Dir. Government Affairs, USC Shoah Foundation

About USC Shoah Foundation

Established in 1994 and a part of the University of Southern California since 2006, the USC Shoah Foundation’s core purpose is to give opportunity to survivors and witnesses to the Shoah—the genocide of the Jews—to tell their own stories in their own words in audio-visual interviews, preserve their testimonies, and make them accessible for research, education, and outreach for the betterment of humankind in perpetuity. It achieves this work through the preservation and dissemination of a massive archive of more than 59,000 testimonies, engaging educational programs that reach multiple audiences, innovative academic and related research programs, and technology efforts that ensure that these histories remain accessible and relevant.

About the Opportunity

The Director of Government Affairs, serving as the lead government relations specialist for the USC Shoah Foundation, will report to and work closely with the Senior Director of Administration to build and maintain relationships with key governmental offices. The incumbent’s key responsibilities will include:

• Building USC Shoah Foundation’s government affairs initiative and team.
• Monitoring and researching legislative and regulatory developments that could impact the organization’s mission or operations.
• Collaborating with senior leadership and subject matter experts to draft and present policy recommendations to government officials.
• Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with government officials, agencies, and key stakeholders.

This position will be based at the USC Capital Campus in Washington, D.C. and is currently a two-year fixed-term, grant-funded position.

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a cover letter with your application.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, build, and maintain relationships with key congressional offices, Executive Branch agencies and departments, and appropriate embassies and ministries of foreign affairs to build awareness and cooperative initiatives relevant to the USC Shoah Foundation’s Collections, Programmatic, and Outreach priorities.
• Oversee and manage the Public Affairs team.
• Work with the USC Shoah Foundation’s Marketing and Communications teams to adapt research and educational products, policy reports, national security briefs, memos, etc. into products tailored to government audiences to maximize impact on a bipartisan basis.
• Develop and implement strategies to communicate research and reports to relevant government officials and relay to the USC Shoah Foundation evolving policymaker concerns.
• Prepare USC Shoah Foundation subject matter experts to brief elected officials, their staffers, and civil servants.
• Secure participation of key policymakers and staff in USC Shoah Foundation programs, events, training initiatives, and webinars.
• Work with Program teams to ensure that tertiary education initiatives meet the training needs of USG and foreign government personnel engaged in work related to the mission of the USC Shoah Foundation.
• Work with grant writing team in securing government grants and funding to support USC Shoah Foundation’s initiatives.
• Track engagement metrics to help improve productivity over time.

In addition, the successful candidate must 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in program development and management, with a proven track record of launching and scaling successful initiatives.
• Experience working in the fields of public policy, social justice, human rights, cultural awareness, or a related area.
• Familiarity with digital engagement strategies and the use of technology in program delivery.
• Experience in an academic or research-oriented environment.
• Proven track record in securing grants and other funding sources.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7 years of experience in government relations, with a proven track record of launching and scaling successful initiatives.
• Strong leadership skills, with experience managing teams.
• Direct experience building, implementing and overseeing complex projects.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plans and achieve measurable outcomes.
• Experience with fundraising, budget management, and resource allocation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders and build strong partnerships.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities, with a focus on achieving results.
• Sensitivity to cultural issues and a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% as needed.

The annual base salary range for this position is $124,749.96 – $160,000.00. 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.

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Minimum Education:

• Master’s degree
• Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

Minimum Experience:

• 7 years

Minimum Field of Expertise:

• Directly related program management experience. Expert knowledge of field, teaching experience and/or active in research. Ability to manage sponsored projects and fundraise.

Learn more here