Spiegel Wilks Fellow
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
Spiegel Wilks Fellow
Job Profile Title
Administrative Coordinator
Job Description Summary
The Spiegel Wilks Fellow contributes to shaping the intellectual
direction of ICA's public engagement initiatives, connecting the
Institute's exhibition and programmatic work to the research and
pedagogical mission of the University of Pennsylvania. The Fellow
will cultivate academic and community partnerships, develop
rinquiry-driven programs, and help integrate contemporary artistic
practices into broader conversations about art, ideas, and society.
This two-year fellowship (with the option of a third year at the
discretion of the Director of Public Engagement) offers a unique
opportunity for an emerging scholar or cultural practitioner to
engage deeply in curatorial and public-facing research within a
leading contemporary art institution.
The Public Engagement & Research Department designs and
implements a multidisciplinary platform for public programs,
interpretive initiatives, community partnerships, and academic
engagement at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA). Through
lectures, workshops, performances, and community-led programs, the
department advances ICA's mission to be a launchpad for
contemporary art and ideas. Its work deepens audience engagement,
fosters research, and strengthens connections across ICA's diverse
publics. These efforts expand ICA's role as a civic resource,
amplify its research mission, and enhance its impact within the
University of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia community, and more
broadly in the field nationally and internationally.
Job Description
Job Responsibilities
- Serve as an active partner in shaping the intellectual content
of ICA's public programs.
Collaborate with curators, artists, and the Director and
Curator of Public Engagement & Research to develop themes,
topics, and participants for lectures, conversations, and
performances that expand ICA's research mission.
Manage and maintain relationships with invited artists,
speakers, and cultural organizations, including coordination of
travel, accommodations, honoraria, and related logistics.
Facilitate undergraduate Student Board (ICASB) meetings and the
Visiting Artist Lecture Series in partnership with the Director and
Curator of Public Engagement & Research.
Support opportunities for Penn students to engage directly with
artists, curators, and visiting scholars.
Build and sustain connections across the University of
Pennsylvania and with external academic and cultural
institutions.
Collaborate on developing rigorous and interdisciplinary
methods of inquiry through programming, publishing, and academic
courses that advance ICA's role as a site for research and
teaching.
Coordinate culminating presentations or symposia related to
annual research themes and contribute to documentation, evaluation,
and dissemination of public engagement initiatives.
Work collaboratively across ICA departments as needed,
contributing to other public programming or special projects.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree, and 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent
combination of education and experience is required.
- Have excellent writing, research, and communication
skills.
- Be highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive, with
excellent time management and the ability to manage multiple
projects simultaneously.
- Be a self-starter who can work both independently and
collaboratively.
- Demonstrate a strong interest in ICA's mission and a commitment
to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
- Possess 1-2 years of related experience in a cultural
institution, university, or nonprofit setting.
- A degree and/or course work in art history, cultural
anthropology, design, or a related field preferred.
- Be proficient in Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, Adobe
Suite, and project management software.
Application Requirement
- A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for
this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to
upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.
** Please note that this is a term position with a target end date
of 10/1/2028
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School
Provost's Center
Pay Range
$21.52 - $28.84 Hourly 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/Institute-for-Contemporary-Art/Spiegel-Wilks-Fellow_JR00126192
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