University of Southern California

Program Administrator

Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred.
  • 3-7 years of experience in higher education administration or program administration.
  • Experience supporting faculty affairs or university operations.
  • Skilled in coordinating multiple projects and meeting deadlines.
  • Proficiency with enterprise systems (e.g., Workday, PeopleSoft) and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

  • Coordinate administrative services and activities for the Academic Affairs Office.
  • Assist with onboarding of new hires in collaboration with HR and faculty personnel.
  • Develop and maintain administrative procedures and documentation for efficiency.
  • Monitor compliance with university policies and accreditation requirements.
  • Serve as a liaison between Academic Affairs and university departments.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work schedule for flexibility.
  • Full-time employment with potential for career advancement.
  • Robust professional development opportunities.
  • Opportunity to engage with cross-functional teams and initiatives.
Full Job Description

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work seeks a Program Administrator to provide senior-level administrative support and program coordination for the Academic Affairs Office. Reporting to the Director of Academic Affairs, this position coordinates administrative services, faculty support activities, and institutional initiatives that advance the School's academic priorities. The Program Administrator serves as a key administrative resource to faculty, staff, and university partners by facilitating cross-functional collaboration, coordinating projects, supporting compliance with university policies, and ensuring the timely implementation of Academic Affairs initiatives.

Job Accountabilities

Coordinate administrative services and activities that support the Academic Affairs Office, academic programs, faculty, and school leadership. Assist with Academic Affairs new hire onboarding in collaboration with Human Resources and Academic Personnel, ensuring an efficient and compliant onboarding process for faculty and staff. Develop, maintain, and recommend administrative procedures, guidelines, and documentation that promote consistency, efficiency, and effective program administration. Coordinate academic initiatives, administrative priorities, project timelines, and program deliverables to support the successful implementation of Academic Affairs goals. Monitor administrative activities to ensure compliance with university policies, accreditation requirements, and applicable procedures. Coordinate assigned administrative projects and facilitate cross-functional initiatives that support Academic Affairs priorities. Develop and maintain workflow documentation, training materials, reference guides, and administrative resources that support continuous improvement and knowledge sharing. Serve as a primary liaison between Academic Affairs and university departments, facilitating communication and coordinating collaborative administrative efforts. Prepare, review, and maintain reports, correspondence, presentations, and official academic and administrative documentation. Monitor project milestones, timelines, and deadlines; coordinate follow-up activities and communicate project status to leadership and stakeholders. Assist with budget planning, purchasing, expense tracking, reconciliation, and financial reporting in accordance with university policies and departmental procedures. Coordinate meetings, committees, faculty activities, and special events, including scheduling, agenda preparation, logistics, documentation, registration, budget coordination, and follow-up. Research administrative issues, evaluate alternatives, and recommend process improvements that enhance program administration, service quality, and operational effectiveness. Provide functional oversight, training, and work coordination for staff, student workers, and temporary employees, as assigned. Maintain confidential records, databases, and administrative information systems while ensuring data integrity, security, and compliance with university policies. Perform other related duties, special projects, and responsibilities as assigned in support of the mission and objectives of Academic Affairs.

Minimum Education/Experience

  • Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred.

  • Three to seven years of progressively responsible experience in higher education administration, program administration, project coordination, or a related administrative field.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience supporting faculty affairs, academic administration, or university operations.

  • Experience coordinating multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines in a complex academic environment.

  • Strong organizational, analytical, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

  • Experience with enterprise systems (e.g., Workday, PeopleSoft), Microsoft Office, and project management or workflow tools.

  • Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across departments while exercising sound judgment, discretion, and attention to detail.

This position is full-time, hybrid-schedule, permanent position.

Compensation: This position's annual base salary rangeis up to $95,000 annually. 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 candidates work experience, education/training, key skills, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, and external market and organizational considerations.

Required Documents

  • Cover letter

  • Resume or CV

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
Minimum Experience: 3 years
Minimum Field of Expertise: Directly related professional experience in area of program specialization.

                                                  

If you are a current USC employee, please apply to thisUSC job posting in Workday by copying and pasting this link into your browser:

https://wd5.myworkday.com/usc/d/inst/1$9925/9925$153219.htmld

About University of Southern California

The University of Southern California (USC) is a private research university located in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1880 and is the oldest private research university in California. USC offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs in a wide range of fields, including business, law, engineering, medicine, and the arts. The university is known for its strong athletic programs, particularly in football and basketball. USC has a diverse student body, with students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The university has a total enrollment of approximately 47,000 students, including 28,000 undergraduate students.
Learn more about University of Southern California
Size
28,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1880

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