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The USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service is seeking a Project Specialist, Administrative to work with the External Affairs and Policy team and the Director’s Office providing general administrative and operations support, special project support, and event support at the USC Capital Campus in Washington, DC. This position serves as a liaison between Schaeffer Institute leadership and its constituents, and a bridge with Schaeffer Institute faculty and staff in Los Angeles. The Project Specialist will report to the Director of Public Policy and work in close collaboration with the communications and events functions of the Institute, along with the Institute’s Chief of Staff. The Schaeffer Institute serves a varied and diverse group of internal and external constituents—including students, academics, industry executives, philanthropists, and leading policymakers and staffers—across the political spectrum. The best candidate will work effectively with these different communities. Experience with hosting and providing hospitality for VIP guests, including trustees, board members, and government officials, is a plus.

The External Affairs and Policy team oversees events, communications, and stakeholder and policy engagement. It ensures that research produced at the Institute informs public policy. This position offers a unique window into policy research center operations. The right candidate will have administrative expertise and an interest in developing skills in policy research support, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement. We value candidates who combine strong administrative capabilities with intellectual curiosity and an interest in public policy.

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

Key duties include but are not limited to the following:

Manage administrative operations for the DC Institute location.

Coordinate Institute meetings, events, conferences, and seminars in DC; arrange for vendors, facilities, catering as needed.

Host and interact with guests of the Schaeffer Institute, including USC Trustees, Advisory Board members, and distinguished policy leaders.

Collect and track key metrics to help shape the Institute’s policy impact reporting.

Develop policy engagement reports for Institute leadership.

Support the Institute’s policy initiatives and external affairs activities.

Collaborate with Institute leadership on policy communications, including document preparation and production, with opportunities to contribute to content development.

Foster relationships with USC Capital Campus leadership and staff.

Manage any student workers and volunteers.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s Degree

Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

Minimum Experience:

2 years

Minimum Fields of Expertise:

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Strong organizational skills; project management experience is a plus

Collaborative, team-player attitude; ability to work collaboratively and independently

Ability to prioritize across multiple tasks and deliver high-quality output in a timely manner

Demonstrated ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects of varying complexity simultaneously with attention to detail and a high level of excellence and professionalism

Flexibility and tolerance for ambiguity; willingness to handle both complex and mundane matters

Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Preferred Education:

Master’s Degree

Preferred Experience:

3 years

Compensation

The hourly rate range for this position is $29.44 - $33.33. 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.

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

Hours

8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Subject to change based on event needs, which may include early mornings and evenings, and the occasional weekend.

Required Documents

Cover letter Resume/CV

About the USC Schaeffer Institute

The Leonard D. Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service at the University of Southern California develops evidence-based solutions to address the nation’s most pressing policy issues. Established by an historic gift from Leonard D. Schaeffer, it houses two flagship programs: the Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service and the Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.

Since its inception in 2009, the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics has established itself as one the world’s top health policy research organizations. A joint enterprise with the Price School of Public Policy and the Mann School of Pharmacy, the Schaeffer Center is a recognized nonpartisan voice helping to shape health policy in Washington DC.

The Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service program introduces undergraduates to government and its impact through paid internship placements at the federal, state, and local levels. Schaeffer Fellows represent a diversity of backgrounds, political perspectives, and academic disciplines; common among them is their interest in public service and informed citizenship. Since 2015, the Fellows program has placed more than 350 undergraduates from five partner universities in over 190 government offices and agencies.

Building on the successes of these programs, the Schaeffer Institute serves as a policy laboratory to develop and test ideas generated by the USC academic community. It fosters civic engagement, supports new generations of public service leaders, and provides a forum to reach federal policymakers. It has offices at USC in Los Angeles and at the USC Capital Campus in Washington, DC.

About the Price School

USC Price is the second oldest public policy school in the country and is ranked fourth in the U.S. News & World Report rankings of public affairs schools. We offer academic programs at the graduate and undergraduate levels in six distinct fields:  health policy and management, nonprofit management and leadership, public administration, public policy, real estate development, and urban planning.  Much of our research is housed in 18 interdisciplinary research centers and institutes.  Price School expertise spans the public, nonprofit and private sectors, with impact that is mission-driven and global. 

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 Dfor specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer that Values Diversity.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree Addtional Education Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 2 years Minimum Skills: Directly related project or administrative experience. Preferred Education: Master's degree Preferred Experience: 3 years