Resource Employee - Video Annotator

The USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California is seeking to hire multiple people into the role of Resource Employee - Video Annotator working with Professor Benjamin Graham and a large, interdisciplinary research team. The research team is working to analyze interpersonal communication between public servants and the public through recorded video footage. Our objective is to develop tools to enhance transparency and accountability, and to improve our understanding of this type of communication. 

Video annotators are workers who view video footage and then record information about these interactions using a coding manual provided by our team. In the first stages of the project, this work will mostly involve relatively objective measures of what occurs during these interactions. In later phases of the project, we will ask for more subjective assessments of communication. We will provide paid training for this role. The data that annotators record will be used to train a machine learning model, helping us measure key aspects of communication between public servants and the public. 

The research team is interested in recruiting candidates from as wide of a range of backgrounds as possible. This includes but is not limited to: people of all ages, including those over 65; people with a range of educational backgrounds including those who have not completed high school; people from all race and ethnic backgrounds; people whose first language is not English; and people who are formerly incarcerated.

Responsibilities:

• Focused evaluation of substantial amounts of video and audio data for extended periods, up to 8 hours per day.
• View video footage captured by police body cameras and record information about interactions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Spanish is beneficial but not mandatory. 
• Must be able to work 6-7 hour shifts, in person in downtown Los Angeles. 

Salary range: The hourly rate range for this position is $22-$30 per hour. 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.

Annotators will work 14-32 hours per week for a period of 2-6 months.

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

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.

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, staff, and students 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.

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer that Values Diversity.

Minimum Qualifications: • Proficiency in basic computer software, such as Microsoft Word. • Comfort with focused evaluation of substantial amounts of video and audio data for extended periods, up to 7 hours per day. • Ability to handle confidential materials and maintain confidentiality. • Exceptional attention to detail