Administrative Assistant II

The John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts is seeking an Administrative Assistant II to join its team. The John Wells Division of Writing for Screen and Television is a part of the School of Cinematic Arts.  Located in the heart of Los Angeles, The School of Cinematic Arts is one of the leading media schools in the world.  Founded in collaboration with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1929, for close to 100 years USC School of Cinematic Arts has been a leader in the entertainment industry. The John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television is a part of this legacy as a world-renowned writing program with many of its alumni creating stories for television, film, novels, web, and other storytelling platforms.  The John Wells Division has several degree programs including a Screenwriting Minor, a Comedy Writing Minor, a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Master of Fine Arts, and a Graduate Certificate. 

As a member of the team, the Administrative Assistant II will provide administrative support to the Chair of the Writing division and support the staff, faculty, and students. In this fast-paced environment, the ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional organizational, technical, and communication skills, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines. This role requires independent judgment, initiative, and discretion to coordinate complex administrative functions, manage confidential information, and serve as a key liaison between faculty, staff, students, university offices, and external partners. The Writing Division team invites candidates who thrive in a collaborative environment, take initiative, deliver exceptional customer service, and approach challenges with creativity and a solution-oriented mindset to apply for this position. 

Some of the responsibilities and duties will include over the course of a year:

• Assist the Chair of the Writing Division and provide support as requested.  This can include managing the Chair’s schedule and calendar, support for presentations, research projects, maintaining action lists, and other tasks as assigned.   
• Conduct undergraduate advisement, clearance for courses, maintain/update student records, and connect students to various offices on campus. 
• Provide day-to-day direction, training, scheduling, and management of student workers and departmental assistants, including selection for hire, onboarding, payroll, and occasional human resources support. 
• Prepare budget projections, reconcile financial accounts, monitor expenditures, analyze budget variances, and submit and track Purchase Orders (POs) and Internal Requisitions (IRs).
• Maintain records for all financial purchases for the division.
• Coordinate division events and special programming by working with  vendors, securing permits, reserving facilities, and collaborating with USC departments.
• Manage and maintain the operations of the front office including ordering of supplies, scheduling rooms, oversight of parking, guests, office logistics, and other related administrative functions.
• Maintain and update databases to track industry success of alumni, students, and faculty from the Writing Division; generate reports to support division strategic initiatives. 
• Coordinate the distribution and collection of scholarship scripts to respective committees.
• Take minutes at curriculum meetings, faculty meetings, and other meetings as needed.  
• Be a daily presence in the division, acting as a filter for questions and issues of students and faculty, in support of staff and the chair.
• Manage the division's website and social media presence, develop promotional content, and support public relations initiatives that promote students, faculty, academic programs, and division events.
• Facilitate in the promotion of students, classes, website information, and other public relations endeavors for the division.
• Perform other duties as assigned or requested.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Four or more years of progressively responsible administrative experience, preferably supporting executive leadership in a fast-paced environment. Experience managing calendars, records, appointments, and multiple competing priorities is preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including but not limited to copy editing, presentations, e-mails, creating decks, handouts, flyers, and other tasks as requested.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage several on-going projects.
• Experience monitoring departmental budgets, reconciling accounts, tracking expenditures, and preparing reports.
• Prior experience at a large institution managing social media accounts.
• Experience preparing presentations and presenting to large audiences in-person and on Zoom.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable in the face of changing priorities and fluctuating workloads, including troubleshooting issues and recommending solutions. 
• Able to build and maintain professional relationships within the School of Cinematic Arts and USC; able to communicate with all levels of management. In addition, utilizing strong interpersonal skills to communicate effectively and professionally with students.
• Proficient with a computer, Zoom, and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, Sharepoint). Prior experience with survey and data collection.
• Typing speed of at least 60 wpm and experience taking minutes.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment and manage multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated customer service skills and a proven ability to interact appropriately with students, faculty, alumni, and other external partners. 
• A high ethical and moral standard, maintaining confidentiality and neutrality at all times.  

Required Documents and Additional Information

• Resume and cover letter required (upload as one file) through the application portal.  Please include up to 3 references.  
• USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff and their family with access to renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions*; tuition benefits for staff and 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. 
• The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer that Values Diversity. 

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree

Minimum Experience: 3 years

Preferred Education: Bachelor's degree

Preferred Experience: 4 years

The hourly rate range for this position is $26.59-$32.02 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.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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