Project Specialist

University of Southern California•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

USC Student Life seeks a highly organized, collaborative, and service-oriented Project Specialist to support the Associate Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff in the Office of the Vice President for Student Life. This position plays an important role in advancing initiatives that foster student success, strengthen the student experience, and cultivate a vibrant campus community. The Project Specialist serves as a key operational partner, managing complex projects, planning events, coordinating communication efforts, and facilitating collaboration across departments. The ideal candidate is a skilled project manager and thoughtful communicator who can manage multiple priorities, build strong working relationships, and ensure the effective and timely execution of high-impact initiatives. Primary focus areas include event/meeting planning, operations, community building, project management, communication, and assessment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
Minimum of three (3) years of directly related professional experience.
Demonstrated experience in project management, including coordination of complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and maintain strong attention to detail.
Strong organizational, analytical, verbal, and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Five (5) years of directly related professional experience.
Master's degree.
Prior leadership experience within higher education.

Responsibilities

Manage multiple concurrent projects in partnership with the Associate Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff, ensuring alignment with Student Life priorities and student success goals.
Develop project plans, coordinate cross-departmental teams and working groups, monitor milestones, and promote timely execution, accountability, and clear reporting of outcomes.
Lead the planning and execution of leadership meetings, staff gatherings, student engagement programs, seasonal celebrations, and other events that foster connection and community.
Coordinate event logistics and timelines, including scheduling, invitations, reminders, materials, facilities, vendors, and other operational needs.
Serve as a primary point of contact for event participants, campus partners, vendors, and other stakeholders, providing clear, timely, and welcoming communication.
Develop and coordinate communications that support divisional projects, events, and initiatives, including correspondence, invitations, presentations, reports, and informational materials.
Prepare briefings, presentations, meeting materials, and logistical plans to support leadership participation in meetings, committees, events, and other engagements.
Assist with planning and implementing data-collection efforts, including recommending methods for data acquisition, management, and quality control.
Develop and maintain databases and other records for tracking and reporting purposes, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of information.
Research, gather, organize, and analyze information for project and administrative reports; summarize findings and recommend effective approaches for presenting results.
Create charts, graphs, tables, dashboards, and other visual materials that clearly communicate data, progress, outcomes, and impact.
Prepare project status reports and coordinate the production and distribution of materials to ensure deadlines are met and stakeholders remain informed.