Community Engagement and Outreach Program Manager - Cora Ingrum Center for Community and Outreach - Penn Engineering

Job Description Summary

The Community Engagement and Outreach Program Manager will work with the Director of Community Engagement and Outreach and autonomously to help grow the STEM (including Computer Science, Robotics, Data Science, and AI) outreach and education programs in the Cora Ingrum Center for Community and Outreach. As a key team member, the Program Manager will play a vital role in planning, implementing, and evaluating outreach programs, specifically promoting STEM education and awareness within the community. Reporting directly to the Director of Community Engagement and Outreach, the Program Manager will work to strengthen relationships, foster community involvement, and contribute to the overall success of Penn Engineering's strategic plan.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Director to lead K-12 STEM outreach and engagement projects with faculty, students, and strategic partners at various stages of project development and project implementation, including identifying potential partners, finding a good match between research and educational project outcomes, and creating experiences for students with a range of ages and backgrounds. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to identify community needs, assess the effectiveness of STEM programs, and gather feedback for continuous improvement.
• Lead, develop, and implement community engagement and outreach projects, events, and initiatives to promote positive relationships between Penn Engineering and the community, with a specific emphasis on STEM education (including Computer Science, Robotics, Data Science, and AI). This includes out-of-school time activities, school-embedded enrichment activities, and campus activities. Collect and analyze relevant data to assess the success and impact of community engagement and STEM programs.
• Lead and collaborate on logistics associated with community engagement and outreach projects. This includes room reservations, booking buses, ordering supplies, organizing supplies, making travel arrangements, corresponding with presenters, and setting up virtual meetings (e.g. via Zoom), making travel arrangements for in-person events, and disseminating communications to internal and external audiences.
• Partner with the Director to coordinate Penn Engineering Outreach hires and assign appropriate tasks. Recruit, train, and coordinate student hires and volunteers to support community engagement and STEM outreach initiatives. Provide guidance and support, ensuring a positive and impactful experience for student hires, volunteers, and the community.
• Autonomously update and maintain repositories, databases, mailing lists, websites, newsletters, and listservs. Create compelling content and materials to effectively communicate STEM program objectives, achievements, and impact to diverse audiences. Utilize various communication channels to raise awareness and engage the community in STEM-related activities.
• Respond to and disseminate email inquiries from faculty, staff, postdocs, students, and community partners to the appropriate staff person. Work closely with other departments to align community engagement efforts, especially in STEM, with organizational goals and values.
• Collaborate with the Director of Community Engagement and Outreach to develop long-term strategies for sustained community impact, particularly in the STEM education space.
• Coordinate with the Director and staff to ensure all projects meet target goals.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree (e.g., community development, K-12 education, non-profit management, STEM education) and two to three years of related experience successfully managing events and/or programs including promotion, recruitment, logistics, registration, and content planning or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Familiarity with community resources, dynamics, and a passion for promoting STEM education (including Computer Science, Robotics, Data Science, and AI).

Demonstrated problem-solving skills, meticulous attention to detail, independence, and success working in a team environment. Excellent organizational, time management, and written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

Must pass a background check for working with minors in PA and continue to recheck every 60 months.

Preferred:

• Experience working collaboratively with students, schools, and community groups
• Previous project management experience, especially in managing multiple projects at one time
• Experience in K-12, informal, and/or higher education
• Previous grant writing experience writing Broader Impacts portions of National Science Foundation grants and/or comparable grants
• Familiarity with survey and data collection, especially with minors
• Experience building strong relationships across university colleges, centers, and institutes and with the Community
• Familiarly with education research
• Previous research experience, especially related to STEM