Chief Communications Officer

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is in the heart of downtown Los Angeles and is the city's largest private employer. USC is consistently ranked among the nation's most prestigious universities, and the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology features one of the world's best degree and research programs in gerontology.

The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology has an international reputation as a hub of aging research, and with additional strong programs throughout the university, it leads the way in defining and advancing the field of gerontology:

The world's leading school dedicated to the science of aging seeks an innovative, strategic, and entrepreneurial Chief Communications Officer (CCO) to join the Dean's Executive Team.

As a key advisor to the Dean and senior leadership, the CCO will lead the development and execution of a comprehensive communications and reputation strategy that advances the school's mission, strengthens global visibility, increases enrollment, cultivates philanthropic support, elevates research impact, and positions USC Leonard Davis as the authoritative voice on aging and longevity.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the narrative around one of the defining issues of the 21st century. The successful candidate will help transform public understanding of aging while amplifying the school's leadership in research, education, policy, and innovation.

The Chief Communications Officer serves as the school's senior communications executive and chief storyteller. Reporting directly to the Dean, the CCO will oversee all aspects of strategic communications, marketing communications, media relations, executive communications, digital strategy, content development, thought leadership, crisis communications, and stakeholder engagement.

The CCO will work closely with academic leadership, faculty, development office, admissions, alumni relations, USC central communications, and external partners to build awareness of the school's impact and strengthen its reputation among prospective students, donors, policymakers, researchers, healthcare leaders, industry partners, and the public.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Dean and is a member of the Executive Team.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with institutional priorities.
• Establish communications goals, performance metrics, and annual reporting processes.
• Build and lead a high-performing communications function and culture.
• Manage communications budgets, vendors, agencies, and production resources.
• Provide leadership for reputation management and crisis communications planning.

• Lead development and stewardship of the school's brand narrative and positioning.
• Position USC Leonard Davis as the leading voice on aging, longevity, and gerontology.
• Translate complex research and academic expertise into compelling public-facing stories.
• Create messaging frameworks that resonate with diverse audiences, including students, donors, media, policymakers, and industry leaders.
• Identify opportunities to elevate faculty and leadership as national thought leaders.

• Develop and maintain relationships with national, international, healthcare, science, education, business, and public policy media.
• Lead proactive media outreach and earned media campaigns.
• Secure high-impact media placements, interviews, op-eds, and thought leadership opportunities.
• Prepare faculty and leadership for media appearances and public speaking engagements.
• Monitor emerging issues and develop rapid-response communications strategies.

• Partner with admissions and enrollment leadership to strengthen recruitment efforts.
• Develop campaigns supporting master's, doctoral, executive, and online programs.
• Create compelling student, alumni, and career outcome storytelling.
• Oversee digital marketing, content marketing, and audience engagement strategies.
• Ensure communications efforts contribute directly to enrollment growth objectives.

• Partner closely with our Development Office and the Dean to support fundraising priorities.
• Helps develop donor-focused communications strategies.
• Helps create impactful case statements, campaign narratives, and donor engagement materials.
• Helps position aging and longevity as compelling philanthropic investment opportunities.

• Elevate visibility of faculty research, centers, institutes, and grant-funded initiatives.
• Develop research impact reports, policy briefs, and executive summaries.
• Promote faculty awards, discoveries, publications, and external recognition.
• Support communications efforts related to federal agencies, foundations, and research sponsors.
• Increase awareness of the school's contributions to public policy and societal impact.

• Oversee website strategy, digital experience, analytics, and Search Engine Optimization.
• Lead development of integrated content platforms and editorial calendars.
• Direct social media strategy across institutional channels.
• Ensure all communications channels operate as a coordinated ecosystem.
• Use analytics and audience insights to continuously improve performance.

• Draft speeches, presentations, remarks, opinion pieces, and strategic communications for the Dean.
• Support executive visibility and leadership positioning.
• Manage communications related to major announcements, initiatives, partnerships, and milestones.

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, public affairs, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible communications leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading communications strategy for a complex organization.
• Significant experience in media relations and executive communications.
• Outstanding writing, editing, storytelling, and presentation skills.
• Experience managing teams, budgets, and external partners.
• Strong understanding of digital communications, audience development, and analytics.
• Ability to translate complex research and technical concepts into compelling narratives.
• Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
• A creative mindset to develop engaging content, campaigns, and strategies that resonate with the audience.
• Ability to adapt to evolving priorities, deadlines, and challenges while maintaining high-quality work.
• Strong problem-solving skills to address unexpected challenges in communications and event promotion.

• Advanced degree.
• Experience in higher education, healthcare, research institutions, foundations, or mission-driven organizations.
• Experience supporting fundraising and advancement communications.
• Familiarity with science, health, public policy, aging, or longevity-related fields.
• Experience serving as a member of a senior leadership team.
• Established national media relationships.

• Strategic vision and institutional thinking
• Executive presence and sound judgment
• Exceptional relationship-building skills
• Creativity and entrepreneurial mindset
• Political acumen and diplomacy
• Strong project management and execution skills
• Commitment to collaboration and shared success
• Passion for the mission of improving lives through aging research, education, and innovation

• Rebuild and lead the school's communications operation.
• Establish a comprehensive communications infrastructure and measurement framework.
• Launch a proactive national media relations program.
• Increase visibility of faculty research and thought leadership.
• Strengthen communications support for enrollment and fundraising priorities.
• Develop a unified brand narrative and content strategy.
• Create measurable growth in awareness, engagement, and stakeholder reach.

• Notice of Non-discrimination
• Employment Equity
• Read USC's Clery Act Annual Security Report
• USC is a smoke-free environment
• Digital Accessibility