Associate Director, Undergraduate Communication Program - University of Pennsylvania

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, Undergraduate Communication Program





Job Profile Title

Associate Director E





Job Description Summary

Wharton School Overview

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 diverse population of staff, representing a rich array of backgrounds, expertise, and cultures. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.The primary goal of Wharton’s Undergraduate Communication Program (WUCP) is to prepare students for communication challenges in the workplace – emphasizing persuasive speaking and writing. The Associate Director will report to the Director of the Wharton Undergraduate Communication Program. They will work closely with the Wharton Undergraduate Division to support the Program’s mission and ensure consistency of content and quality of instruction across the entire Wharton School.





Job Description


R E SP O N S I B I L I T I E S/D U T I E S:




Teach 1-2 sections of WUCP communication courses each academic year



+ Prepare lectures for 14 classes throughout the semester.


+ Grade all assignments, providing substantial written feedback to support growth as a business communicator.


+ Advise students outside of class on strategies for course success and professional/personal growth.


+ Manage and direct the assigned TA.





Course Lead for WH 2050, Entrepreneurial Communication



+ Responsible for the long-term strategy and growth of WH 2050 in serving the needs and activities of the UG entrepreneurship community at Wharton.




+ Manage all aspects of the curriculum design and delivery.


+ Manage the WH 2050 program expenses and participate in annual budget planning.


+ Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop experiential aspects of the curriculum.


+ Recruit, select, hire, onboard, and train part-time lecturers and teaching assistants as needed to deliver course content.


+ Coach and support lecturer(s) throughout the semester, advising on how to handle difficult student issues, content questions, policy questions, grade complaints, etc.


+ Ensure accurate rostering of the course and registration of selected students





Lead Operations for the Wharton Undergraduate Communication Program



+ Manage the operational budget ($56,500) and contribute to the strategic budget planning process.


+ Lead the Appointment and Reappointment processes (approval, contracts, pay) for all lecturers.


+ Schedule 35 part-time instructors to teach over 80 sections each academic year.


+ Liaise with Wharton IT Strategic Partner to communicate program technology needs and goals.


+ Create and manage the Canvas blueprint and minion sites for WH 2010.


+ Lead the development and growth of the Wharton Communication Resource Library.


+ Update and manage the WUCP Lecturer Resource Site.


+ Substitute teach or find substitutes to ensure coverage for all 1,120 classes of WH 2010 that run each year.


+ Manage the invoicing and payment for all lecturers involved in extra-curricular business communication opportunities.


+ Manage the WH 2010 attendance tool, including running reports, communicating excessive absences, and ensuring policy compliance.





Co-manage WUCP part-time lecturers



+ Lead the mentorship of new lecturers in best practices of pedagogy and business communication to increase the quality of classroom instruction and feedback, and ensure the consistency of grading and policy enforcement.


+ Develop and deliver training content for WUCP lecturers including required in-person workshops, weekly virtual information sessions, weekly communication and outreach, and a resource website.


+ Coach and support 30+ lecturers throughout the semester, advising on how to handle difficult student issues, content questions, policy questions, grade complaints, etc.


+ Ensure compliance with course policies as well as Wharton and University policies/deadlines.


+ Collaborate with University partners (e.g., Weingarten, Undergraduate Division, Career Services, etc.) to adapt to evolving student trends affecting well-being and professional readiness


+ Recruit and train lecturers to participate in extra-curricular business communication opportunities across the campus such as Case Competitions, Pitch Day, STEP-Small Talk, etc.


+ Provide day-to-day operational support to part-time lecturers (e.g. administrative, technical, logistical)





Support curriculum development and strategic initiatives across WUCP.





+ Contribute to the development and review of all course materials for WH 2010 (instructor guides, slides, videos, handouts, readings, etc).


+ Research and implement pedagogical best practices to improve instruction across all sections of WH 2010.


+ Research and incorporate current business communication practices to ensure a relevant and actionable curriculum.


+ Design tools and methods (e.g. Qualtrics, focus groups, etc) to measure the effectiveness of the curriculum, analyze the results, and use data to inform program decisions.


+ Collect and incorporate feedback for internal and external stakeholders including Wharton advisors and administrators, alums, current students, teaching assistants, and lecturers.


+ Facilitate the design, development, and assessment of WUCP strategic initiatives through partnerships with organizations across Wharton and Penn (e.g. Kite & Key Training, Small Talk Workshop, Graduation Speaker Coaching, Dolphin Tank Coaching, etc).





Perform additional duties as assigned, including but not limited to:



+ Present at national conferences (e.g., Association for Business Communication)


+ Support Undergraduate Division events and activities such as NSO, Family Weekend, Graduation, and the STEP Orientation.





Qualifications:


Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as communication, business, education, or a related area and 7-10 years of combined professional experience in academic and business settings is required or equivalent combination of education and experience.• Prior experience leading the operational aspects of a program or department, with a systematic and detail-oriented approach to managing budgets, scheduling, technology platforms, and administrative processes.• Prior experience or a strong understanding of how to recruit, train, and mentor instructors or teaching assistants, ensuring alignment with program goals and standards.• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences (students, faculty, and staff) and effectively convey complex ideas.• Strong ability to prioritize competing tasks and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.


Preferred Qualifications:• Master’s degree in a relevant field such as communication, business, education, or a related area.• Prior experience teaching or managing academic courses, including curriculum development, program assessment, and lecturer management.• Familiarity with entrepreneurial ecosystems and a strong understanding of the pitching process for new business ventures• Strong knowledge of current business communication practices and pedagogical best practices for teaching communication.• Experience teaching and mentoring others in communication-related courses or professional training.






Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

Wharton School





Pay Range

$74,476.00 - $93,076.00 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, 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.




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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 diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on 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.