Senior Associate Director, East Coast WEMBA & Global Programs, Wharton School
Description
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, East Coast WEMBA & Global Programs, Wharton School
Job Profile Title
Associate Director E, Student Services, Graduate Programs
Job Description Summary
The Senior Associate Director, East Coast WEMBA & Global Programs, serves as a senior program delivery leader within the Wharton Executive MBA program (WEMBA). Reporting directly to the Deputy Vice Dean, this role provides operational leadership for the East Coast and Global WEMBA cohorts and supervises assigned program staff.
Job Description
The Sr. Associate Director serves as the accountable program owner and operational lead for Block Weeks and Global programs, including Global Business Weeks and integrative block weeks, leading planning, vendor strategy, and execution in partnership with the Director, MBA Program for Executives, and other key stakeholders. The role ensures consistent, high-quality program delivery within assigned domains while supporting broader WEMBA operational strategy led by the Director, MBA Program for Executives.
The Sr. Associate Director partners closely with the Senior Class Manager, West Coast, to oversee and coordinate operational alignment of the WEMBA program across campuses. This includes aligning on program operations, policies, processes, student experience considerations, and day-to-day administrative decision-making, while sharing broader program priorities into consistent operational practices and approaches across the Class Manager function.
This position requires a strong managerial presence, sound strategic judgment, advanced people management capability, and the ability to lead in high-intensity executive education environments, with a high-touch, service-oriented approach and exceptional attention to detail. The role demands consistently high standards of professionalism, responsiveness, and student experience delivery. On-site presence, particularly Thursday through Saturday, is required, along with domestic and international travel as needed
Qualifications:
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A bachelor's degree and 7-10 years of experience is required, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
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Progressively responsible experience in higher education administration, executive education, academic program management, student services, or a related field.
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Demonstrated experience leading complex, high-visibility programs or operations involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
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Proven experience managing coaching, and developing professional staff while fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
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Strong project and operational management skills, with the ability to lead multiple initiatives simultaneously while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
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Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, solve complex problems, and make decisions in fast-paced, service-oriented environments.
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Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across all organizational levels and with external partners.
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Experience managing vendors, negotiating contracts, and overseeing budgets or financial resources.
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Strong customer service orientation with a commitment to delivering an exceptional participant experience.
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Ability and willingness to work on-site, including evenings and weekends as needed (particularly Thursday through Saturday), and travel domestically and internationally.
Preferred Qualifications:
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Experience in graduate business education, executive education, or another high-touch professional education environment.
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Experience leading global programs, international travel experiences, or complex off-site events.
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Experience partnering with faculty and senior academic or organizational leaders.
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Experience managing large-scale events, conferences, or academic program delivery.
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Experience implementing process improvements, operational efficiencies, or organizational change initiatives.
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Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a matrixed, multi-campus, or geographically distributed organization.
**Applicants must submit a cover letter.**
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
About The Wharton School:
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 dynamic community of staff, bringing a wide range of skills, experiences, and perspectives.
To learn more, visit us at: www.wharton.upenn.edu
Department / School
Wharton School
Pay Range
$95,136.00 - $125,000.00 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
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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.
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Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children