Associate Director, Mid-Career Doctoral Program (Student Experience, Academic Engagement & Strategic Partnerships)

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, Mid-Career Doctoral Program (Student Experience, Academic Engagement & Strategic Partnerships)

Job Profile Title

Associate Director C, Student Services, Graduate Programs

Job Description Summary

The Associate Director provides strategic leadership for student progression, admissions, alumni engagement, faculty-facing academic systems, and milestone events including dissertation defenses and graduation. This role serves as the primary student-facing administrator and strategic liaison to Admissions, Alumni Relations, Marketing, and key GSE partners. Working in tandem with the Associate Director for Operations & Academic Systems, this position ensures cohesive student experience, strong academic quality, structured Leave of Absence and re-entry systems, and seamless execution of key academic milestones from enrollment through commencement.

The successful candidate must be available for in-person cohort weekends.

Job Description

Key Duties

• Student Experience, Advising & Progression: Oversee advising systems and student support programs; Manage student progression tracking and milestone monitoring; Oversee Leave of Absence (LOA) processes and structured re-entry plans; Serve as escalation point for complex student matters.
• Recruitment and Admissions Strategy & Enrollment Management: Partner with Admissions on recruitment and yield management; Manage admissions review process and enrollment tracking.
• Academic Milestones: Defenses, Graduation & Commencement: Lead coordination and execution of dissertation defenses; Oversee defense scheduling and faculty coordination; Manage graduation clearance processes in partnership with Registrar; Lead commencement planning and graduation-related communications and activities.
• Alumni & Strategic Engagement: Work in coordination with GSE Development & Alumni Relations in leading alumni engagement strategy and donor collaboration.
• Faculty Academic Support & Canvas Oversight: Ensure faculty access to Canvas courses; Coordinate course setup and reviews with Program Director.
• Marketing & Communications Stakeholder & Partner Engagement: Collaborate on messaging; Liaise with MarComm, OSS, IT, SRO, and the Business Office.
• Strategic planning collaboration
• Additional duties as assigned

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL:

• A Master's degree and 2-3 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education & experience.
• Demonstrated experience working with executive or doctoral-level students
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and conflict resolution skills

PREFERRED:

• A Doctorate (EdD, PhD) and 5-7 years of experience in academic program leadership.
• Experience coordinating academic milestone events

*All applicants must submit a cover letter detailing their interest in the position. The cover letter may be uploaded in the same section as the resume/CV section.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Graduate School of Education

Pay Range

$66,000.00 - $85,000.00 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, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.