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Executive Director, Communications: Wharton External Affairs

University of Pennsylvania

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Posted:

February 27, 2025

Location:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Executive Director, Communications: Wharton External Affairs

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
Executive Director, Communications: Wharton External Affairs

Job Profile Title
Director D, Arts and Media, Communications and Marketing

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 Executive Director, Communications is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive communications strategies that drive philanthropic support for the School's priorities and lead to a more informed, inspired, and engaged alumni community. The position leads multiple teams with a range of functions, from mass and digital communications to the production of Wharton Magazine. Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Executive Director is a key member of the executive team for External Affairs and is a forward-thinking, creative leader who builds, evaluates, and renews programming while ensuring close alignment with Wharton's overall communications strategies and schedules. From identification through stewardship, The Executive Director's portfolio touches all phases of the donor cycle. As such, a close understanding of and partnership with the fundraising, alumni relations and operations functions in the office is essential.

Job Description

The Executive Director:

Leads a team that carries a primary responsibility of bringing together the School's highest philanthropic priorities under a unified message that is compelling, inspires action, and aligns with the overall brand and messaging of the School.
Works in close partnership with other executive team members across the department to ensure continuity of messaging and proper alignment of resources to meet the needs of fundraising and alumni engagement objectives.
Leads and manages a team of communications professionals with expertise in several different areas and mediums, including print, digital media, speech writing, and others, all of which must align with the overall messaging and branding of the School.
Establishes and maintains strong, collaborative relationships with academic and administrative leaders across the School, Wharton Marketing and Communications in particular, as well as communications professionals in Penn Development and Alumni Relations, to ensure alignment and consistency in messaging and strategy.
Leads campaign/strategic vision processes that create messaging to advance the School's highest philanthropic priorities.
Works with academic leaders and faculty on a regular basis to gain a deep understanding of programs and create compelling engagement and fundraising content to support academic priorities.
Leads the department's communications work aimed at engaging alumni and other constituents across donor profiles, from non-donors through the School's most significant principal gifts donors.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
7-10years relevant experience in communications, stewardship or marketing.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
Familiarity with email campaigns/platforms, as well as nurture campaigns and outreach.
Experience with event copywriting.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with senior-level executives and administrators is essential.
Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines is required.
Must possess a high degree of competency and comfort in interacting with staff, alumni, and donors.
Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as effectively as a member of a team.
Outstanding detail orientation and ability to meet tight deadlines is essential.

Applicants should provide a cover letter detailing their interest in the position.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Wharton School

Pay Range
$90,860.00 - $168,837.00 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

the pay range assigned to the job profile.

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

To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/FMC-Tower/Executive-Director--Communications--Wharton-External-Affairs_JR00102872-3

Internal Number: 6036510

About University of Pennsylvania

Penn has a long and proud tradition of intellectual rigor and pursuit of innovative knowledge, begun by Benjamin Franklin in 1740. That tradition lives today through the creativity, entrepreneurship, and engagement of our faculty, students, and staff. Academic life at Penn is unparalleled, with an undergraduate student body of 10,000 from every U.S. state and around the world. The entering class of 2015 is the most talented and diverse in Penn's history. Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the country, Penn welcomes an additional 10,000 students to our top-ranked graduate and professional schools.

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Executive Director, Communications: Wharton External Affairs

University of Pennsylvania

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