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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

Senior Associate Director of Admissions

Job Profile Title

Admissions Officer B

Job Description Summary

The Senior Associate Director of Admissions assists in the recruitment, evaluation, selection and enrolling of candidates to Penn's Schools; serves as a speaker in a range of forums with prospective students, parents, secondary school counselors, and Penn Alumni; manages phone and email inquiries; works with the Enrollment Team to review and recommend applicants to Penn's undergraduate schools and programs from a given region and territory. The Senior Associate Director is responsible for working as part of a team to achieve the institution's goals in enrolling a class of highly accomplished students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, through fostering intentional access and collective care while engaging with students, families, and the review of applications.

Job Description

Duties:

The Senior Associate Director of Admissions will be an experienced admissions professional, responsible for the following duties:

+ Recruiting, evaluating, selecting, and enrolling first-year and transfer candidates to Penn’s four undergraduate schools: the College of Arts & Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Penn Nursing, and the Wharton School

+ Managing geographic territories and building relationships with school administrators to attract appropriate applicants from their territories and engaging with students and families

+ Serving as a featured public speaker in a range of forums (virtual and in-person) with prospective students, parents, secondary school counselors, community-based organizations, and Penn alumni

+ Supporting the Admissions Visitor Center in welcoming visitors, participating in virtual or in-person daily programming, and handling inquiries via phone, email, or in-person.

+ Developing, implementing, and managing office-wide initiatives in support of the work of Penn Admissions, including collaboration with colleagues and partners across campus.

+ Demonstrating leadership skills, leveraging technology and virtual tools, and prioritizing individual duties in relation to achieving the goals of the University in enrolling highly qualified, diverse, and intellectually passionate students.

+ The Senior Associate Director should expect to have supervisory responsibilities for at least one direct report, in addition to managing a team and/or individuals in specific project-related work throughout the year, and contributing to the leadership structure of the enrollment team within Penn Admissions.

Qualifications:

The successful Senior Associate Director will have the following qualifications:

+ Bachelor’s degree is required, and a master’s degree is preferred, plus at least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in admissions, higher education, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

+ Demonstrated leadership, project management skills, and ability to prioritize projects

+ Ability to balance an individual schedule with multiple organizational calendars/schedules in a high-volume and timeline driven process

+ Able to work with minimal supervision, take initiative, mentor junior staff, and remain open to feedback and growth

+ Deep understanding of the selective admissions landscape

+ Experience working with populations that are underrepresented in higher education

+ Prior experience establishing and maintaining relationships beyond their office or organization

+ Professional experience in credential evaluation or assessment in a selective process

+ Professional experience and strong knowledge of a CRM system (especially Slate), people management, or analytics and modeling

+ Dynamic written communication, customer service, public speaking, and interpersonal skills

+ The job requires a valid driver’s license and the ability to work nights and weekends

Application Requirement:

A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for the Senior Associate Director position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are not allowed.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Provost's Center

Pay Range

$66,000.00 - $97,500.00 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.

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

The University of Pennsylvania’s special character is reflected in the wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community and help create an educational and working environment that best supports the University’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship. 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.