"Associate Director of Strategic Operations - Office of Academic Innovation - Penn Engineering"

Job Description Summary

The Office of Academic Innovation (OAI) at Penn Engineering leads the strategy, growth, and operations of a rapidly expanding global portfolio of online and professional education programs. We are seeking an exceptional leader, an analytically rigorous strategist and integrator, to serve as Associate Director of Strategic Operations. This senior leadership role sits at the center of strategy execution, partnering closely with the Executive Director to translate bold institutional priorities into strong operational systems, financial discipline, governance infrastructure, and measurable results. The Associate Director ensures that vision becomes reality across a complex, fast-growing portfolio that is reshaping professional education.

This is a high-impact opportunity for a sophisticated leader who thrives in complexity, anticipates challenges before they surface, and brings clarity, structure, and momentum to a dynamic organization. The Associate Director must move seamlessly between big-picture strategy and disciplined implementation, serving as a connective force across teams and stakeholders. With executive presence, financial fluency, and sound political judgment, this individual will help drive the next phase of OAI's growth and innovation at one of the world's leading engineering schools.

Job Description

Organizational & Operational Leadership

• Serve as a senior integrator across OAI's functional teams, ensuring alignment between strategy, enrollment growth, financial sustainability, and operational execution.
• Directly supervise operational staff, including office management personnel, cultivating a high-performance, accountability-driven culture.
• Oversee day-to-day office operations, including space planning, logistics, shared resources, and administrative systems to ensure a highly effective workplace.
• Design, refine, and institutionalize internal processes, governance structures, policies, and communication systems to support a growing, revenue-generating portfolio.
• Lead annual operational planning cycles, including goal-setting, professional development planning, all-hands meetings, and manager forums.
• Serve as a central hub for internal communications and cross-functional coordination, ensuring clarity, transparency, and follow-through.
• Handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and sound institutional judgment

Financial Strategy & Performance Management

• Oversee financial performance for a dynamic portfolio of online and professional programs, including P&L management, enrollment-driven revenue forecasting, and expense modeling.
• Lead monthly and annual financial reviews, translating complex financial data into actionable insights for senior leadership.
• Develop financial models and scenario analyses to support new program launches, pricing strategy, long-term growth planning, and strategic investments.
• Design and maintain KPI dashboards to track program sustainability, growth metrics, and operational efficiency.
• Lead the annual budget planning process in collaboration with senior leadership, ensuring alignment with School and University priorities.
• Develop and maintain internal financial policies and procedures to ensure compliance, clarity, and cost discipline.
• Partner closely with Penn Engineering and University finance teams to resolve issues, interpret policy, and ensure timely, accurate financial operations.

Strategic Initiatives & Executive Support

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director and senior leadership team.
• Prepare executive-level briefings, board materials, presentations, and strategic analyses.
• Provide analytical and operational support for time-sensitive leadership priorities.
• Coordinate governance for the Board of Online Engineering Education, including agenda-setting, materials preparation, initiative tracking, and follow-through.
• Translate long-term strategic priorities into operational roadmaps, measurable milestones, and implementation plans.
• Anticipate emerging operational, financial, or political challenges and proactively develop solutions.
• Lead and execute cross-functional initiatives that span enrollment strategy, academic operations, partnerships, growth strategy, and program launches.
• Support high-priority institutional initiatives and represent OAI in cross-school collaborations

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Higher Education, Finance, or a related field strongly preferred, and a minimum of three to five years of progressive leadership experience in strategy, operations, finance, consulting, or higher education administration or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, revenue-generating portfolios or business units with P&L responsibility including budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and scenario planning
• Executive presence and political acumen; Experience supporting senior executives, boards, or governance bodies
• Proven ability to translate high-level strategy into operational plans, governance structures, and measurable outcomes
• Strong project management expertise, including managing multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Pay Range

$66,000.00 - $85,000.00 Annual Rate