Project Specialist - Administrative, USC Schaeffer Institute (located in Washington, D.C.)

University of Southern California•Washington, DC

9d•$34 - $37•Onsite

About The Position

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, stakeholders 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, 1-year fixed term position (renewable) with an on-site work arrangement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
2 years minimum experience
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Strong organizational skills
Demonstrated interest and experience in developing and documenting standard operating procedures (SOPs) and administrative workflows
Collaborative, team-player attitude; ability to work collaboratively and independently
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

Nice To Haves

Project management experience is a plus
Experience with hosting and providing hospitality for VIP guests, including trustees, board members, and government officials, is a plus
Master’s Degree
3 years preferred experience

Responsibilities

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.