The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located 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 a great place to work.

As a community of Dornsife College “we are committed to the creation, preservation, and communication of fundamental knowledge in all its forms…as well as a lifelong passion for learning and a commitment to the betterment of society.” The academic mission of Dornsife College can only be realized to its fullest potential when we build and protect a representative, equitable, inclusive culture of scholarship for students, faculty, and staff. This is not done through initiatives but by embedding these values into the everyday interactions, relationships, policies, and practices of the College. What is required is a seamless integration of the tenets of equity and inclusivity into every facet of academic life. If we want our scholars, staff, and students to be able to give their very best, we must create an academic environment that portends success.

Success is possible when every member of the Dornsife community owns their role as a steward of the culture in which we learn, research, and work; when we believe that it is because of who we are that we are able to do what we do: achieve excellence, together. 

Achieving a robust and inclusive academic culture requires more than just the completion of a task, but includes that person’s capacity to contribute positively to the relationships and culture of their office or department. Therefore, any applicant seeking to advance the mission of Dornsife College should also be assessed on their capacities beyond the technical elements of their work, and demonstrate an understanding of their impact on others, and to articulate how they contribute positively to those around them.

The Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) at the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is seeking a Technical Writer to join its team. The technical writer will work in a multidisciplinary environment to develop information and data resources that will facilitate longitudinal and cross-country analyses on aging, health, and retirement, including contextualizing and communicating newly available data on late-life cognition and dementia, and policies that may affect dementia risk. This position requires an individual who is capable of understanding, communicating, and disseminating complex, technical information to a wide variety of audiences.

Job responsibilities include:

• Distilling complex, technical research topics into clear, concise, and effective documentation to share with a variety of audiences, both technical and non-technical
• Drafting reports, papers, and journal articles, working closely with the Principal Investigator, Co-Investigators, and other subject-matter experts
• Evaluating existing documentation and adjusting content as necessary
• Developing website content, such as blog posts and other technical content, with input from the investigators and project staff
• Reviewing and revising project resources and other written materials to ensure quality, readability, and accuracy 

Qualifications:

• Ability to produce careful and detail-oriented work
• Excellent communication, writing skills, and attention to detail
• Ability to quickly grasp complex technical concepts, make them easily understandable through varied mediums, incorporate feedback, and iteratively refine content
• Minimum education: Bachelor’s Degree. Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education 
• Minimum Experience: 3 years (5 years preferred)
• While a major in public health, economics, or a related field is not required, an interest in these areas is preferred.

Minimum Field of Expertise: Economics or other quantitative social science.

Hourly range: The hourly rate range for this position is $37.68 - $43.59. 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 is a grant funded position.

Required Documents and Additional Information:

• Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file).
• 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: Bachelor's degree Addtional Education Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 3 years Minimum Skills: Experience with technical writing, communications, and/or content development. Ability to develop high-quality documentation written in actionable, explanatory and procedural styles for diverse audiences. Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communications skills, and exemplary attention to detail. Ability to quickly grasp complex technical concepts and make them easily understandable through varied mediums (e.g., text, visuals, videos). Demonstrated organizational skills, analytical skills, and the ability to think strategically and creatively. Ability to translate technical information into clear, concise, and effective documentation for both technical and non-technical audiences. Team-oriented self-starter with the ability to work independently and proactively. Ability to work and communicate cross-functionally with subject matter experts to gather and translate data, incorporate feedback, and iteratively refine content to maintain relevance. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other editing/production software (e.g., Sharepoint, Visio, Adobe Acrobat). Ability to provide support and guidance as needed on projects and exercise discretion with confidential information. Preferred Education: Bachelor's degree Communication Or Bachelor's degree Computer Science Or Bachelor's degree in related field(s) Preferred Experience: 5 years Preferred Skills: Experience analyzing business processes and identifying process improvements. Demonstrated experience in higher education. Experience developing process maps, flow charts and other process documentation. Advanced judgment, analytical, and decision-making skills, able to work independently with minimal supervision. Ability to drive the development and modification of guidelines, procedures, policies, and documentation. Extensive knowledge and/or understanding of relevant cultural issues (e.g., immigration, socioeconomic, LGBTQIA ). Fluent in one or more languages in addition to English (e.g., Spanish, Korean, American Sign Language).