Founded in 2020, the Public Exchange (PX) fast-tracks collaborations between academic researchers and the public and private sectors to define, analyze and solve complex problems together. PX ultimately seeks to utilize the deep expertise of university research to impact people, programs, policies, and products globally. In the past year, Public Exchange has led a range of exciting projects to address challenges in public health, the climate crisis, and sustainability with partners including the City and County of Los Angeles, Keck Medicine of USC, the Santa Clarita Water Valley Agency, and the United Nations Foundation. This work has, for example, resulted in data-driven investments in food assistance programs and increased tree canopy in neighborhoods vulnerable to extreme heat.

PX seeks a Project Manager (PM) to lead projects across issues areas including health & wellbeing, climate & sustainability, and technology & society. PMs are essential to delivering the PX model— helping to deliver rigorous and actionable research findings, building relationships with partners and stakeholders, and delivering impact-focused projects on time and budget. Ideal candidates will have a strong commitment to social impact, a high degree of intellectual curiosity, and the flexibility and willingness to take on emerging challenges in new issue areas.

The PM will work closely with the Director of Strategy and Operations, Practice Directors, research teams, and project stakeholders to deliver high-impact research for partners. The PM is responsible for the success of their projects from launch to deliverable, including defining project strategy, scopes, timelines, milestones, deliverables and budgets, and overseeing the day-to-day execution of project plans. The ideal candidate is extremely organized, detail-oriented, a strong communicator, diplomatic, and comfortable coordinating across a large and diverse teams. Public Exchange is a new program and still at an early stage of its growth. An entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to pitch in and work with a small but mighty team to build a program from the ground up is essential, as is enthusiasm about taking advantage of the significant growth opportunities presented by a rapidly expanding program.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop project strategy, scopes of work and budgets in consultation with the research and development team;
• Develop long- and short-term project plans, including timelines, milestones, and deliverables;
• Manage day-to-day workflow and support research teams to execute against the project plans;
• Lead all project kick-off, routine partner and research team meetings, as well as final presentation meetings
• Maintain strong relationships with all project partners, USC research team members, and key project stakeholders;
• Serve as the primary point of contact for project partners, ensuring they remain updated on project progress and that deliverables exceed expectations;
• Operate with attention to risk management, information security, and contractual compliance;
• Work with the Public Exchange Business and Operations Analyst to manage project finances, ensuring timely transfer of funds to research team members and payment of direct research expenses;
• Lead project communications in coordination with the USC communications teams and partner communications team, including the development of presentations, messaging, press releases, web and social media content, videos and other materials;
• Continually seek strategic opportunities to build on project work, deliver for partners, and increase project impact.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master's degree; combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
• 5-7 years experience leading multistakeholder projects
• Recent work experience within a company, non-profit or government agency designing products, policies, or programs with a social impact dimension
• Project management experience
• Creative problem-solving and solution-driven track record
• Experience working on issues of climate & sustainability and health & wellbeing a plus
• Demonstrated capacity to understand and synthesize complex ideas and concepts
• Strong analytical and communications skills
• Familiarity with Google Workspace, Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets and Adobe InDesign required
• Experience supporting primary research projects is a plus

Salary range: The annual base salary range for this position is $78,000 - $90,000. 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.

This position is funded on gift accounts.

Location: Hybrid, L.A.-based; approximately 80% remote. Applicants outside of Los Angeles, but open to relocation within 9 months, encouraged to apply.

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.
• 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.

Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

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

Minimum Education: Master's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 3 years, Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience Minimum Field of Expertise: Directly related education and project administration experience in specialized field represented by project

Minimum Education: Master's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 3 years, Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience Minimum Field of Expertise: Directly related education and project administration experience in specialized field represented by project.