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
Executive Director, Talent
Job Profile Title
Executive Director B, Human Resources
Job Description Summary
The University of Pennsylvania is seeking an Executive Director of Talent to provide strategic and operational leadership for the university’s end-to-end talent ecosystem, including Talent Acquisition, Talent Development, Employee Engagement (including Employee Resource Groups), and Recognition Programs. Reporting to the Vice President for Human Resources, this role is responsible for designing and delivering a cohesive, future‑ready talent strategy that supports the university’s mission, academic excellence, and long‑term workforce needs. The Executive Director of Talent will lead the evolution of talent practices as the institution scales, workforce expectations change, and technology becomes a more central enabler of talent management. The Executive Director will join the Division of Human Resources Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and work closely with school and center HR professionals to create and define comprehensive talent strategies.
About the Role
This role reports to the Vice President of Human Resources and collaborates with University HR leadership to align HR strategy with institutional goals. This role requires a leader who can balance strategic vision with operational execution, navigate the complexity of higher education, and build modern, inclusive talent practices that serve faculty, staff, and leaders across the institution. The successful Executive Director of Talent will be:
- Future oriented and systems minded
- Comfortable balancing strategy and execution
- Credible with senior leaders, faculty, and staff
- Skilled at influencing without overreliance on hierarchy
- Data informed and values driven
- Passionate about building inclusive, high impact talent systems
Key Responsibilities
Talent Strategy & Integration
- Develop and execute a comprehensive, integrated talent strategy aligned with the university’s strategic plan, academic priorities, and workforce needs
- Ensure alignment across Talent Acquisition, Talent Development, Engagement, and Recognition programs
- Evaluate current talent acquisition practices across Penn and develop a comprehensive talent acquisition approach
- Serve as a strategic advisor to the VP of HR, senior leaders, and academic partners on talent trends, risks, and opportunities
- Monitor external trends in higher education, labor markets, and talent technology to inform future‑state design
Talent Acquisition and Workforce Planning
- Drive the evolution of talent acquisition strategies to support staff hiring in a competitive and evolving labor market
- Partner with academic and administrative leaders to align hiring strategies with workforce planning, enrollment and research trends, and institutional growth
- Advance inclusive hiring practices and equitable candidate experiences
- Leverage data and technology to improve recruitment effectiveness, time to fill, and quality of hire
Learning, Development & Capability Building
- Design and oversee learning and development strategies that support: Leadership development at all levels, Professional growth for staff, Emerging skill needs driven by technology, pedagogy, and operational change
- Strengthen onboarding and early-career development experiences through a consistent and comprehensive orientation/onboarding program.
- Partner with academic leaders to align staff and leadership development with the university’s educational mission
Engagement & Culture
- Lead institutional engagement initiatives in partnership with HR colleagues, academic leaders, and campus stakeholders
- Oversee Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and measurable impact
- Support culture‑building initiatives that foster belonging, engagement, and collaboration across faculty and staff populations
- Partner with communications and leadership to reinforce inclusive values through talent practices and messaging
Recognition & Employee Experience
- Design and manage recognition programs that reinforce desired behaviors, values, and contributions
- Ensure recognition approaches are equitable, meaningful, and aligned with institutional culture
- Continuously assess and improve elements of the employee experience connected to attraction, development, and retention
Qualifications
Required
- Master’s Degree and Over 10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
- Possess strong business acumen and proven ability to stay with evolving HR trends, legislation and best practices
- Demonstrated success leading multiple talent functions (e.g., talent acquisition, learning, engagement)
- Strong knowledge of all functional areas of Human Resources, talent acquisition and talent development
- Expertise and demonstrated experience in developing and driving strategy across a large organization
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution skills
- Proficiency in data-informed decision-making
Preferred
- Master’s degree in a related field
- Familiarity with Workday
- 10+ years of HR experience, including in higher education or unionized settings
- HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR)
- Experience implementing or modernizing talent technology platforms
- Comfort operating in environments with evolving structure, priorities, and expectations
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School
Human Resources
Pay Range
$190,000.00 - $260,000.00 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.