Assistant to the Director - University of Pennsylvania

University Overview


The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.




Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.








Posted Job Title

Assistant to the Director





Job Profile Title

Temporary Employee - Non-Exempt





Job Description Summary

The Assistant to the Director of the Katz center provides administrative support to the Director of the Katz Center. The position requires confidentiality, discretion, and diplomacy. This is a temporary, part-time position that will require 14-20 hours/week and preferably in person on Mondays and Wednesdays.





Job Description


The Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania is driven by the mission to deepen and broaden the understanding of Jewish history, texts, cultures, ideas, and experiences. The research it supports spans all periods of Jewish history, from distant antiquity through to the present day; it reaches into every part of the globe where Jews have lived, and it is grounded in a wide range of disciplines and approaches. Over the decades, after supporting hundreds of scholars and untold numbers of discoveries and publications, it has earned a reputation as the nation’s preeminent research center in the study of Jewish history and culture. It did not secure this status overnight.




The Katz Center is heir to an intellectual legacy that is more than 110 years old, developing out of an earlier institution known as the Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning, founded in 1907 as the first secular institution to grant PhDs in Jewish studies. From Dropsie, the Katz Center has inherited some of the features that define its success such as the core of its Judaica library and the Jewish Quarterly Review, but in the quarter-century since it merged into the University of Pennsylvania, it has come to reflect Penn’s strengths and has advanced its mission in key ways. Especially relevant is Penn’s commitment to “integrated knowledge,” its investment in bringing different disciplines and approaches together in ways that lead scholarship in new directions. The Katz Center is organized around this idea of integrated knowledge, using its fellowship program and other activities to bring scholars from different fields and disciplines together to pursue research in a collaborative setting.




As a scholarly institution striving for diversity and inclusivity, the Katz Center is committed to creating an intellectual space welcoming to all scholars regardless of nationality, religious orientation, racial or ethnic identity, gender identity and expression, professional rank, or institutional affiliation.




DUTIES:

+ Provide support to the Director of the Center by managing schedules and organizing Zoom and in-person meetings. Responsibilities include proofreading, signing, and converting documents, adding letterhead and signatures, submitting expense reports, and maintaining records of proposals and funding for Director-led projects. Additionally, coordinate travel arrangements, assist with forms, and handle document scanning as needed.

+ Support the Director in developing, implementing, and managing the Center’s development initiatives. Responsibilities include sending and tracking acknowledgements and thank-you letters to donors, compiling and entering information on history, gifts, proposals, and contacts into the database, and serving as the primary liaison to the SAS Office of Advancement. Additionally, coordinate the distribution of annual reports to donors.

+ Support the coordination of various board meetings, including those of the Board of Advisors. Responsibilities include managing and updating lists, information, and bios as needed, organizing biannual board meetings and events for over 20 participants across different time zones, and maintaining files on board members. Additionally, assist with board nominations and removals, including reporting to University trustees, and help the Director acknowledge gifts and new pledges.

+ Provide day-to-day administrative support and assist with special projects for the Director. Cover the front desk in the Receptionist’s absence and offer occasional staff support during large events.

+ Handle the processing of the Director’s expense reports and reimbursements.

+ Perform other duties as assigned.






QUALIFICATIONS:


High School degree with 5 to 7 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, is required. Excellent oral and written communication skills required. Must have strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects at same time. Must possess proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite to effectively navigate email and electronic calendaring. Must have impeccable customer service skills. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.




This is a temporary, part-time position that will require 14-20 hours/week and preferably in person on Mondays and Wednesdays.






Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences





Pay Range

$7.25 - $25.00 Hourly Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.








Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.




Special Requirements Background check may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.



The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.