Associate Director of Student Life - Penn Engineering - 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.




The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.








Posted Job Title

Associate Director of Student Life - Penn Engineering





Job Profile Title

Associate Director C, Academic Affairs





Job Description Summary

Penn Engineering’s world-acclaimed faculty, state-of-the-art research laboratories and highly interdisciplinary curricula offer an experience that is unparalleled. Innovation and technology drive every program and transform the fundamentals of what future engineers are learning. http://www.seas.upenn.edu/


The Associate Director of Student Life, reporting to the Managing Director of the Office of Academic Services, is responsible for the overall management and strategic development of student leadership and community engagement initiatives for Penn Engineering’s undergraduate and graduate communities. Develop and implement innovative programs to enhance student development, foster a strong sense of community, and cultivate a culture of leadership and service.





Job Description


Job Responsibilities



Programming management

+ Oversee the implementation, assessment, innovation, and growth of key special programs and initiatives supporting pipeline opportunities and student life in Penn Engineering, including the Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) and the Penn Engineering Student Life and Engagement (PESTLE) program with the support of a full-time program coordinator (direct report)

+ ESAP: Guide the management and implementation of marketing and recruitment, admissions, instructor coordination, staff hiring and onboarding, programming, student crisis management

+ PESTLE: Oversee the strengthening and growth of Penn Engineering undergraduate and graduate community engagement through the PESTLE platform, including working with vendors, fostering School-wide and community partnerships, advertising and marketing of opportunities to students, identifying new ways to elevate engineering student engagement with community partners

+ Program innovation: Program innovation: Support the development of new strategic programming enriching student life and fostering a pipeline of STEM talent






Student organizations

+ Provide guidance and oversight of undergraduate and graduate clubs and organizations to ensure structure and compliance with School and University guidance around internal and external partnerships, programming, communication, and coordination with Penn staff and faculty

+ Ensure student-led boards are equipped with appropriate faculty or staff advisors that provide appropriate mentorship and oversight

+ Develop ways to integrate student organizations into existing and new programs to support the student experience, including PESTLE’s service learning and community engagement opportunities

+ Serve as a resource for student organizations interacting with School and University-wide issues, including those related to budget, space, partnerships, and disciplinary action






Program monitoring, evaluation, and learning

+ Develop robust programmatic tracking systems for data collection and reporting

+ Collect and analyze feedback from student life programming and special programs in the Associate Director’s purview

+ Assist with programmatic report data collection and writing as needed




Provide routine reports to support the promotion of and continuous learning of various student life initiatives and special programs in the Associate Director’s purview

+ Stay on top of trends and best practices for student life and special programs to assess ROI, innovate, and adapt student and learner engagement strategies and programming




Team management

+ Supervise a full-time coordinator dedicated to managing the day-to-day operations of ESAP and additional year-round programming under the Student Life portfolio

+ Serve as the primary point of contact for any short-term/temporary staff assisting in student life programs




Special projects

+ As a member of the Office of Academic Services team, provide support to the Managing Director and other Directors on a variety of high-level projects, initiatives, and strategic planning









Qualifications

+ Bachelor's degree and three to five years of experience in higher education working directly with undergraduate students or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

+ Experience overseeing professional staff and/or student staff.

+ Past student leadership experience.

+ Demonstrated ability to perform data collection and reporting on programming activities.

+ Proficient with Gsuite, MS Office 365, and communication tools (e.g., Slack, Teams), and able to adapt to new tools and technologies.

+ Experience working directly with University-level offices is preferred.

+ Demonstrated understanding of the diverse and intersectional needs and concerns of historically excluded student populations in STEM.

+ Demonstrated record of personal and professional initiative, flexibility, and excellent oral and written communication skills.

+ Ability to adapt work schedule or serve on-call during key programming periods is required.

+ Ability to work independently and as a team member.






Preferred:

+ Master's Degree in higher education, student affairs administration, or a related field.

+ Student life and student programming experience.

+ Demonstrated ability to synthesize data/reporting to contribute to and inform directional programming, recruitment, and overall impact.

+ Experience with higher education admissions systems (e.g., Slate).

+ Ability to update and manage websites and CRMs.

+ Experience working with graduate students.










Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

School of Engineering and Applied Science





Pay Range

$51,824.00 - $86,000.00 Annual 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 required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.




University Benefits

+ Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

+ Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

+ Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

+ Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

+ Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

+ Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

+ Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

+ University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

+ Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

+ Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

+ Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

+ Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.




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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay



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.