Riyadh University of Arts Film College Program Manager

SAUDI FILM ACADEMY PROGRAM MANAGER

Introduction

The USC School of Cinematic Arts’ International Programs team is at the forefront of global film and media training.  Since 2005, the USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) has successfully developed and provided customized consulting services and on-site training for international film schools, global media companies, and government agencies investing in emerging media markets around the world. Current and past consulting and training programs have spanned the cinematic arts landscape with hands-on expertise in curriculum development, facilities and equipment design, recruiting and assessing prospective faculty, student admissions and program evaluations, as well as targeted in-person and virtual training programs for students, professionals, and educators.  

SCA has recently entered into a one-year consulting agreement with the new (not yet open) Riyadh University of the Arts (RUA) in Saudi Arabia, a joint association with the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Princess Nourah University.  RUA is being designed as a multi-discipline accredited university with academies for music, theater, visual arts, and film.  The Film Academy is tentatively scheduled to launch its initial four-year undergraduate cinema degree program in late 2026, as well as offering shorter term cinema diploma certificate courses.  By Year Five, the Academy’s goal is 500 enrolled students.

The USC School of Cinematic Arts has been selected to consult in the design and development of the Film Academy’s curriculum and course preparation, instructor training programs, and advisement services for student admissions, physical space allocation, facilities and classrooms, cinema library, preparation of the Academy’s handbooks for faculty, staff and students through its collaboration with RUA’s president and senior Academy leadership.  Year one of this program will focus entirely on the design, preparation, and delivery of required reports, guides and advisory services  to support RUA in meeting these goals and deadlines.  

Job Summary

The Program Manager will have the overall responsibility for all programmatic, administrative, and budgetary components of this new unique project.  The program manager will work closely with SCA faculty, staff and entertainment professionals to design and deliver multiple academic cinematic arts courses syllabi for Bachelor’s degree and diploma program students attending the new University of the Arts Film Academy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  The manager will also work closely with senior University of the Arts, Saudi Ministry of Culture and educational management specialists to prepare, deliver and administer advisory services, documentation and reports outlined in the approved Scope of Work (SOW) in a timely manner. This position will initially be a USC one-year contract.  Continuing beyond that period will be partially dependent on whether SCA and RUA extend their relationship for one or more additional years, and after SCA’s evaluation of the program manager’s performance during the first year.  The program manager will report to SCA’s Associate Dean of International Projects.  

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in program management and leadership as well as preexisting familiarity of or current professional involvement within the larger MENA media and education communities. The successful candidate should be an active collaborator, exceptional communicator, flexible and calm in the face of challenges, and passionate about developing young talent.  This position will be in-person and based fulltime at the USC School of Cinematic Arts on the main USC campus in Los Angeles.

This is a fixed-term benefits eligible staff position.

Responsibilities

• Develop the operational and administrative vision of the program that aligns with the Saudi Film Academy and are within SCA’s established guidelines. Conduct research, establish realistic program goals and create plans to implement and supervise the preparation, completion and delivery of reports, documentation, course curricula and planned activities for the key stake holders.  Responsible for the preparation of all required external and internal written materials related to the partnership’s development.  The focus in the first year will be the development, design and timely delivery of multiple documents and reports for review and approval by the designated Saudi institutions. 
• Serve as the primary liaison between SCA and the Saudi institutions and assigned personnel through regularly scheduled virtual meetings and correspondence, overseeing and reviewing the status of assigned activities and deadlines, and aligning SCA program activities to support those objectives.  
• Oversee the program’s daily operations, working with senior SCA leadership and assigned International Programs staff, as well as with selected SCA instructors, staff, and possible outside independent contractors who will prepare and deliver high quality approved materials and outcomes. 
• Responsible for identifying, developing, and maintaining key relationships with assigned Saudi representatives from each of the participating Saudi government and educational institutions and other officials, as well as with MENA creative artists, schools, professional facility and technical facility companies.  
• Develop a network of SCA faculty and Hollywood/international industry professionals to serve as potential instructors and mentors.  Establish performance standards and evaluation strategies for the larger diploma and Bachelor’s degree programs and courses.  
• Navigate cross-cultural settings and successfully bridge gaps in understanding between American/international instructors and the Saudi Film Academy partners and participants.  Collaborate with SCA instructors to assure that course content is relevant and respectful in their cultural context. 
• In collaboration with the SCA International staff and HR, prepare the Program Administrator position’s responsibilities and qualifications, post and hire.  The selected candidate will relocate to Saudi for six months during the first year to be the primary administrative liaison and manager with our Saudi counterparts, reporting directly to the program manager. 
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested. The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.
• The person selected for this position should be currently living or based in Southern California and agree to work in-person at USC up to five days a week.  If relocating to Los Angeles, you must be able to start work on the designated first date of employment at USC.  No relocation expenses will be provided or reimbursed.  

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required in film, television, media education or related disciplines from an accredited university or college.  
• Pre-existing awareness and interest in the MENA cinema and television industries, and a strong sense of international socio-political and cultural geography and sensitivities.
• Minimum five years of work experience at a management leadership level in a related field
• Exceptional writing and communication skills
• Budget organization and management
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to oversee multiple projects daily
• Adaptable and resourceful in the face of unexpected problems
• Outstanding people skills to collaborate with many types of individuals in diverse cultural settings
• Problem identification and resolution
• Ability to undertake occasional international travel, particularly to the Middle East.
• Awareness and sensitivity for other cultures, religions, national identity

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or work experience/education as substitute for the MA. 
• Current or prior management-level work experience at a national university or college
• International living or work experience, preferably in the Middle East, as a filmmaker, business executive, senior manager, consultant or educator
• Pre-existing relationships with MENA creative talent, management and organizations
• Experience in the American and/or international film/TV industries 
• Fluency in a second language;  Arabic speaking skills preferred  
• U.S. citizenship or a permanent work visa in the U.S.  

Compensation
The salary range for this position is $109,264-140,000. Salary would be offered based on skills and education level. 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.

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in 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.  The University of Southern California is committed to equal opportunity in employment.

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.

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