Vice President, Federal Relations

About this role

Vice President, Federal Relations

Position Summary

The Vice President, Federal Relations (VPFR) is USC’s senior federal strategist and principal representative in Washington, D.C., responsible for advancing the university’s academic, research, and institutional priorities with Congress, the White House, federal departments and agencies, and other national stakeholders.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President for University Relations, the VPFR helps shape USC’s federal strategy and is responsible for translating that strategy into coordinated advocacy, engagement, and action. The VPFR serves as a trusted adviser to university leadership regarding the federal political, legislative, regulatory, and funding environments. The VPFR builds cross-partisan relationships, connects USC’s research and expertise to federal opportunities, and helps position USC as a leading national voice on issues relevant to its mission. 

The VPFR leads USC’s three-person federal relations team, directly supervising two employees. The role works as a full partner across USC’s government relations and University Relations teams and maintains strong relationships with university leadership, deans, faculty, researchers, and academic and medical partners across USC. 

This is a full-time position based in Washington, D.C., at the USC Capital Campus. Travel to Los Angeles is required approximately four to six times per year.

For full consideration, please submit your application materials by the priority deadline of September 24, 2026.

Key Responsibilities will include the following: • Work with the Senior Vice President, University Relations, and senior university leadership to develop and execute USC’s federal agenda, including legislative, policy, appropriations, funding, and regulatory priorities.

• Serve as a trusted adviser to senior leadership on federal political, legislative, regulatory, and funding environment, anticipating developments and assessing institutional risks, opportunities, and recommended actions.

• Represent USC and build sustained, cross-partisan relationships with members of Congress, congressional committees and staff, White House and Administration officials, federal agency leaders, and other key stakeholders.

• Advance USC priorities on higher education, scientific research, health, innovation and technology, appropriations, and other federal matters related to the university’s mission.

• Align federal advocacy with USC’s academic and research priorities in coordination with the Provost, Office of Research and Innovation, and other university partners.

• Build strong relationships with deans, faculty, researchers, and university leaders and coordinate federal strategy, priorities, and messaging across USC.

• Connect faculty, students, researchers, and senior leaders with policymakers through meetings, campus visits, briefings, testimony, and other engagements; prepare and staff the president, provost, Senior Vice President, deans, trustees, and other leaders for federal engagements, as needed.

• Provide timely, actionable federal intelligence to university leadership and other internal audiences through briefings, written updates, and issue-specific alerts.

• Represent USC on the Association of American Universities (AAU) Council on Federal Relations and with other relevant higher education and research associations. Maintain collaborative relationships with peer institutions in the AAU and Big Ten.

• Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing federal relations team and manage the federal relations budget, consultants, and vendors.

• Partner with the Executive Director of the USC Capital Campus to support shared opportunities for engagement and programming.

• Support the Trojan Congressional Caucus through strategic programming, member engagement, and relationship-building.

• Serve as a collaborative partner across USC’s government relations and University Relations teams, promoting coordinated advocacy, information sharing, and a high-performing team culture.

• Register as a federal lobbyist and ensure compliance with the Lobbying Disclosure Act and related university reporting requirements.

Minimum Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree required. 

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in federal relations, government affairs, public policy, or a closely related field, including at least five years of leadership and management experience.

• Senior-level knowledge and experience with federal legislative, appropriations, regulatory, budget, and agency processes.

• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain trusted, bipartisan relationships with elected officials, senior congressional staff, Administration officials, federal agency leaders, and other key Washington stakeholders.

• Strong leadership and project management skills, with demonstrated success leading high-performing teams and complex initiatives.

• Demonstrated ability to build productive internal partnerships and influence across a complex organization, including with senior leaders, faculty, deans, researchers, and others who do not report to the position.

• Excellent judgment, political acumen, and discretion in complex, sensitive, and fast-moving situations, with the credibility and executive presence required to advise senior leadership and represent USC externally.

• An established network of relationships in Washington and demonstrated ability to convene policymakers, institutional leaders, and other stakeholders around shared priorities.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to distill complex policy and political matters for senior leaders and non-specialist audiences.

Preferred Qualifications  • Master’s, law, or other professional degree.

• Previous experience working on Capitol Hill, in an Administration or federal agency, or in a comparable government affairs or public policy role.

• Experience representing a research university, aca

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