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

Job Profile Title

Job Description Summary

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.

Additional Information

Interested candidates must submit a cover letter with their application to be considered for this position.

Job Location - City, State

Department / School

Pay Range

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.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay