Public Communications Coordinator

The University of Southern California (USC) is one of the world’s leading private research universities. Situated in the heart of Los Angeles, USC is home to 22 academic schools and units, and it is the region’s premier institution for the arts, athletics, business, engineering, law, sciences and technology. University Communications seeks a Public Communications Coordinator with experience in journalism, data science/analytics, science writing or public relations to join the USC Media Relations team within the central University Communications office.  

Reporting to the executive director of USC Media Relations, the Public Communications Coordinator supports University Communications in executing various digital projects to inform outreach, report on successes, and promote the university's mission. This position is responsible for monitoring the university's media coverage by utilizing monitoring tools, summarizing results for promotional campaigns, and authoring daily reports for university leadership. In addition, the Coordinator will be a strategic collaborator with the media relations team members, as well as the creative, digital and editorial teams in University Communications, creating and updating faculty and staff profiles, news releases and source alerts on the USC Pressroom website. This role is also responsible for gathering data from the editorial, social and media teams, utilizing analytics tools and software to build a daily narrative measuring USC’s reputation for education and research that is read by senior leadership.

The ideal candidate must have excellent writing and research skills, enthusiasm and curiosity for news, communications and outreach, as well as a love for learning and problem-solving. Experience with managing a newsletter, writing for a magazine or news publication and using data to tell stories is a plus. Experience using media monitoring services such as Cision, Meltwater or Muck Rack also is a big plus.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinate USC's media coverage, and events to enhance the public’s awareness for the university; partner with the media relations team.

• Coordinate preparation, production, and distribution of informational materials.

• Write and/or edit copy for department publications.

• Assist with communication campaigns by administering department public relations calendar, monitoring of schedules, and production and distribution arrangements and other details to ensure timely, successful completion of public relations materials and events.

• Collaborate with colleagues and partners across campus to support their efforts to promote faculty and leadership in media, developing news alerts, writing occasional stories for the USC News site that can also convert well into pitches for outside media.

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

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in English or technical writing, journalism, communications, public relations, or data sciences or a related field is preferred.

• Excellent writing and editing skills, with an understanding of web content management, basic storytelling and news writing.

• Experience using MS Office, WordPress (or similar content management systems), and email marketing services like Salesforce or MailChimp.

• Familiarity using media monitoring (ex. MuckRack, Cision) or social listening tools (ex. Sprinklr, Sprout).

• Able to meet daily and long-term deadlines.

• Flexible.

• 1-3 years’ experience working in higher education or a large organization.

Applications will not be considered complete without the following documents attached:

• Resume/CV

• Cover Letter

• 3 writing samples (e.g. a report, a news story, press release, white paper or essay)

In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Core Values: integrity, excellence, diversity, equity and inclusion, well-being, open communication and accountability.

The hourly rate range for this position is $30.35 - $33.34. 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

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 2 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Public relations, journalism, advertising or related field.