Job Details

Associate Director for Innovation Ecosystems, Mack Institute for Innovation, Wharton School
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Position Number: 5243954
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Position Type: Business and Financial Management

Associate Director for Innovation Ecosystems, Mack Institute for Innovation, Wharton School

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 for Innovation Ecosystems, Mack Institute for Innovation, Wharton School

Job Profile Title
Associate Director D, Business and Finance, Innovation

Job Description Summary
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 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 worldwide 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 staff population representing a rich array of backgrounds, expertise, and cultures. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.

The Associate Director for Innovation Ecosystems will work with multiple stakeholders on supporting Wharton faculty's cutting-edge research on innovation ecosystems and translating its output into students' experiential learning and practitioners' innovative and entrepreneurial pursuits. The key stakeholders include educational, business, non-profit organizations, and government agencies that are involved in local, regional, and global innovation ecosystems to which the University of Pennsylvania and the Mack Institute's corporate partners belong. The Associate Director will propose and implement a wide array of thought leadership and expertise sharing programs, such as Corporate Venturing and Mobility Innovations, that will assist our stakeholders in designing, developing, assessing, and improving their innovation ecosystems. In collaboration with the Sr. Associate Director for Engagement, they will also proactively search and cultivate among ecosystem participants new donors to the Mack Institute.

Job Description

Oversee the Institute's involvement with Penn Innovation Ecosystem. Initiate and participate in programs and initiatives with the Schools of Engineering, Medicine, other professional schools, Penn Center for Innovation and Pennovation Works. Initiate joint projects and lead them to successful completion.
Engage undergraduate, MBA and PhD students of the Wharton School in activities and initiatives within Penn Innovation Ecosystem, establish and support relationships with relevant student groups and clubs, design new fellowships and research assistantships, organize events such as competitions/challenges.
Contribute to the development of local, regional, and global innovation ecosystems around technologies of interest to Penn faculty and Mack Institute. Identify and cultivate long-term relationships with relevant inventors, startups, VCs, incubators and accelerators, policy makers, and other ecosystem actors.
Initiate and organize conferences, roundtables, and webinars around specific technologies, industries, or ecosystems. Propose themes and formats. Identify and recruit participants and presenters.
Generate content for white papers and other communication materials.
Attract corporations to innovation ecosystems and help them develop productive relationships with Penn-affiliated startups. Research and promote the best practices in corporate relationships with startups. Identify and recruit new partners among corporate members of innovation ecosystems in which the Institute gets involved.
Serve as a liaison to the Penn Innovation and Entrepreneurship Group.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Science and 5 to 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
A proven track-record in taking initiative, excellent organizational, problem-solving skills, interpersonal skills
Project management skills
The ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with competing deadlines and priorities, whether working autonomously or as part of a team
Sound judgment and discretion in working with highly confidential and sensitive matters
Strong oral and written communication skills, demonstrated intermediate to advanced level PC skills including all facets of
Microsoft Office, Zoom and the ability to effectively utilize the Internet

Preferred

Experience with Jira or similar work management platforms

Familiarity with Concur and Penn environment

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Wharton School

Pay Range
$61,046.00 - $84,000.00 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, 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.

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/SteinbergDietrich-Hall---3rd-Floor/Associate-Director-for-Innovation-Ecosystems--Mack-Institute-for-Innovation--Wharton-School_JR00089662-1