Director, AME Student Affairs

The USC Viterbi School of Engineering's Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (AME) is seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join our team as Director of Student Affairs(Student Services Advisor III). The successful candidate will serve as a strategic leader, overseeing the administrative management of student affairs staff, student populations (BS, MS, and Ph.D.), and providing guidance and supervision for student services advisors, student workers, volunteers, and/or graduate assistants. Additionally, this role will lead as the department curriculum coordinator and planner, managing course scheduling and advising team assignments.

The Director of Student Affairswill play a pivotal role in administering student services and implementing best practices, including process improvements, to enhance the academic experience and support the success of our students.This position reports directly to the Director for Administration and Finance at AME and collaborates closely with AME’s Chair, Associate Chairs, and faculty, as well as Viterbi Admissions and Student Engagement (VASE). 

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Overall Administrative Management:

• Provide strategic direction for the office of student affairs, ensuring alignment with university and VASE policies and procedures for each degree program and major area.

• Supervise student services advisors and support staff in delivering counseling and student services effectively.

• Curriculum Coordination and Course Scheduling:

• Lead as the department curriculum coordinator, overseeing course scheduling for each term and advising team assignments.

• Coordinate with faculty and administrators to ensure efficient course enrollment management.

• Academic Advisement and Student Services:

• Provide academic advisement and counseling to current BS, MS, PDP (Progressive Degree Program), and Ph.D. students through various channels.

• Interface with faculty, administrators, and students on grading policies, academic progress, and registration activities.

• Participate in departmental committees related to student services issues and manage administrative processes effectively.

• Program Development and Strategic Planning:

• Develop and implement program goals and strategies aligned with the school's academic and business plans.

• Monitor program progress, adjust plans as needed, and stay informed of emerging trends in student services.

• Manage student records and data, prepare statistical analyses and reports for strategic planning and decision-making.

• Communication and Outreach:

• Plan and administer communication programs to publicize student services and ensure consistency in information delivery.

• Develop outreach strategies to raise awareness of services among students and other stakeholders.

• Interdepartmental Collaboration:

• Interact with other university departments and external organizations to coordinate services effectively, including Classroom Scheduling, Grades Department, Degree Progress, Articulation, Registration, Office of International Services, and Office of Campus Wellness and Crisis.

Job duties may be added or modified as needed. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the mission of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Viterbi staff are expected to facilitate a culture of support and service, to model civility and respectful engagement at all times, and to maintain the highest ethical standards and to maintain strict confidentiality across all facets of their work. 

Additional Information

This is an onsite position at USC’s University Park Campus located in Los Angeles, California. This position is not eligible for remote work.

The annual base salary range for this position is $83,490.10 - $95,049.03. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope of responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations. 

Required Applicant Documents

A resume/CV and a cover letter are required. Please feel free to upload your application materials in a single document. 

USC and the Viterbi School

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is 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, students, and staff that make the university what it is.

Founded in 1905, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is named for Andrew Viterbi who developed an algorithm to connect the world’s citizens. Similarly, the school, located in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international business in the heart of the Pacific Rim, is a hub for entrepreneurship that connects students from 64 countries.

USC Viterbi is a pioneer in restoring sight to the blind; restoring memory to sufferers of Alzheimer’s; and socially assistive robots to aid seniors with stroke or children with autism. It is the home of the first operational quantum computing center in academia. Our alumni include Neil Armstrong, first human on the moon; A.C. Mike Markkula, co-founder of Apple; and Wanda Austin, former CEO of the Aerospace Corporation.

The USC Viterbi School is consistently ranked among the top graduate programs (U.S. News and World Report). Under the leadership of Dean Yannis C. Yortsos, the school helped re-imagine the 21st century engineer, pioneering the Grand Challenge Scholars Program in schools across the globe. Our mission is to serve California, the nation and the world. At USC Viterbi, we call this the enabling power of Engineering+.