Senior Associate Director, Wharton Executive MBA, Student Experience, Advising & Operations - San Francisco

University of Pennsylvania

San Francisco, CA

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JOB DETAILS

SALARY

$93,500–$156,250 Per Year

SKILLS

Business Administration, Change Management, Closing Costs, Coaching, Communication Skills, Detail Oriented, Entertainment and Media, Follow Through, Higher Education, Internet Service Providers, Internet/Online Service, Leadership, Legal, Logistics, Mortgage, Music, News Reporting, Onboarding, Operational Improvement, Operational Support, Organizational Skills, People Management, Performance Goal Setting, Performance Management, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Project/Program Coordination, Project/Program Management, Risk Management, Scholarship, Service Delivery, Standards Strategy, Strategic Planning, Student Services, Sustainability, Team Player, Theater Production, Time Management, Training/Teaching, Training/Teaching Curriculum, University Library, Willing to Travel, Writing Skills

LOCATION

San Francisco, CA

POSTED

30+ days ago

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, Wharton Executive MBA, Student Experience, Advising & Operations - San Francisco

Job Profile Title

Associate Director E, Student Services, Graduate Programs

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 dynamic community of staff, bringing a wide range of skills, experiences, and perspectives. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.

The Senior Associate Director serves as the on-site operational and cultural leader for Wharton’s Executive MBA program in San Francisco. Based at the Wharton San Francisco campus, this position requires regular on-site presence Tuesday through Saturday, including all class weekends.

This role extends beyond traditional cohort management responsibilities. The Senior Associate Director provides formal supervision and strategic leadership for SF-based WEMBA staff, including the San Francisco Class Manager, Program Coordinator, and other assigned team members. The position is accountable for establishing operational standards, strengthening collaboration with WSF Operations, fostering cross-team alignment, and shaping a culture of accountability, transparency, and partnership across stakeholders.

In addition to campus-level leadership responsibilities, the Senior Associate Director serves as lead Class Manager for one assigned cohort, maintaining full ownership of academic logistics, student experience delivery, milestone management, and class weekend execution.

The role also drives operational improvements and change initiatives that promote consistency, sustainability, and a high-quality student experience across campuses. Travel to the Philadelphia campus is required at least once or twice per term to ensure alignment and shared planning.

The preferred candidate brings demonstrated people management experience, strong operational judgment, and the ability to influence across functions while fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.

This role will be paid at or above California’s required minimum annual salary (currently $70,304)

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

SF-Based WEMBA Operations & People Leadership:

+ Provide direct supervision and strategic leadership for SF-based WEMBA staff, including the San Francisco Class Manager, Program Coordinator, and other assigned team members.

+ Leads and supports direct report(s) through coaching, regular feedback, goal-setting, and day-to-day guidance.

+ Invests in their growth, helps remove obstacles, and fosters a positive, inclusive, and high-performing environment.

+ Holds individuals accountable to expectations and standards while ensuring fairness, clarity, and follow-through.

+ Hold full responsibility for hiring input, onboarding, goal-setting, performance management, coaching, and professional development of direct reports.

+ Establish clear expectations, shared standards, and accountability for operational excellence and student service.

+ Serve as a culture builder and steward of collaboration, fostering a high-trust, solutions-oriented environment across WEMBA, WSF Operations, and cross-campus partners.

+ Lead change management efforts within the SF campus, identifying areas for improvement and guiding the team through operational and cultural shifts

+ Ensure strong communication and partnership with WSF Operations and other key partners, proactively resolving friction points and strengthening cross-team alignment

+ Promote consistency in processes, communication standards, and service delivery across teams.

+ Act as the senior on-site representative for WEMBA in San Francisco, modeling professionalism, transparency, and collaborative leadership.

Academic Program & Cohort Leadership:

+ Serve as lead Class Manager for one assigned Executive MBA cohort.

+ Act as primary point of contact for students regarding academic logistics, course formats, and program requirements.

+ Guide students through electives, majors, block weeks, ISPs, and inter-cohort transfers.

+ Track academic milestones and communicate academic standing considerations.

+ Connect students to appropriate academic and support resources.

+ Ensure academic materials are prepared and delivered on time.

Class Weekend Planning & On-Site Execution:

+ Lead planning and execution of biweekly class weekends for assigned cohort.

+ Serve as the senior on-site operational leader Tuesday through Saturday, including all class weekends.

+ Provide oversight of classroom logistics, technical readiness, materials preparation, hospitality coordination, and student communications, delegating responsibilities appropriately while maintaining accountability for overall delivery.

+ Set standards for preparation and execution, ensuring work is completed accurately, on time, and in alignment with program expectations.

+ Coordinate with faculty, WSF Operations, and the Program Coordinator to ensure readiness and role clarity across stakeholders

+ Anticipate operational risks and resolve complex or escalated issues in real time.

+ Ensure consistency, professionalism, and quality across all outward-facing communications and weekend deliverables.

Strategic Planning, Standardization & Accountability:

+ Strengthen program-wide consistency and sustainability at the SF campus.

+ Standardize processes across cohorts to reduce variation and risk.

+ Ensure communication workflows between WEMBA and WSF Operations are clear and reliable.

+ Identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements.

+ Serve as an escalation point for complex operational issues.

+ Travel to Philadelphia at least once or twice per term to ensure cross-campus alignment.

Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required

+ Bachelor’s degree and 7-10 years of relevant experience in higher education, academic program management, operations, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

+ Demonstrated experience managing and developing professional staff, including coaching, performance management, and fostering accountability.

+ Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage complex, overlapping priorities in a fast-paced, and at times unpredictable or high-pressure, environment.

+ Demonstrated ability to work effectively and diplomatically with a wide range of constituents, including students, faculty, operations teams, vendors, and senior leadership.

+ Experience managing complex or escalated participant concerns with a high level of emotional intelligence, diplomacy, discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment.

+ Proven ability to build trust-based relationships across teams and campuses, valuing collaboration and shared success over siloed execution. Experience operating in a matrixed or multi-campus environment with shared accountability across functions.

+ Ability to influence without authority and foster alignment among stakeholders with differing priorities.

+ Demonstrated willingness to “roll up sleeves” to support operational needs while maintaining a strategic perspective and engaging effectively with senior leaders.

+ Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft clear, thoughtful communications for diverse audiences.

+ Creative and proactive problem solver with experience leading process improvement or change initiatives and constructively challenging existing processes.

+ Flexibility to work evenings and weekends regularly in support of class weekends and program needs.

Strongly Preferred

+ Demonstrated experience working directly with adult learners, executive-level students, or other professional program participants in a high-touch environment is highly preferred.

+ Experience supporting mid-career or senior professionals navigating complex academic, professional, and personal commitments.

+ Familiarity with academic policies, faculty engagement models, and curriculum delivery in a higher education setting preferred.

Job Location - City, State

San Francisco, California

Department / School

Wharton School

Pay Range

$93,500.00 - $156,250.00 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.

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.

About the Company

University of Pennsylvania

Penn's beautiful urban campus provides easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. We offer excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for you and your family, as well as generous retirement benefits, professional development opportunities and flexible work options. Penn is a diverse, multicultural learning community at the cutting edge of research and information technology. Click here to read more about why we're a Best Employer. Not only does Penn offer a unique environment within the city of Philadelphia to work, we also provide a wide array of employee benefits. From a competitive retirement program and comprehensive health care options to health promotion and wellness services and tuition assistance, there's a wealth of opportunities and resources available to you at Penn.

Penn is frequently cited as an outstanding employer:

Recipient of the 2010 Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation Corporate Leadership Award for commitment to supporting worklife balance programs.
Selected as a recipient of the 2010 Healthy Workplace Award by the Philadelphia Business Journal and presenting sponsor UnitedHealthcare
Recognized as a 2010 Top Workplace by The Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News.
Recipient of the 2009 Vision Award for commitment to workforce diversity and economic inclusion.
Selected for Computerworld's 100 Best Places to Work in IT six years in a row!
Recognized by the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children as a 2006 Best Employer for Working Parents
Named a Best Place to Work in the November 2007 issue of Philadelphia Magazine.
Designated a Best Workplace for Commuters by the National Center for Transit Research

COMPANY SIZE

100 to 499 employees

INDUSTRY

Advertising and PR Services

FOUNDED

1990

WEBSITE

http://www.cmimedia.com/

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