Public Exchange Climate and Sustainability Practice Director

USC Dornsife Public Exchange is reimagining how research serves the public. Founded in 2020 at USC, Public Exchange fast-tracks collaborations between academic researchers and partners across the public and private sectors to define, analyze and solve complex problems together. In 2025, Public Exchange became a national network through a partnership with Washington University in St. Louis—working collaboratively to accelerate the use of evidence in decision-making across the country.

Established in 2023, USC Dornsife Public Exchange established a Climate and Sustainability Practice drives flagship, high-impact initiatives such as ShadeLA and the California Solar Canal Initiative . Other projects have addressed electrified mobility, water conservation, and climate communications, in partnership with the City and County of Los Angeles, the United Nations Foundation, the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, and leading non-profits.
 

POSITION SUMMARY

We are seeking a strategic, collaborative, and impact-driven leader with deep understanding of climate-related issues to guide and grow Public Exchange’s Climate & Sustainability Practice. This role sits at the intersection of research, policy, and on-the-ground action—ideal for someone who can lead teams, build broad coalitions, and translate ideas into real-world impact.

The Practice Director will oversee Public Exchange’s growing portfolio of applied climate projects while helping shape the next generation of initiatives in this space. Over the next three years, a major focus will be leading ShadeLA—a signature regional campaign delivering a lasting legacy from Los Angeles hosting a series of major sporting events by expanding natural and built shade across the region. This work goes far beyond research: it requires coordinating a large and diverse coalition of public agencies, community partners, architects, designers, and funders; facilitating fundraising efforts to support implementation; and fostering innovation to deliver visible, lasting results.

In addition to ShadeLA, the Practice Director will help advance initiatives such as the California Solar Canal Initiative and other applied projects and will have broad latitude to develop new projects, pilot cross-sector collaborations, and shape the future direction of Public Exchange’s climate work.

The ideal candidate combines visionary leadership with a hands-on, get-it-done attitude—equally comfortable in strategy sessions with senior partners and in the details of program delivery. They will thrive in interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral, cross-cultural teams and in situations with complexity and uncertainty, leading with empathy and a servant-leader approach. Public Exchange is a new program and still at an early stage of its growth. An entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to pitch in and work with a small but mighty team to build a program from the ground up is essential, as are intellectual curiosity and a commitment to innovation and social impact. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Key Areas of Responsibility:

Strategic Leadership

• Update and implement the Climate and Sustainability Practice strategic plan to maximize the impact of Public Exchange’s work in this area, working closely with the Executive Director (ED) and Director of Strategy and Operations (DSO).
• Lead delivery of Public Exchange projects and initiatives, including ShadeLA, coordinating coalition partners; guiding policy and implementation strategy; securing resources for delivery; and driving innovation to achieve measurable outcomes.
   

Partnership & Brand Building

• Engage with USC and external faculty to understand areas of expertise and identify opportunities for alignment with Public Exchange’s climate and sustainability projects.
• Maintain awareness of USC faculty research in climate and sustainability, and continually identify opportunities to match USC experts with emerging needs in the public and private sectors.
• Build relationships that expand Public Exchange’s visibility and reputation among potential partners, funders, and thought leaders.
   

Project Oversight & Team Management

• Oversee the practice’s portfolio, including ShadeLA, the California Solar Canal Initiative, Redesigning Urban Rivers, and other initiatives, providing strategic direction and ensuring high-quality execution.
• Develop concepts for new projects in collaboration with the practice team, identifying potential partners, managing seed funding, and leading the process from ideation to kick-off.
• Manage and mentor a team of four project managers, ensuring clarity of roles, accountability for results, and professional growth opportunities. Lead the recruitment process for new staff as the practice area expands.
   

Communications & Thought Leadership

• Represent Public Exchange at key conferences and other events, serving as a thought-leader in the practice area.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert advisor to the growing Public Exchange network, providing counsel and guidance on climate initiatives in development across the network.
• Lead practice area communications strategy, in coordination with Public Exchange’s communications manager and partner communications team, including the development of presentations, messaging, press releases, web and social media content, videos and other materials.

Programs Development

• Working with the ED and the DSO, maintain relationships with key actors, potential partners, and foundations or other funders in the climate and sustainability space.
• Develop new pilot concepts and proposals that expand Public Exchange’s climate impact portfolio.
• Manage budgets strategically to maximize resources and advance growth.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree and at least 10 years of experience in climate, sustainability, or environmental leadership roles across government, nonprofit, or industry sectors.
• Proven success developing and implementing climate policies, programs, or initiatives with measurable impact.
• Deep understanding of climate change, resilience, sustainability innovation, and the U.S. policy landscape, as well as the key actors across those spaces.
• Experience working with or within for-profit companies on sustainability, climate innovation, or ESG strategy. 
• Exceptional coalition-building and stakeholder engagement skills, with a track record of fostering trust across sectors.
• An unwavering commitment to leveraging the Public Exchange Network’s intellectual capital and resources to address climate change.
• Strong strategic thinking and project management capabilities; able to balance long-term vision with tactical execution. Strong communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex ideas for diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Experience managing project budgets for maximal impact and growth strategy.
• Ability to successfully cultivate donor and philanthropic relationships to fund projects and growth opportunities.
• Experience representing organizations at high-profile conferences and events.
• Experience commissioning or conducting research is a plus.
• Experience with communications, storytelling, and media engagement is a plus.
• Experience building corporate sponsorship programs is a plus.

The annual base salary range for this position is $160,000 - $175,000. 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 alignment, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

This position will be funded on contracts, grants or gift funds.

To support the well-being of our faculty and staff, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of perks to help protect their and their dependents’ health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package. You can learn more about USC’s comprehensive benefits here. 

Required Documents and Additional Information:

• Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of (5) five business days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.

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

This is a hybrid position, with approximately 80% work from home, 20% in-person work in the Los Angeles area. Candidates must be located in or near Los Angeles, or willing to re-locate.

Minimum Education: Master's degree. Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
Minimum Experience: 7 years. Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience
Minimum Field of Expertise: Professional experience directly related to climate and sustainability, project management, and partnership development.

                                                  

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.

• Notice of Non-discrimination
• Employment Equity
• Read USC’s Clery Act Annual Security Report
• USC is a smoke-free environment
• Digital Accessibility

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

https://wd5.myworkday.com/usc/d/inst/1$9925/9925$137750.htmld