Associate Director, Founder Resources, Venture Lab, Wharton School

Associate Director, Founder Resources, Venture Lab, Wharton School

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.

The Associate Director provides leadership and management for Venture Lab's resources for student founders at the University of Pennsylvania, including the mentoring initiative, the Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR) program, Venture Initiation Program (VIP) instructors, and VIP's communities of practice. This work will connect Penn student founders to our alumni leaders and experts to receive practical instruction, advice, mentoring, and networking support.

The Associate Director will :

• Lead the mentoring initiative, providing select VIP student founders with additional support from alumni mentors based on industry and / or functional expertise.
• Lead Venture Lab's EIR program, which engages experienced alumni entrepreneurs to mentor and assist VIP students.
• Lead the VIP communities of practice, including but not limited to those for undergraduates, social entrepreneurship, med-health, and analytics.
• Prepare management reports and presentations for Venture Lab leadership to deliver.
• Develop performance measurement plan.
• Collect and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Support Salesforce data entry and management.
• Collaborate with Wharton External Affairs to create donor stewardship reports.
• Create impact reports and use feedback from Venture Lab and Wharton senior leadership to identify and execute approved improvements.
• Support other time-sensitive reporting as needed.

The position requires frequent interaction with seasoned, accomplished alumni entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and other professionals engaged in entrepreneurship and innovation careers, including significant donors. The position is also responsible for cultivating 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.

The position requires excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills; strong collaboration and team building skills; a forward-thinking mindset; and demonstrated creativity, problem solving, critical analysis, initiative, judgment, and decision-making skills. This position is based in Philadelphia. After successful completion of the introductory period, this position is hybrid eligible with some weeks requiring more in-person work as needed. While the schedule is generally business hours, the Associate Director must be able to work early mornings / evenings / weekends and to travel as needed. Position is contingent on funding.

Qualifications :

Job Location - City, State : Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School : Wharton School

Pay Range : $66,000.00 - $75,000.00 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 :

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