NOTE: To be considered, please provide a Cover Letter, detailing why you are interested in this role, as well as 2-3 personal writing samples or Portfolio URL that best exhibit your writing style and skills, as well as social media posts you created.

About the job

USC’s Information Sciences Institute (ISI), a unit of the university’s Viterbi School of Engineering, is a world leader in the research and development of advanced artificial intelligence, information processing, computing, and communications technologies. ISI’s 440+ faculty, professional staff and graduate students carry out extraordinary information sciences research at three distinct locations - Marina Del Rey, CA; Arlington, VA; and Waltham, MA.

USC ISI is seeking a Public Communications Specialist to take on all communications aspects of   the Southern California hub of the Microelectronics Commons program. The hub, led by USC ISI, includes 16 Southern California partners.

Funded by the CHIPS and Science Act, the Microelectronics Commons program is a network of regional technology hubs acting on a shared mission: to expand the nation’s global leadership in microelectronics. Through this program, the Microelectronics Commons program is accelerating domestic prototyping and growing a pipeline of U.S. based semiconductor talent. 

*This position is a hybrid full-time role based in Marina Del Rey, CA. This position will involve occasional travel to Washington D.C., as well as, semi-local travel in Southern California between Santa Barbara and San Diego.*

Job Responsibilities:

• Working under ISI’s Public Communications Manager, the Public Communications Specialist will be responsible to propose and implement a communications strategy to promote ISI’s microelectronics work, including but not limited to: writing compelling research stories for a variety of audiences, creating content for social media, developing a narrative about our work
• Create and maintain relationships with researchers to stay up to date on research publications and identify story angles for ISI’s website and magazine
• Create and maintain relationships with ISI’s external partners involved in ISI’s microelectronics projects
• Coordinate and supervise story reviews between ISI, the partners, and funding agencies
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with the media on behalf of ISI through direct outreach with local, state, national and international journalists, broadcast producers and editors; coordinate with external partners.
• Assist or advise on content ideas or media outreach for potential newsworthy stories
• Ensure that USC, partners, and government agencies guidelines are followed in all forms of communications.
• Reports on media and content successes.
• Identifies stories angles from research papers
• Compiles and condenses tech research into easily digestible formats such as projects one-sheets
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time

The ideal candidate:

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism or related field
• A savvy, customer service-minded communicator who puts people first; a bridge builder.
• A team player who works well with multiple collaborators within ISI and across the university to shape and amplify newsworthy digital and visual content to targeted audiences.
• An agile, organized and inquisitive critical thinker who is sensitive to the news climate and can quickly pivot to reprioritize projects and respond to needs or issues as they arise.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills with an excellent command of the English language
• Expertise with AP style guidelines and grammar
• Possess solid news judgment and ethical decision-making skills
• Deep curiosity and a knack for turning complicated concepts into good stories
• Demonstrated ability to blend technical knowledge and expertise with excellent verbal/writing skills and the ability to communicate complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to manage time and workload effectively and complete assignments promptly amid conflicting demands, multiple deadlines, competing requirements, and changing priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain professional, effective working relationships with academic leaders; university administrators, faculty, staff, students;
• Skilled at working as part of a team and collaborating with other individuals on a variety of levels
• Ability to both take direction and work independently, establishing priorities, and following through on assignments.
• Advanced knowledge of social media platforms and the ability to create content with minimal supervision
• Experience with WordPress and content management systems a plus

Preferred  Experience:

• 3-5 years of experience as a journalist in tech and/or sciences

Required documents and additional information:

• Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents
• Portfolio of articles written on science and tech topics
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of (5) five business days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested
• USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions after six months of employment; 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

The annual base salary range for this position is $75,000 - $95,000. 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.

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

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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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