"Program & Operations Coordinator, Wharton Neuroscience, Wharton AI & Analytics"

Job Description Summary

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.

The Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative (WAIAI) is advancing cutting-edge applications of AI and data science in modern business, with the keen understanding that artificial intelligence is transforming how we live, learn, and work. WAIAI spearheads innovative student learning experiences, faculty research opportunities, and thought partnerships with industry experts and practitioners. Under the umbrella of WAIAI, the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative's bold and comprehensive vision is to improve business, drive new discoveries and applications, and enhance the education of future leaders through the synthesis of neuroscience, psychology, business, technology, and analytics.

Job Description

The Wharton Neuroscience (WiN) program coordinator serves as a strategic administrative and programmatic partner to the Faculty Director and Managing Director, responsible for the seamless orchestration of a portfolio of academic and public-facing programs and research projects. This role requires sophisticated judgment, proactive communication, and independent coordination across multiple stakeholders. The Program Coordinator is critical to advancing the mission and visibility of the initiative through high-level operational planning, discerning decision-making, and continuous strategic oversight.

The Wharton Neuroscience (WiN) Program Coordinator will manage operations, programs, events, and marketing and communications for WiN, allied with WAIAI and its senior leadership and foundational support team.

This position is contingent upon gift/grant funding.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary liaison for the Faculty Director and Managing Director, anticipating needs, managing high-level communications, and ensuring timely execution of strategic initiatives. Serve as a trusted thought partner who can prioritize, synthesize, and advance key priorities.
• Lead the coordination and implementation of WiN's complex array of academic programs, events, and initiatives. Create and maintain detailed project timelines, shared workflows, and tracking systems to ensure all programmatic milestones and deliverables are met.
• Develop and execute communication strategies for WiN's programs, newsletters, website, and social media presence. Liaise with the Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative (WAIAI) communications team to ensure alignment with broader pillar messaging and outreach goals.
• Monitor progress across all WiN workstreams, proactively identify risks or bottlenecks, and develop creative solutions. Maintain a strong institutional and contextual awareness to inform communications and decision-making across diverse stakeholders.
• Support budgeting processes, expense tracking, and financial reporting. Ensure that operational resources align with WiN's strategic goals and comply with institutional standards and policies.
• Manage IRB protocols and provide high-level administrative coordination for WiN's diverse research portfolio, including logistical support for student research assistants, postdocs, and research staff. Coordinate with the Wharton Behavioral Lab, external partners, and internal research infrastructure.
• Collaborate with staff across WAIAI, Wharton, and Penn to co-execute joint initiatives. Serve as a key conduit between WiN and foundational support teams, contributing to institution-wide efforts.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for WiN's interactions with Wharton External Affairs, Executive Education, donors ("Friends & Partners"), and other stakeholders. Coordinate logistics and communications for events, meetings, and programs that support WiN's external engagement strategy. This position reports to the Managing Director of WiN.

Qualifications

A bachelor's degree with 2-3 years of experience or equivalent combination and experience is required. Effective problem-solving, organizational skills, accuracy, attention to detail, the ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines is required. Excellent verbal, organizational, interpersonal, and written skills a must.