Chief Communications Officer

USC·Workday

Los Angeles, CAFull-timePosted Jun 29, 2026

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: https://gero.usc.edu.

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.

Brand Strategy and Thought Leadership

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.

Media Relations and Public Affairs

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.

Enrollment and Marketing Communications

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.

Advancement and Philanthropic Communications

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.

Research Communications

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.

Digital and Content Strategy

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.

Executive Communications

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.

Qualifications

Required

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.

Strongly Preferred

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.

Leadership Competencies

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

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

Success in the First 12 Months

The Chief Communications Officer will be expected to:

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.

This is an exempt position with a hybrid work schedule. On-site work is expected at the Andrus Gerontology Center during normal operating hours, after hours, and on weekends as needed. Some travel for events, training, and conferences to maintain skills and knowledge is required.

This position's annual base salary range is $143,500-$165,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, and external market and organizational considerations.

Benefits include a competitive salary and a rich array of USC benefits, including healthcare (including dental and vision), 403(b), tuition reimbursement, national holidays, paid vacation, and more.

If interested, please submit your completed application, including a cover letter and resume with references. Thank you for your interest!

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

Minimum Experience: 5 years, Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience

Minimum Field of Expertise: Management experience in journalism and public relations.

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 (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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