Associate Director of Strategic Operations - Office of Academic Innovation - Penn Engineering

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 of Strategic Operations - Office of Academic Innovation - Penn Engineering

Job Profile Title

Associate Director C, Academic Affairs

Job Description Summary

The Office of Academic Innovation (OAI) at Penn Engineering leads the strategy, growth, and operations of a rapidly expanding global portfolio of online and professional education programs. We are seeking an exceptional leader, an analytically rigorous strategist and integrator, to serve as Associate Director of Strategic Operations. This senior leadership role sits at the center of strategy execution, partnering closely with the Executive Director to translate bold institutional priorities into strong operational systems, financial discipline, governance infrastructure, and measurable results. The Associate Director ensures that vision becomes reality across a complex, fast-growing portfolio that is reshaping professional education.

This is a high-impact opportunity for a sophisticated leader who thrives in complexity, anticipates challenges before they surface, and brings clarity, structure, and momentum to a dynamic organization. The Associate Director must move seamlessly between big-picture strategy and disciplined implementation, serving as a connective force across teams and stakeholders. With executive presence, financial fluency, and sound political judgment, this individual will help drive the next phase of OAI’s growth and innovation at one of the world’s leading engineering schools.

Job Description

Organizational & Operational Leadership

• Serve as a senior integrator across OAI’s functional teams, ensuring alignment between strategy, enrollment growth, financial sustainability, and operational execution.

• Directly supervise operational staff, including office management personnel, cultivating a high-performance, accountability-driven culture.

• Oversee day-to-day office operations, including space planning, logistics, shared resources, and administrative systems to ensure a highly effective workplace.

• Design, refine, and institutionalize internal processes, governance structures, policies, and communication systems to support a growing, revenue-generating portfolio.

• Lead annual operational planning cycles, including goal-setting, professional development planning, all-hands meetings, and manager forums. 

• Serve as a central hub for internal communications and cross-functional coordination, ensuring clarity, transparency, and follow-through.

• Handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and sound institutional judgment

Financial Strategy & Performance Management

• Oversee financial performance for a dynamic portfolio of online and professional programs, including P&L management, enrollment-driven revenue forecasting, and expense modeling.

• Lead monthly and annual financial reviews, translating complex financial data into actionable insights for senior leadership.

• Develop financial models and scenario analyses to support new program launches, pricing strategy, long-term growth planning, and strategic investments.

• Design and maintain KPI dashboards to track program sustainability, growth metrics, and operational efficiency.

• Lead the annual budget planning process in collaboration with senior leadership, ensuring alignment with School and University priorities.

• Develop and maintain internal financial policies and procedures to ensure compliance, clarity, and cost discipline.

• Partner closely with Penn Engineering and University finance teams to resolve issues, interpret policy, and ensure timely, accurate financial operations.

Strategic Initiatives & Executive Support

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director and senior leadership team.

• Prepare executive-level briefings, board materials, presentations, and strategic analyses.

• Provide analytical and operational support for time-sensitive leadership priorities.

• Coordinate governance for the Board of Online Engineering Education, including agenda-setting, materials preparation, initiative tracking, and follow-through.

• Translate long-term strategic priorities into operational roadmaps, measurable milestones, and implementation plans.

• Anticipate emerging operational, financial, or political challenges and proactively develop solutions.

• Lead and execute cross-functional initiatives that span enrollment strategy, academic operations, partnerships, growth strategy, and program launches.

• Support high-priority institutional initiatives and represent OAI in cross-school collaborations

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Higher Education, Finance, or a related field strongly preferred, and a minimum of three to five years of progressive leadership experience in strategy, operations, finance, consulting, or higher education administration or an equivalent combination of education and experience

• Demonstrated experience managing complex, revenue-generating portfolios or business units with P&L responsibility including budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and scenario planning

• Executive presence and political acumen; Experience supporting senior executives, boards, or governance bodies

• Proven ability to translate high-level strategy into operational plans, governance structures, and measurable outcomes

• Strong project management expertise, including managing multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Pay Range

$66,000.00 - $85,000.00 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

• 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.

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