Research Scientist

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Research Scientist Center for Effective Organization USC Marshall School of Business Since its founding in 1979, the Center for Effective Organizations (CEO), a research center in the USC Marshall School of Business, is world-renowned for its breakthrough research and insights on organizational performance, effectiveness and talent management. Today, CEO is at the forefront, discovering and creating the latest knowledge in the design and management of organizations for companies that range from mid-sized to the Global 500. Our research scientists and practitioners have extensive experience bridging research and practice in organization design, change and transformation. CEO distinguishes itself from other applied research centers and consulting organizations by partnering with organizations to rigorously assess the relevant and strategic issues facing them, applying proven interventions guided by that assessment, and evaluating the effectiveness of the engagement. For more information on the Center for Effective Organizations, visit: https://ceo.usc.edu/

Requirements

• Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Management, or highly related quantitative social science field.
• Active publishing track record with articles featured in top-tier management and behavioral journals, and practitioner-focused outlets.
• Advanced quantitative and qualitative skills
• Proficiency in use of LLM tools
• Expertise in organization design and people analytics
• Executive-level presentation skills with a proven ability to translate complex data into practical, actionable business strategies.
• Corporate background working directly with CHROs, CEOs, and senior leadership teams at Fortune 500-level companies.
• Proven fundraising history with a track record of securing corporate sponsorships, research grants, and external funding contracts
• Independent project management experience and supervisory experience managing staff
• Directly related education and experience in research specialization with highly advanced knowledge of equipment, procedures, analysis methods, principles, theories and concepts.
• Demonstrated leadership in developing new ideas and ability to publish in appropriate academic and practitioner outlets.
• Demonstrated independent thinking and leadership in scholarly writing according established criteria (e.g., first-authored publications, conceptual leadership in the development of publications generated alone or with others, writing of first drafts of publications and/or single-authored publications).

Responsibilities

• Formulate research studies independently on key topics such as organization design, workforce agility, people analytics, organizational transformation, business processes and AI transformation.
• Collect complex data sets using methods like quantitative surveys, executive interviews, and direct organizational diagnostics.
• Analyze workplace patterns to identify trends in team behavior, leadership efficacy, and structural flaws in the organization design.
• Oversee compliance guidelines for human subject research and data privacy to maintain institutional integrity.
• Partner with executives at large organizations to align their organizational structures with strategic goals.
• Develop actionable tools and operational frameworks that companies can use to manage internal change.
• Deliver diagnostic feedback directly to corporate sponsors and clients based on data collection from projects
• Facilitate interactive workshops and strategy sessions to help companies test new organizational theories.
• Facilitate in-person and online custom and public workshops and labs for executive teams
• Publish scientific papers, and practitioner-focused articles and editorials in top-tier journals and business, management, and human resource outlets.
• Write industry reports or papers intended for senior executives and C-suite readers.
• Present research findings at major academic conferences and industry executive forums.
• Host public webinars and education sessions to broadcast cutting-edge theories to the management community.
• Support business development and secure external funding through corporate sponsorships, projects, foundation grants, and research contracts.
• Manage project timelines and budgets for corporate projects and research initiatives.
• Collaborate with networks of global scholars, affiliated faculty, and industry leaders through serving on boards and attending conferences.

Benefits

• health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network
• eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions
• tuition benefits for staff and their family
• free Professional Development classes
• central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses and free tram pick up services
• discounts to sporting and other campus events

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree