Director of Heritage Association, Athletics

The University of Southern California (USC) is one of the world’s leading private research universities. An anchor institution in Los Angeles and a global center for arts, technology, and international business, USC is also one of the largest private employers in the City of Los Angeles.  We are searching for exceptional individuals to help us fulfill our mission: developing individuals and society as a whole through the cultivation and enrichment of the human mind and spirit. As an employee of USC, you will be 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.

USC Athletics aims to inspire champions in competition and in the classroom. We exist to enrich the lives of students to positively impact our community and world for generations to come. Operating with the four core values of Competitive Spirit, Togetherness, Passionate Pride for USC, and Our Courage to Blaze the Trail, the Trojans choose to lead by example. With over 600 student-athletes competing throughout USC’s 23 sports programs, USC Athletics is committed to serving as the unmatched, unquestioned top destination for talented student-athletes to reach their fullest potential in all that they do and offering student-athletes the ability to compete for NCAA and Big Ten championships while working toward a degree from one of the world’s leading universities.

Job Description:

USC Athletics is looking to hire a Director of Heritage Association to join our staff and student community of 600+ individuals.  This role is responsible for engaging, cultivating, and soliciting former USC student-athletes. This position will focus primarily on the Heritage Association including outreach, marketing, engagement, and soliciting as it relates to former USC student-athletes. The Director of Heritage Association will serve as a key member of the annual giving team supporting all external fundraising campaigns and initiatives.  

Reporting directly to Parker Poliakoff, Associate Athletic Director, the Director of Heritage Association will work in collaboration with the athletics development office, membership services team, the athletics marketing office, the central advancement annual giving team, alumni association, and individual sport programs. The ideal candidate will have fundraising experience preferably in collegiate athletics along with familiarity of the student-athlete experience. They are goal-oriented with strong writing, communication, and customer service skills. The ideal candidate will also have a collaborative mindset with a high level of initiative and creativity. Knowledge of and experience working in higher education preferred. Understanding of the unique culture and needs of college athletes preferred.

This position serves a diverse student and staff population, must demonstrate a commitment to improving outcomes for historically under-served populations, and is expected to contribute to the program’s diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts. USC Athletics is committed to increasing diversity in its staff and welcomes applications from persons of all backgrounds, ethnicities, races, genders, and sexual orientations.

This is an exempt position that will include travel and occasionally working weekends and nights.

Roles and responsibilities to include:

• Responsible for coordinating all cultivation, solicitation, and engagement of Heritage Association members for annual and major gifts to Athletic department initiatives.

• Develop and execute Heritage Association programming.

• Organize and manage all Heritage Association touchpoints.

• Collaborate with USC Alumni Association on planning and programming concepts to engage former student-athletes.

• Work with individual teams to communicate with and engage former student-athletes.

• Assist in the creation and execution of solicitation materials as it relates to former student-athletes.

• Responsible for the management, collection, updating, and imputing of former USC student-athlete information.

• Manage a portfolio of 40-60 former student-athletes who are actively engaged in gift conversations.

• Promotes an environment that fosters inclusive relationships and creates unbiased opportunities for contributions through ideas, words, and actions that uphold principles of the USC Code of Ethics.

• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five years of experience (seven years preferred). Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.

• Experience as a Division I student-athlete and/or familiarity with the student-athlete experience preferred.

• Proficient with Microsoft Office, and the ability to navigate CRM and marketing email systems.

• Valid driver’s license is required.

• Experience working in higher education and/or a sports related field ideal.

In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, diversity, equity and inclusion, well-being, open communication and accountability.

Salary Range:

The annual base salary range for this position is $78,000- $90,000. 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, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

To Apply:

All candidates must submit a resume with their application. Additional materials may be requested at a later date. All USC employees will undergo reference checking and background screening prior to hire.

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action 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.

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 [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance.