Career Services Specialist

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

The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology is seeking a Career Services Specialist with strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively with students and community partners to support undergraduate and graduate students in transitioning from the classroom to the workforce.This position supports students through internship placements and ongoing engagement with community organizations to expand internship and employment opportunities for current students and recent graduates. Virtual and in-person events support students and alumni in their professional development while strengthening connections with employer partners.

This position reports to the Senior Associate Dean and is part of the Student Services team.

Responsibilities:

• Connect with community organizations to develop internship, employment, and volunteer partnership opportunities and manage associated documentation, including affiliation agreements, certificates of liability insurance, and position descriptions.
• Enhance placement success of prospective student interns by completing mock interviews, reviewing resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and discussing internship placement options.
• Facilitate the internship placement process twice annually by requesting placement slots, supporting the student wish list process, coordinating interviews, confirming matches, and individually placing students as needed.
• Attend conferences to identify prospective internship sites and strengthen partnerships with community organizations.
• Plan, conduct outreach for, and execute hybrid events that support students and alumni, including internship fairs, pre-placement trainings, career fairs, networking events, and professional development programs.
• Maintain ongoing communication with instructors and develop internal university partnerships to support internship and career opportunities.
• Promote an environment that fosters inclusive relationships and unbiased opportunities consistent with university values.
• Track job placement of gerontology graduates.
  
  
  

The successful candidate will have four or more years of experience in career services advising and must hold a bachelor’s degree.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Understanding of the aging services sector
• Master’s Degree
• Must have a strong understanding of relevant university policies, including national standards and best practices, as well as USC culture
• Highly proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and Salesforce.
• Excellent written and communication skills.
• Comfort level with cultural affairs practices.
• Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with clients, students, staff, and faculty.
• Valid US Drivers License
  
  
  

The salary range for this position is $83,000.00 to $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.

Benefits include a competitive salary, and a rich array of USC benefits including healthcare (including dental and vision), 403(b), tuition reimbursement, national holidays, paid vacation, and more. This is a full-time exempt position that will require substantial commitment and flexibility.

If you are interested, please submit your complete application. Please include a cover letter and resume with references.

Thank you for your interest!

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree Minimum Experience: 4 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Four years’ counseling and human resources experience in a corporate or higher education environment, or similar industry.

Job ID REQ20172839 Posted Date 03/19/2026

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