Master's Program Manager and Academic Advisor - Electrical and Systems Engineering - 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

Master's Program Manager and Academic Advisor - Electrical and Systems Engineering - Penn Engineering-





Job Profile Title

Manager B, Student Services, Graduate Programs





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 Master's Program Manager and Academic Advisor will oversee and manage all functions and staff serving the Electrical Engineering (EE) and Systems Engineering (SE) Master’s programs and students in the Electrical and Systems Engineering Department. Work with Faculty Directors of the EE and SE programs to provide student advising (EE students), support admissions and administer program functions, including initial processing and screening of applicants, onboarding new students, addressing student queries and fostering the student/alumni community.


Provide student advising and support through 1) ongoing academic advising: administer audits and implement policies and regulations; 2) advocate for students by connecting graduate students to services available in the department as well as in the school and university; and 3) document and elevate systemic issues to Department Director, Faculty Directors, and Department Chair. Supervise the SE Program Coordinator, who advises the SE student population, and all admissions readers for both the EE and SE Master’s programs.





Job Description


Job Responsibilities

+ Admissions: In coordination with faculty directors and the Department Director, support admissions process for Masters students. Hire, train and manage external readers for the EE and SE master's programs admissions cycles, in collaboration with the faculty directors. Enter admissions decisions. Manage New Student Orientations (NSO) and onboarding.

+ Student Recruitment: Manage prospective student inquiries and develop recruitment methods with faculty directors. Collect student experiences, update website information; improve/develop channels of communications to effectively address prospective student questions (may include applicant checklists, Q&A sections, videos, etc.)

+ Student Advising and Support: Advise EE Masters students in academic options, course requirements and other program requirements; carefully interpret and implement program policies; perform degree audits and support graduation ceremonies. Serve as front-line student contact for EE students, coordinate with faculty, OAS and campus resources to provide additional student support; support resolution of serious student issues by connecting them to appropriate partners. Hold walk-in advising sessions.

+ Student Leadership Development: Manage and develop events/practices that support student connections to each other, to staff, to faculty and to alumni. Current efforts include weekly coffee break, internship panel and Thanksgiving dinner. Serve as department ambassador at events to connect with students and create a welcoming environment.

+ Transparency: process management and improvement. Thoroughly administer all aspects of MSE program functions, including but not limited to the review of OPT, CPT, AM students, transfer credits, etc. Make effective use of a wide range of communications tools to increase transparency of program requirements, expectations and outcomes. Work closely with supervisor and faculty to continually make improvements to 1) update documentation of processes for clear communication with students, faculty and colleagues, 2) increase efficiency and sustainability for all stakeholders. Make effective use of a wide range of communications tools to ensure program transparency and community building.

+ Program and Personnel Management: Manage the SE Program Coordinator and all annually hired MSE Admissions Readers. Provide detailed guidance, training, and feedback to all direct reports, in additional to performance evaluations. Manage all Workday processes for direct reports. Work closely with Program Directors and Department Director to ensure that all goals are being met and that staff is meeting the needs of the program and department.






Qualifications


Bachelor's degree and 2 to 3 years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Ability to prioritize and multitask, excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills, strong attention to detail, and strong organizational skills. Proficiency in MS Word, Excel and Google.




Previous experience in advising and leadership development. Experience in the following areas a plus: supervision, counseling, community organizing, data (quantitative or qualitative) analysis, WordPress.






Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

School of Engineering and Applied Science





Pay Range

$43,919.00 - $70,000.00 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.