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A new Program Assistant is required to lead community college initiatives for the Mathematics Science Engineering Achievement (MESA) College Prep Program and the University Program at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering. Both programs impact and provide services to underrepresented, underserved, and disadvantaged students to develop STEM identity and to provide academic services. This Program Coordinator supports both programs at a 50% / 50% effort.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

This position is full time and benefits eligible, and will be fixed term for one year. The primary responsibilities include:

• Develops, implements and assesses counseling services to high school students to develop a plan for community college pipeline to four-year university. Develops, implements and assesses information sessions and other counseling activities for middle and high school students on college pathways and subject course requirements.

• Provides leadership, guidance and supervision to student workers and graduate assistants. Leads support staff and monitors the planning and delivery of program activities to ensure consistent highest quality of services are provided. Trains program or administrative personnel, assesses proficiency of readiness of trainees, and monitors the performance (attendance, soft skills, content knowledge) of support staff.

• Coordinates program functions, such as school/college visits, events, trainings, workshops, seminars, etc. Works with administrative personnel to arrange vendors for sites, facilities, catering, parking, etc. Coordinates production and/or distribution of promotional materials.

• Coordinates programs for current engineering transfer students who identify as Native American, Black, and Latinx. Uses research-based, high impact programming to create a transfer community, connect them to resources, and develop them academically and professionally.

           

• Initiates summer programming to support the transition of incoming transfer students. Develops pipelines that support our students in achieving internships and research opportunities.

• Supervise graduate students in their professional development.

Job duties may be added or modified as needed.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the mission of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Viterbi staff are expected to facilitate a culture of support and service, to model civility and respectful engagement at all times, and to maintain the highest ethical standards and to maintain strict confidentiality across all facets of their work.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

• Minimum Experience: 1 year, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

• Administration support Services

• Minimum Field of Expertise: Strong written and oral communication skills, knowledge of MS Word and Excel and publication software

• Ability to travel to local school and college sites

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Minimum Experience Preferred: 3 years

• Understanding and knowledge of college pathways and college admission requirements in California and across the country.

• Experience in the development and facilitation of virtual and in-person activities to excite and prepare students for higher levels of education.

• Experience managing high-quality activities.

• Experience with developing, implementing, and analyzing assessment and evaluation tools and data.

• Familiarity and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of disadvantaged and underrepresented students in STEM.

Additional Information:

This is a hybrid position. The Program Assistant will be expected to work onsite for two days per week. This position is not eligible for fully remote work.

The hourly base salary range for this position is 24.30- $25.98. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope of 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.

Required Applicant Documents:

A resume/CV and a cover letter are required. Please feel free to upload your application materials in a single document.

USC and the Viterbi School:

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, students, and staff that make the university what it is.

Founded in 1905, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is named for Andrew Viterbi who developed an algorithm to connect the world’s citizens. Similarly, the school, located in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international business in the heart of the Pacific Rim, is a hub for entrepreneurship that connects students from 64 countries.

USC Viterbi is a pioneer in restoring sight to the blind; restoring memory to sufferers of Alzheimer’s; and socially assistive robots to aid seniors with stroke or children with autism. It is the home of the first operational quantum computing center in academia. Our alumni include Neil Armstrong, first human on the moon; A.C. Mike Markkula, co-founder of Apple; and Wanda Austin, former CEO of the Aerospace Corporation.

The USC Viterbi School is consistently ranked among the top graduate programs (U.S. News and World Report). Under the leadership of Dean Yannis C. Yortsos, the school helped re-imagine the 21st century engineer, pioneering the Grand Challenge Scholars Program in schools across the globe. Our mission is to serve California, the nation and the world. At USC Viterbi, we call this the enabling power of Engineering+.

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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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