Student Services Manager

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.

• 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…