USC Vacancies – Project Manager – Reconfigurable Computing & Trust Group

The

Information Sciences Institute (ISI)

is a vibrant, path-breaking research institute, and a strong component of USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering. ISI performs traditional basic and applied research, combined with education and building of operational systems. It provides an academic environment that supports researchers setting their own agendas to address important research problems in computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, and applied physics.

This role is hybrid in nature (2-3 days in the office). The incumbent must:

• Live within a reasonable commutable distance to the Arlington, Virginia office
• The selected applicant must obtain and maintain a Top Secret Clearance. Eligibility for this clearance requires U.S. citizenship. Current clearance is a plus.

Job Description

The project manager assists a principal investigator in managing all phases of large project grants and any subcontracts. Provides leadership and direction for day-to-day project operations and administrative activities. Participates in the planning, design and development of project protocols, data acquisition and management, analysis and reporting of study results.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes and schedules activities to meet objectives. Ensures that these are well-documented and communicated to project personnel.
• Evaluates, recommends and implements procedures for data acquisition, management and quality control. Prepares technical reports and papers on study plans, progress and results of research activities.
• Helps to develop and manage project budgets. Prepares and/or directs the preparation of financial reports as required. Directs ongoing purchasing activities including authorizations of one-time major purchases.
• Plans and staffs project operations based on proposed research activities and timelines. Includes negotiation and oversight of subcontracted services as necessary. Motivates and monitors the progress of work performed by project staff to include senior technical personnel.
• Identifies funding sources and opportunities. Authors technical proposals and/or works with researchers to develop project proposals. Interfaces with funding agencies to exchange information regarding project status and to build and maintain rapport to enhance opportunities for additional funding.
• Plans and participates in meetings, discussion groups and other types of events to promote project visibility. Engages in presentations on behalf of the project.
• Coordinates and/or links project operations with other administrative and research functions on and off campus. Serves as a key resource for project information and resolves problems or questions referred by internal and external sources.
• Establishes and maintains an active network of professional contacts.

Qualifications And Skills

• Possess a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or Related Technical Field. Advanced degree is a plus.
• 3-5 years of project management experience using one of these project management philosophies/methodologies:
• Agile
• Kaizen
• Lean
• Scrum
• Six Sigma
• Proven experience in Project Management tools, such as:
• Asana
• Microsoft Project
• Monday.com
• Management experience: Previous project management experience in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial research institute environment
• Computing skills: Expert level of Experience in Microsoft Office 365 (OneDrive, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Overleaf; Internet search tools, web design, repositories such as GitHub , and planning tools such as: Doodle, Calendly and When2Meet
• Communication skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in creating, updating and tracking dashboards and project analytics

The annual base salary range for this position is $103,342 – $121,401. 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.

*The University of Southern California values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment.*

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree Minimum Experience: 5 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Bachelor’s degree in business, psychology, communications or another related field. Five years’ experience in project management and business administration. Demonstrated ability to manage concurrent projects and lead mid-sized projects (e.g., identifying potential process improvements). Exceptional critical thinking and organizational skills, and the ability to prioritize. Excellent written and oral communications skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Office (e.g., MS Project, Visio). Experience with project portfolio management (PPM) tools.