Senior Communication Specialist

About University Relations

USC University Relations advances the university’s role as an anchor institution, supporting healthy, engaged communities across California and beyond. University Relations is comprised of educators, advocates, conveners and creatives who support the university’s leadership, faculty, staff, and students to build and strengthen community partnerships and civic leadership. With more than 200 professionals, University Relations partners with community stakeholders and leaders at the local, state, and federal levels of government. The department’s scope includes government relations, civic and community partnerships, pre-K-16 education access programs, and Classical California – the nation’s most listened to musical public radio station.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Senior Director of Communications, the Senior Communications Specialist will play a pivotal role in shaping and telling University Relations’ story of impact, creating compelling content that brings its programs, partnerships, and community impact to life. The Integrated Communications Specialist writes, edits, and optimizes clear, engaging content for a broad range of internal and external audiences across web, intranet, social media, publications, newsletters, leadership communications, and other digital and traditional channels. The role translates complex topics into accessible information, tailors messaging to audience and platform, and uses feedback and data insights to strengthen communications. The Integrated Communications Specialist works collaboratively with project teams, and stakeholders to anticipate communications needs, maintain a consistent brand voice, and deliver polished content on tight timelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Content Development: Create engaging, visually cohesive and professional communications content, including web content, videos, social media, newsletters, publications, presentations, and key messages, tailored to platform formats and target audiences. Distill complex topics into easy-to-understand information for varied university audiences.
• Writing & Editing: Write, edit, proofread, and refine content that consistently meets deadlines and expectations. Apply writing and editing fundamentals, Associated Press style, university style guidance, and industry best practices to ensure clarity, accuracy, consistency, and an appropriate voice.
• Audience & Channel Strategy: Tailor content to multichannel communication platforms and analyze the effectiveness of copy in conveying intended messages. Support efforts to streamline messaging and strengthen communications across audiences and distribution channels.
• Digital & Visual Content: Develop digital assets and content using tools such as HTML, CSS, Adobe Creative Suite, content management systems, WordPress, social media platforms, and related digital environments. Apply design and typography principles to create professional communications.
• Stakeholder Partnership: Build and maintain collaborative relationships with project teams, peers, and other stakeholders. Proactively seek feedback, anticipate future needs, and provide detailed information or concise summaries as appropriate.
• Brand and Organizational Communications: Help maintain continuity and consistency of the department’s brand, image, and voice across internal and external communications.
• Project Management & Responsiveness: Manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and resources simultaneously; exercise sound judgment and discretion with confidential information; and proactively, independently, strategically, and creatively make decisions to keep work moving.
• Culture & Continuous Improvement: Promote a culture of belonging, trust, transparency, accountability, and best-in-class customer service. Stay current with technology, standards, and best practices and support process improvement across teams in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communication, Journalism, English, or a related field. Combined experience/education may be considered as a substitute for the minimum education requirement.
• 5-7 years of relevant experience in strategic communications, marketing, content development or storytelling
• Demonstrated design and typography experience and working knowledge of writing and editing fundamentals, including Associated Press style.
• Ability to tailor content to targeted audiences and demonstrate a clear understanding of multichannel communication platforms.
• Proficiency with digital design and content tools, such as HTML, CSS, Adobe Creative Suite, content management systems, WordPress, social media, and related digital environments.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to provide both detailed information and concise summaries and to exercise discretion with confidential information.
• Demonstrated organizational, analytical, problem-solving, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to manage numerous priorities and produce quality copy on tight schedules.
• Strong editing and video production skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in communication, Journalism or a related field.

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

The annual base salary for this position is $101,000-112,000 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.

Benefits

To support faculty and staff well-being, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of benefits and perks to help protect their and their dependents’ health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package. You can learn more about USC’s comprehensive benefits here .

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree

Addtional Education Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

Minimum Experience: 5 years in communications, marketing, higher education or related fields.

Minimum Skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills, and proven copy editing experience. Exemplary understanding of the nuanced messaging required for various audiences and distribution channels. Demonstrated experience managing public relations and developing social media presence for an organization, and solid grasp of professionally utilizing social media platforms. Experience with large and complex distribution lists. Ability to interpret, analyze, and apply pertinent policies, procedures, regulations, and requirements. Ability to build, develop, and manage positive working relationships and rapport with wide-ranging, high-performing teams. Proven ability to provide both detailed information as well as summaries to management-level individuals and groups, and experience presenting technical topics to non-technical audiences.

Preferred Education: Bachelor's degree In Communication Or Marketing Or in related field(s)

Preferred Skills: Experience working in higher education administration or governmental administration (e.g., federal, state or local legislative or executive administration).

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu . Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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