The recently renamed USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences—formerly known as the USC School of Pharmacy—is one of the top pharmacy schools nationwide and the highest-ranked private school. It seeks a dynamic Communications Associate to join its close-knit, highly collaborative communications team.

Working closely with the Chief Communications Officer, the Communications Associate provides hands-on execution of multiplatform strategies that support the school and its initiatives to a wide range of audiences, including current and prospective students, donors, media, the USC community, peer institutions, grant reviewers and funders, and pharmacy/other health-related associations.    

This position is an integral part of the school’s communications team and offers significant growth potential for the ideal candidate.

This is a full-time position with a hybrid-fixed work arrangement, with an anticipated schedule of three days per week on-site. Hybrid work arrangements are subject to change.

The Communications Associate:

• Writes and edits original news stories, features and blog posts
• Leads social media strategy, including developing creative and engaging content across platforms, reacting to metrics, and maintaining the school’s brand, tone and professionalism
• Maintains department’s editorial calendar, tracking schedules and events to ensure timely completion of materials
• Contributes to the school’s biannual print magazine and quarterly digital newsletter and miscellaneous other publications and collateral pieces

• Creates digital event invitations, digital newsletters and other e-blasts
• Represents the school on various university committees and maintains professional contacts within USC to help the school achieve its goals
• Evaluates and follows procedures and USC policy in accordance with communications and branding best practices to ensure quality control and efficiency
• Performs other projects and duties as assigned

Preferred Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree. Master’s in English, Communications, Journalism or related field preferred.

Preferred Minimum Years of Experience in Field: 2+ years’ experience in communications and/or media and public relations programs. Demonstrated written and verbal communications skills. Understanding of current media landscape, including social media and digital content marketing. Excellent interpersonal communication skills. Demonstrated journalistic and storytelling skills in written and video form. Digital photography. Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, HTML, Wordpress, Constant Contact email marketing software, Basecamp project management/collaboration software.

This position requires a high degree of organization, ability to successfully manage multiple concurrent priorities, and skill in coordinating workflows and tasks to progress projects. Ideal candidates should have an interest in healthcare and biopharmaceutical sciences.

In addition, the ideal candidate should have excellent communication skills and a diverse skillset encompassing strong writing/editing talent. A high level of professionalism and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively are essential.

The hourly rate range for this position is $32.65 - $37.17. 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.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Please attach your cover letter, résumé and samples of your work.

About Us:

The USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences—originally known as the USC School of Pharmacy—has remained a national leader in advancing the pharmaceutical field since our founding in 1905. Our programs encompass the entire spectrum of pharmacy education, research and practice—from laboratory science and clinical pharmacy to health policy and regulatory science.

To learn more, please visit us at pharmacyschool.usc.edu/about-us/, on Twitter @uscschpharmacy and on Instagram at @uscpharmacy. 

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About University of Southern California (USC)

USC is the leading private research university in Los Angeles—a global center for arts, technology and international business. With more than 47,500 students, we are located primarily in Los Angeles but also in various US and global satellite locations. As the largest private employer in Los Angeles, responsible for $8 billion annually in economic activity in the region, we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills across a variety of academic and professional schools and administrative units. As a USC employee and member of the Trojan Family—the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who make USC a great place to work—you will enjoy excellent benefits, including a variety of well-being programs designed to help individuals achieve work-life balance.

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