Director, Faculty Affairs & Administration - The Wharton
School
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
Director, Faculty Affairs & Administration - The Wharton
School
Job Profile Title
Director B, Academic Affairs, Faculty Affairs
Job Description Summary
Wharton School Overview
Founded in 1881 as the world's first collegiate business school,
the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the
future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and
creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in both
Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a
faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000
undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year
13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers
through Wharton Executive Education's individual,
company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton
alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform
business every day. Wharton is home to a dynamic community of
staff, bringing a wide range of skills, experiences, and
perspectives. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.
Job Description
The Director of Faculty Affairs provides functional leadership for
faculty affairs across Wharton, coordinating and supporting
departmental staff responsible for this work and promoting
consistent, responsive, and effective practices across the School.
Reporting to the Senior Director, Deputy Dean's Office and working
closely with the Deputy Dean, the Director leads and coordinates
complex faculty appointments and personnel processes; provides
expert guidance on School and University policies and practices;
and serves as a trusted resource to faculty, department chairs,
senior leadership, and departmental staff.
The Director provides functional leadership to Wharton's faculty
affairs community and promotes a consistent, responsive, and
high-quality experience throughout the faculty lifecycle. The role
oversees interconnected administrative cycles, faculty governance
and recognition activities, faculty systems and records, and
related policies and practices, with an ongoing focus on ensuring
highly effective faculty affairs operations and services. Working
across academic departments and School and University partners, the
Director identifies opportunities to strengthen processes,
practices, and tools, balancing consistency and administrative
effectiveness with the needs of individual faculty and the
complexities of the academic environment.
Qualifications
- A bachelor's degree and 5-7 years of experience, or equivalent
combination of education and experience required. A minimum of 7
years of progressively responsible experience in faculty affairs,
academic personnel administration, academic administration, or a
closely related area is strongly preferred.
Experience within a complex research university or similarly
decentralized academic environment is preferred. Experience at Penn
strongly preferred.
Substantial knowledge of faculty affairs and academic personnel
processes, including experience administering or advising on
faculty appointments, reappointments, promotions, tenure, leaves,
retirements, and other faculty personnel actions.
Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying complex
institutional policies and procedures and translating them into
clear, practical guidance for faculty, academic leaders, and
administrators is essential.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills are
required, including the professional presence, polish, diplomacy,
and discretion necessary to work effectively with faculty,
department chairs, senior academic leadership, and University
partners on highly sensitive and consequential matters. The
successful candidate must be able to establish credibility and
trust with senior stakeholders, communicate difficult or nuanced
information with tact and clarity, and represent leadership
decisions appropriately and effectively.
Exceptional judgment and organizational acumen, including the
ability to navigate sensitive faculty matters, recognize
institutional and reputational implications, balance multiple
perspectives, and determine when issues require consultation or
escalation. Demonstrated ability to maintain strict confidentiality
and exercise discretion in handling sensitive personnel and
institutional information is essential.
Must possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills and
demonstrated ability to independently evaluate complex cases,
identify policy or procedural issues, develop thoughtful
recommendations, and anticipate potential challenges before they
arise.
Demonstrated success leading complex, deadline-driven processes
involving multiple stakeholders and levels of review is required.
The successful candidate must be highly organized and
detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent
faculty actions, governance processes, projects, and annual cycles
while maintaining accuracy, consistency, and compliance.
Strong leadership and collaborative skills are required,
including the demonstrated ability to serve as a senior and trusted
member of the team, provide guidance and expertise to colleagues,
foster effective working relationships, and coordinate complex work
across multiple stakeholders.
Experience developing and improving administrative processes,
guidance, communications, documentation, or training is strongly
preferred. The successful candidate should be able to identify and
implement opportunities for greater consistency, effectiveness, and
efficiency while exercising appropriate sensitivity to academic
culture, faculty needs, and established governance practices.
Demonstrated ability to effectively leverage systems,
technology, and available tools to support administrative
processes, information management, and continuous
improvement.
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School
Wharton School
Pay Range
$80,891.00 - $129,690.00 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.
Equal Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer.
Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race,
color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin
(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship
status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected
under applicable federal, state or local law.
Special Requirements
Background checks may be 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.
To learn more, please visit:
https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer.
Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race,
color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin
(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship
status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected
under applicable federal, state, or local law.
To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/SD---Wharton-Deans-Office/Director--Faculty-Affairs---Administration---The-Wharton-School_JR00126690-1
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