of the Board of Councilors, alumni, donors, and community partners.

• Sets strategies for content creation and development, overseeing and reviewing content overall and ensuring clear, engaging communications are disseminated to staff and a broad range of customers, partners and stakeholders. Empowers team to develop material for publications and presentations (e.g., websites, newsletters, leadership talking points).
• Supervises a team that generates various written materials in collaboration with creative counterparts. Guides structural leadership on objectives, strategies and plans by implementing the review and approval process for internal/external communications. Collaborates with the organizational engagement team, aligning messaging and supporting needs for change and transition initiatives. Maintains currency with university projects, steering and advisory committees, campus‑wide initiatives, and technology events and councils to sustain and further build comprehensive understanding of key constituent groups.
• Leads development efforts regarding documentation, intranet and social media presence. Reviews and manages changes and updates to antiquated or obsolete documentation. Oversees efforts to streamline messaging, providing consultation support to leaders, departments and project teams.
• Manages departmental public relations efforts (e.g., content for specific audiences, social media outreach), maintaining customer‑experience continuity and consistency for a school or division’s brand, image, and voice. Assesses and utilizes impact analyses for different communication channels. Defines and shares/communicates updated communication and distribution policies and procedures with team. Reviews, edits and approves developed and refined staff distribution channels and style guides.
• Aids the cultivation of a culture of belonging, engagement, trust and transparency, sharing information broadly, openly and deliberately. Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with a variety of team members, peers and leaders. Actively fosters team culture by embodying values and behaviors (e.g., accountability, ethics, best‑in‑class customer service).
• Advises the communication team on priorities according to plans. Aligns messaging and supports communication needs for change and transition initiatives by collaborating with the organizational engagement team. Encourages a workplace culture where all employees are valued, value others and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words and actions, in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics.
• Collaborates with team members and management, implementing effective communication, engagement, and culture solutions to support the department’s vision. Maintains currency with technology, standards, and best practices. Supports process improvement efforts within and across teams. Provides consistent, thoughtful and impactful mentorship to team members.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree, combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.

Minimum Experience:

3 years, combined education/experience as substitute for…