Associate Director of Community, Climate, and Doctoral Education, Penn GSE

Job Description Summary

The Associate Director of Community, Climate, and Doctoral Education serves as a key operational and programmatic partner to the Associate Dean for Community, Climate, and Doctoral Education, supporting two interconnected portfolios. Within the Office of Community and Climate (OCC), the Associate Director leads the planning, coordination, and execution of programs, events, and initiatives that advance Penn GSE's commitment to community building across the school; manages office operations, including budget oversight and vendor administration; and serves as the primary logistical and relational point of contact for high-profile guests and visitors.

The Associate Director also staffs and supports the standing Committee on Climate and Community. In the doctoral education portfolio, the Associate Director partners with the Associate Dean to develop, implement, and support programs, policies, and initiatives aimed at strengthening the doctoral student experience at Penn GSE, coordinating closely with the Office of Student Success, Office of Academic Affairs, and Office of Research and Faculty Affairs. Across both areas, the Associate Director provides project management support and assists the Associate Dean in ensuring effective execution of GSE priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Office of Community and Climate Programs, Events, and Operations:

• Plan, coordinate, and execute OCC programs and events, including the Visiting Scholar Speaker Series, listening sessions, community gatherings, and partnered programming with GSE Affinity Groups, the Office of Student Success, and the Office of Human Resources
• Serve as the primary point of contact and on-site coordinator for high-profile visitors and speakers, managing travel logistics, itineraries, scheduling, and hospitality
• Manage the OCC budget, including expense reconciliation, P-card payments, reimbursements, and vendor and independent service provider contracts
• Develop and distribute event communications and marketing collateral in coordination with the Office of Marketing and Communications
• Maintain OCC web presence and informational resources in coordination with the Office of Marketing and Communications
• As appropriate, support periodic school climate survey administration (conducted on a multi-year cycle) including data collection, synthesis of findings, and development of follow-up programming and communications

Standing Committee on Climate and Community:

• Staff the standing Committee on Climate and Community, working in close coordination with the Associate Dean and faculty Co-Chair(s)
• Schedule and attend monthly meetings; prepare agendas, take minutes, and track decisions, action items, and follow-ups
• Support drafting of Committee reports, presentations, analyses, and other work products

Doctoral Education Programs and Initiatives:

• Under guidance of the Associate Dean, develop, implement, and assess programs, policies, and initiatives aimed at strengthening the Ph.D. and Ed.D. student experience
• Serve as the operational liaison among the Office of Student Success, Office of Academic Affairs, and Office of Research and Faculty Affairs, and other partners to advance doctoral education priorities
• Coordinate logistics and communications for programming and events, such as doctoral student luncheons and other cross-program gatherings
• Support data collection, analysis, and reporting on the doctoral student experience and the impact of school-wide initiatives

Associate Dean Support and Office Operations:

• Provide project management and administrative support to the Associate Dean across the portfolio and in their capacity as Graduate Group Chair
• Coordinate meetings, prepare materials and briefings, and manage correspondence on behalf of the Associate Dean
• Handle sensitive information with discretion and represent the Office professionally with faculty, staff, students, and external partners

Perform additional duties as assigned

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL:

• A Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and 2 to 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Familiarity with concepts, issues, and programs associated with fostering community within a multifaceted organization and graduate level programs
• Demonstrated experience in program or event planning, coordination, and execution
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft reports, materials, and correspondence on behalf of senior leaders
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including faculty, students, staff, and external guests
• Ability to manage financial and administrative processes including budget tracking and expense reconciliation
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

PREFERRED:

• Five years of experience; Prior experience in higher education administration or supporting academic departments
• Experience supporting senior academic administrators or faculty leaders
• Experience with commercial graphic design templates and platforms used to generate communications with GSE community