Administrative Assistant II

Los Angeles, CAFull-time$26–$35/hrPosted Jul 20, 2026

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.

The USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is seeking an Administrative Assistant II at the Brain and Creativity Institute (BCI) and Dornsife Cognitive Neuroimaging Center (DNI). The largest and oldest of the USC schools, USC Dornsife functions as the academic core of the university, offering courses and advancing knowledge across the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

The Administrative Assistant II position involves a broad spectrum of duties to support the BCI Director and the daily operations of the BCI and DNI.

Responsibilities:

Specific to the BCI Director

· Provide comprehensive administrative support ensuring efficient daily operations and effective communication.

· Screen, prioritize, and respond to emails as directed; prepare correspondence and print materials as requested.

· Prepare, format, type and print manuscripts, scientific reviews, research articles, and other professional documents such as letters of recommendation for colleagues, BCI faculty and graduate students.

· Coordinate, prepare, and finalize annual Chair, Institute, and Endowment reports, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely submission.

· Maintain and update the Director’s calendar and task management system as needed.

· Prepare monthly reports of BCI accounts utilizing Workday Financial Systems.

· Update curriculum vitae, professional biographies, and other profile materials monthly.

· Prepare travel itineraries and related travel arrangements, excluding air transportation bookings. Post travel, prepare reimbursement requests with supporting documentation.

· Perform campus-related errands, including deliveries and coordination with university departments, libraries, and administrative offices.

· Coordinate the scheduling, organization, logistics, and communication of monthly luncheon meetings for the Society of University Professors throughout the academic year.

· Support contract and grant administration by coordinating documentation, monitoring deadlines, and assisting with administrative processes.

· Provide periodic administrative support to the DNI Director.

General Office Support

· Assist BCI faculty with iVIP guest requests in compliance with university requirements.

· Attend quarterly Administration and Finance Update meetings and, when unable to attend, review Zoom recording to stay current on institutional developments.

· Collaborate with Office Assistant to prepare Cammilleri Hall rental agreements, collect rental fees, and maintain effective communication with prospective clients. Attendance at events is not required.

· Partner with Office Assistant to update BCI website, ensuring content accuracy and relevancy.

· In the absence of the Office Assistant, order office supplies, assist with conference room reservations, and submit building and facility maintenance requests to ensure continuity of departmental operations.

· In collaboration with the BCI Director, oversee the allocation and assignment of office and workspace accommodations for faculty, staff, graduate students, volunteers, and guest researchers.

· Request parking reservations for guests.

· Upon receipt of approved Flywheel invoices from the DNI Director, submit to Accounts Payable for processing and payment, and accurately record detailed expense information in shared files and tracking spreadsheets.

· Record, monitor, and maintain records for BCI and DNI expenditures to support budget tracking and financial reporting.

· Prepare and submit new fiscal year requisitions and purchase orders (POs), ensuring accuracy, compliance with procurement policies, and timely processing.

· Facilitate Visiting Scholar requests by coordinating administrative documentation, communicating with scholars, and instituting onboarding procedures in collaboration with the university’s Office of International Services.

Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.

· Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment while providing timely and effective support to staff members as needed.

· Able to commit to an on-site work schedule of Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.

· Ability to handle, maintain, and safeguard sensitive and confidential information with the highest level of discretion and professionalism.

· Experience supervising direct reports, including if applicable, hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, setting priorities, and professional development.

Preferred Qualifications

Skilled in Workday Financial System, Priority Software Facility Billing System and Word Press.

The hourly rate range for this position is $26 - $35. 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 alignment, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

This position is gift-funded.

Work Arrangement: This is a 100% full-time, on-site/on-campus position.

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.
To support the well-being of our faculty and staff, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of perks to help protect their and their dependents’ health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package. You can learn more about USC’s comprehensive benefits here.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree

Addtional Education Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
Minimum Experience: 3 years

Minimum Skills: Secretarial or specialized clerical and administrative experience.
Preferred Education: Bachelor's degree

Preferred Experience: 4 years

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 uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

If you are a current USC employee, please apply to this USC job posting in Workday by copying and pasting this link into your browser:

https://wd5.myworkday.com/usc/d/inst/1$9925/9925$150417.htmld