The University of Southern California (USC) is one of the world’s leading private research universities located in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology, and international business. With two primary campuses, USC is home to the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and 22 exceptional academic schools. The University enrolls approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 28,500 post-graduate students from all fifty U.S. states, and more than 115 countries. USC is also the largest private sector employer in Los Angeles with over 26,000 people, including 4,700 faculty, 16,000 staff, 4,800 student workers, and responsible for more than $8 billion annually in economic activity in the region. In 2022, the university will surpass $1 billion annually in sponsored research.

The Health Sciences campus houses renowned specialized care and research in cancer, stem cell and regenerative medicine, orthopedics, and sports medicine. The campus includes three patient care facilities: USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck Hospital of USC, and the USC Roski Eye Institute. With the County of Los Angeles, the university operates LAC+USC Medical Center, one of the nation’s largest public teaching hospitals. USC faculty staff these and many other hospitals in the region, including the internationally acclaimed Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Verdugo Hills Hospital, and Arcadia Methodist Hospital.

Founded by civic leaders in 1880, the beginning of California’s rise to prominence, USC has always been a pioneering institution with diversity, discovery, and exploration at its heart. Its aspirations—and embrace—were as expansive as the region it grew to represent. Since opening its doors, USC’s drive to break boundaries and transcend its own geography put it on an impressive trajectory.

USC developed in stride with the energetic city of Los Angeles, a vividly international city with one of the most diverse populations on the planet. Now the world’s creative capital, Los Angeles has never lost its frontier edge and constantly re-invents its physical fabric, its economy, and its society. USC is both in and of its city. It was shaped by a succession of visionary people who invested their time, insight, and financial resources to build one of the world’s great universities in the heart of a consequential global mega-region.

At the heart of the University are its students. USC prides itself on its student diversity, enrolling more underrepresented minority students than any other private institution in the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the most underrepresented minority graduate students nationwide. The University provides $740 million annually in total financial aid and one out four students are Pell Grant eligible. There are more than 450,000 living alumni in the Trojan Family. USC alumni can be found in positions of leadership all over the world, with more than half living in California.

About USC University Relations

USC University Relations (UR) supports the university’s leadership, faculty, staff, and students in building meaningful, long-lasting partnerships to advance institution’s mission and enhance the quality of life for USC and its surrounding communities. With more than 200 professionals, UR partners with community stakeholders and leaders at the local, state, and federal levels of government. The department’s scope includes government relations, community partnerships, civic engagement and economic partnerships, pre-K-career education programs, and the USC Radio Group.

UR operates major community and civic programs across Los Angeles, with a special emphasis on the neighborhoods adjacent to the University Park and Health Sciences campuses. This includes providing Head Start early childhood education to more than 500 children at seven locations, educating and mentoring thousands of LAUSD students from kindergarten to career, and providing capacity building to hundreds of businesses and community organizations. USC Radio Group is the nation's largest classical music provider including flagship stations KUSC-Los Angeles and KDFC-Bay Area.

Position Summary

University Relations seeks a Director of Federal Relations to serve as part of USC’s federal affairs team. The team advances the institution’s USC’s academic, medical, and research missions with Congress and the Administration. The director provides strategic support and actions on a variety of topics including research, health affairs, student aid, global education, intellectual property, immigration, employment, and other higher education issues. There will also be an emphasis on supporting USC researchers with federal grants and other funding. Based in USC’s Washington, DC office, the position reports to the Vice President, Federal Affairs. Periodic travel to Los Angeles, California is required.

Position Responsibilities

The Director, Federal Relations possess the experience and skills enabling them to advocate successfully with Congress and the Executive Agencies on USC’s agenda. The position will focus legislative assistance; research, and policymaker/internal USC communications

• Ensure strong relationships with policymakers, create effective partnerships, and develop meaningful support for USC’s priorities.  20%
• Track legislation and policies related to the institutions policy issue areas. Prepare regular policy briefings and communications to internal and external partners. 20%
• Work closely with USC’s Office of Research to support federal research and program priorities with Congress and public agencies. 10%
• Connect faculty, staff, and students with senior university administrators with policymakers, including coordinating Washington DC and USC campus visits. 10%
• Partner with USC schools and departments, including Alumni Affairs, to organize briefings and other special university events in Washington. Serve as a resource and thought partner to USC’s Washington-based student and faculty programs. 20%
• Help staff USC’s engagement with federal relations-related membership and advocacy organizations. Represent USC on committees and policy working groups. 20%

Qualifications:•Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; masters or professional degree preferred.•Minimum of 5 years in federal relations and related fields •Ability to establish strong relations with government officials and other partners; excellent strategic advocacy skills.•Strong organizational and project management. Strong writing ability.The annual base salary range for this position is $101,376.97 - $110,000.00. 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.

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