Associate Director, Venture Lab, 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 Associate Director, Venture Lab, Wharton School Job Profile Title Associate Director C, Student Services, Academic Programs Job Description Summary The Associate Director provides leadership for Venture Lab's key strategic priorities through the delivery, management, and end-to-end operations for a portfolio of co-curricular programs and awards including the new $2M Gender Diversity in Entrepreneurship initiative, Bet on Entrepreneurship (BoE), Shils Zeidman Fellowship, and Loveman and Startup Internship Awards.
The new Gender Diversity in Entrepreneurship initiative is a comprehensive program with multiple program elements that involve internal, cross-organizational partnerships and external stakeholders. This initiative will focus on supporting Penn women and their allies and Penn student ventures supporting those groups. The Associate Director is responsible for program logistics and end-to-end execution, including organizing resources such as workshops and advising opportunities, creating community with Penn student clubs and affinity groups, managing a new Bridge Funding award, and liaising with students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
The Bet on Entrepreneurship program provides Penn undergraduate students who identify as first-generation, and/or lower-income (FGLI) with exposure and access to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Associate Director is responsible for program logistics and end-to-end execution. Responsibilities include application and selection processes, program communications, student education, program logistics, data collection and reporting, award disbursement, and marketing in partnership with Venture Lab's marketing team. The Associate Director will work with University faculty, Penn First Plus, Wharton STEP, venture capital partners, and other stakeholders.
The Associate Director will manage and administer several Venture Lab awards, including the Shils Zeidman MBA Fellowship, Loveman Undergraduate Award, and Startup Internship Award. This includes marketing, application and selection processes, communication with stakeholders, award disbursement, data tracking, and reporting.
For all assigned programs/initiatives, the Associate Director will collaborate with Venture Lab staff (e.g., marketing, operations, analytics, etc.) to promote these initiatives, create data driven reports, and identify creative ways to connect with a broad range of audiences. The Associate Director will be responsible for collecting and preparing stewardship materials for Wharton External Affairs, Development and Alumni Relations, and organization and School senior leaders. The Associate Director will also participate in identifying opportunities for program enhancement and expansion, and will execute the approved plan(s).
For all assigned programs, the Associate Director is responsible for budget management and creation of annual work plans, preparation of reports, data management, and tracking of key performance indicators (KPIs) to improve, iterate and scale programming. The position requires frequent interaction with seasoned, accomplished alumni entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and other professionals, including significant donors.
While the schedule is generally business hours, the ability to work early mornings, evenings, and weekend hours is needed. This position is located in Philadelphia on Penn's campus and is required to travel to the Wharton San Francisco campus periodically. After successful completion of the introductory period, this position is hybrid eligible with some weeks requiring more in-person work as needed. This position is contingent on continued funding. Job Description Qualifications :
A Bachelor's Degree and minimum of 3-5 years of experience are required, preferably in a university setting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Master's Degree a plus.
Required:
Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills Strong collaboration and team building skills; organizational and project management skills Demonstrated creativity, forward-thinking mindset; problem solving, critical analysis, initiative, judgment, decision-making skills. Attention to detail and ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment High level of judgment and professionalism in cultivating relationships with persons of importance, particularly alumni Demonstrated ability to cultivate an open rapport and a professional, supportive educational approach with undergraduate and graduate student entrepreneurs and innovators from all disciplines across the University of Pennsylvania. Demonstrated interest in and ability to deliver offerings for under-served populations; in entrepreneurial setting a plus Demonstrated interest entrepreneurship through an educational lens
Preferred:
Previous experience in working with women entrepreneurs and their allies Previous experience working with first generation, low income university students Ability to manage online platforms, websites, and CRM tools such as Eventbrite, Salesforce, Brightspot CMS Technical proficiency in data collection and analysis tools like Pitchbook, SurveyMonkey Apply, and Qualtrics Data-driven mindset with experience in data collection, management, and analysis Job Location - City, State Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cover letter and resume required. Budget range based on experience $65,000-$78,000.
Department / School Wharton School Pay Range $51,824.00 - $78,000.00 Annual RateSalary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile. Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class. Special Requirements
Background check 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: