Climate & Sustainability Project ManagerApply (https://usc.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/ExternalUSCCareers/job/Los-Angeles-CA---University-Park-Campus/Climate---Sustainability-Project-Manager_REQ20147731/apply) Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Los Angeles, California

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.

Climate & Sustainability Project Manager

USC Dornsife Public Exchange

Public Exchange (PX) is a dynamic new organization within USC that partners with the public and private sectors to help design solutions to the problems that matter most.Founded in 2020 by USC Dornsife Dean Amber Miller (https://ssir.org/articles/entry/public-exchange-academic-research-social-impact) , the central features of the PX model are:

• Partnership:We partner with civic, business and non-profit leaders whose policymaking, products and programs tackle urgent social challenges.

• Academic Expertise:We assemble diverse research teams to deliver actionable insights partners can use to test and sharpen solutions.

• Project Management:We clear roadblocks so partners and researchers can focus on what they do best, and leverage every opportunity to scale impact.

PX is a team of 14 professionals across two dedicated practices in Climate & Sustainability and Health & Wellbeing. The team has led projects with more than 20 partners across the public and private sectors to date.

Launched last year (https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/climate-and-sustainability-practice/) , PX’s Climate & Sustainability Practice builds collaborative research projects tackling our triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Projects often cross multiple climate & sustainability issue areas, including: emissions reduction, resilience & adaptation, nature-based solutions, and public action and communications. PX projects have a track record of social impact, our north star, resulting in enhanced climate communications for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the planting of a more equitable tree canopy in Los Angeles, and the development of a physical and augmented reality planning tool for the LA River.

PX is looking for a Project Manager (PM) to support the rapidly growing Climate & Sustainability Practice. PMs are essential to the PX model — helping to identify new partners, scope out research questions, draft proposals, set-up and manage projects, and deliver rigorous and actionable findings on time and budget. Ideal candidates will have a strong commitment to social impact, familiarity with climate & sustainability issues, a high degree of intellectual curiosity, and the flexibility and willingness to take on emerging challenges in new topic areas.

The PM will work closely with the Climate & Sustainability Practice Director and team members, the Strategy & Operations Team, and university partners to deliver high-impact projects. The PM is responsible for the success of their projects from conception to completion, including defining project strategy, scopes, timelines, milestones, deliverables and budgets, and overseeing the day-to-day execution of project plans.

The ideal candidate is:

Committed to working on climate & sustainability issues

Candidates should have experience working on climate & sustainability issues (such as clean energy, transportation, adaptation, community resilience, environmental justice, or similar fields). A degree in public policy, planning, social science, environmental studies, or cognate fields is preferred.

Collaborative with an entrepreneurial spirit

PMs at PX have a bias for action — they are extremely organized, detail-oriented, strong communicators, diplomatic, and comfortable coordinating across large and diverse teams. PX is a new organization and still at an early stage of its growth. An entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to pitch in and work with a small, but mighty team to build from the ground up is essential.

Experienced in managing projects

Project management is the beating heart that drives PX, requiring careful organization, tracking, and delivery of tasks by deadlines. Candidates should excel in juggling multiple responsibilities, and have experience managing grants or contracts. Project managers should understand the soft skills required to keep a team cohesive & aligned, and resolve conflicts when they arise.

Research-oriented

Candidates should understand the role and opportunity that data, research, and evaluation can play in tackling complex social issues, particularly in climate & sustainability.

Job Accountabilities:

• Project Development:Support and drive project strategy, scopes of work in consultation with faculty and research partner, partner organizations, and PX strategy & operations to develop and execute projects for maximum social impact;

• Project Management:Develop long- and short-term project plans, including timelines, milestones, and deliverables;

• Daily Workflow:Manage day-to-day workflow and support research teams to execute against the project plans;

• Project Delivery:Lead all project kick-off, routine partner and research team meetings, as well as final presentation meetings;

• Relationship Management:Maintain strong relationships with all project partners, research team members, and key project stakeholders;

• Coordination:Serve as the primary point of contact for project partners, ensuring they remain updated on project progress and that deliverables exceed expectations;

• Risk Management:Operate with attention to risk management, information security, and contractual compliance;

• Budget:Work with PX’s Business and Operations Analyst to manage project finances, ensuring timely transfer of funds to research team members and payment of direct research expenses;

• Communication:Lead project communications, coordinating with PX’s comms and brand lead and partner communications team, including developing presentation decks, messaging, press releases, web and social media content, videos, and other materials;

• Project Strategy:Continually seek strategic opportunities to build on project work, deliver for partners, and increase project impact.

  Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree preferred; Bachelor’s degree combined with relevant experience also considered

• 3-5 years experience leading multi-stakeholder projects

• Recent work experience within a company, non-profit, university, or government agency designing products, policies, or programs related to climate & sustainability

• Creative problem-solving and solution-driven track record

• Experience working on climate & sustainability issues

• Demonstrated capacity to understand and synthesize complex ideas and concepts

• Strong analytical and communications skills

• Aptitude for learning and using tools that keep our hybrid team working as one: Google Workspace, Asana, Slack, Canva, etc. required

• Experience supporting primary research projects is a plus

  Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Experience: 3 years, combined education/experience acceptable as substitute for minimum experience

Anticipated Hiring Range:

The annual base salary range for this position is $78,000 - $83,000. 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.

This position is funded on gift accounts.

Location:

Hybrid, L.A.-based; approximately 80% remote. Applicants outside of Los Angeles, but open to relocation within 9 months, encouraged to apply.

Required Documents and Additional Information:

• Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.

• 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.

Why join USC Dornsife Public Exchange?

PX is a flexible, innovative team that does things differently… because that’s what the world needs right now. We sit within academia, but serve as a bridge to the public and private sectors. We spend our days partnering government, industry, nonprofit leaders with academic research teams and figuring out how to maximize the social impact of our projects. We approach our work with care, integrity, adaptability, rigor, humility, and curiosity — and while our work is serious, we like to have a good time doing it. If you’re someone who loves continuous learning (USC offers tuition assistance) and inventing pathways to a more sustainable and healthier future, PX might be for you!

For more information on PX, check out: publicexchange.usc.edu.

Minimum Education: Master's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 3 years, Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience Minimum Field of Expertise: Directly related education and project administration experience in specialized field represented by project.

REQ20147731 Posted Date: 04/09/2024