Director of Budget and Planning - 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

Director of Budget and Planning - Penn Engineering

Job Profile Title

Business Manager C

Job Description Summary

Penn Engineering’s world-acclaimed faculty, state-of-the-art research laboratories and highly interdisciplinary curricula offer an experience that is unparalleled. Innovation and technology drive every program and transform the fundamentals of what future engineers are learning. http://www.seas.upenn.edu/

The Director of Budget & Planning leads Penn Engineering’s school-wide budget development, long-term financial planning, and resource strategy. Reporting to the Executive Director of Financial Operations & Planning, this position directs the annual and five-year operating and capital budget processes, manages financial forecasting and scenario analysis, optimizes the use of restricted and designated funds, and oversees School-level financial reporting and analysis.

The Director serves as the principal financial planning partner to senior leadership, collaborating closely with the Director of Decision Support and the Budget & Planning team to strengthen financial systems, promote data-informed decision-making, and ensure sustainable financial stewardship across Penn Engineering. This position will have two direct reports.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Lead school-wide budget development and planning. Oversee the annual operating budget process and the five-year operating and capital planning cycles; provide clear analyses and recommendations to the Dean, departments, and senior leadership.

Drive long-term financial sustainability. Develop forecasting models, scenario analyses, and strategic options that support sustainable growth, assess risks, and inform School-wide resource decisions.

Oversee financial reporting, analysis, and budgeting. Produce high-quality financial reports, dashboards, variance analyses, and planning tools for leadership and departments. Ensure accuracy, clarity, and timely delivery. Collaborate with the Director of Decision Support and supervise the Budget & Planning team to enhance data integrity, analytical capabilities, and decision-support infrastructure across the School.

Strengthen financial systems, processes, policies, and staff capability. Partner with department administrators, the budget and planning team, and central offices to improve financial workflows, enhance internal controls, build a shared understanding of budget policies, and support staff development in financial analysis and planning.

Manage school-wide financial commitment tracking and forecasting. Maintain a comprehensive and accurate inventory of School financial commitments, including faculty startup packages, matching funds, multi-year programmatic commitments, capital pledges, and central University obligations and contributions. Integrate commitment schedules into long-term plans, monitor remaining obligations, and provide leadership with clear analyses of long-term financial impact to support sustainable resource planning.

Optimize use of restricted funds. Manage a comprehensive process for ensuring restricted endowment and gift funds are consistently deployed effectively, aligned with donor intent, and support high-priority programs and needs.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, or a related field and a minimum of five years of related experience, preferably in higher education, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Strong financial, analytical, planning, and modeling skills. Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Pay Range

$91,000.00 - $130,000.00 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