Director of Global Initiatives - Kleinman Center

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 Global Initiatives - Kleinman Center

Job Profile Title

Director B, Academic Affairs, Global Affairs

Job Description Summary

The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design was established in 2014 with a mission to create the policy conditions to ensure a just and efficient transition to sustainable energy. Over the last decade, the center has designed educational programs, expanded extracurricular opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students at Penn, supported faculty research, and built the necessary infrastructure to translate academic research into public policy outcomes. This direct policy influence has primarily focused on national and subnational policy at the domestic level. The center now seeks a director of global initiatives to help build a similar pipeline for the university's energy policy work, expanded with a focus on the international scale.

This position will report directly to the center’s executive director and will have primary responsibility for providing strategic leadership in the development, implementation, and management of international initiatives that advance the center’s mission. These initiatives include teaching in the center’s energy management and policy curriculum, supporting (and in some cases directly contributing to) internationally focused research, building new international collaborations, and recruiting and engaging global visitors and fellows— all aimed at strengthening the center’s international presence and impact.

In addition, this position is responsible for offering strategic guidance and energy sector expertise to support the quality, rigor, and relevance of all the center’s programs. As such, this position represents a critical role in the leadership of the center. An ideal candidate will be well-versed in building and sustaining relationships within an academic context, with the skills to manage varied faculty expertise, establish new partnerships, and translate the center’s work into new policy contexts.

By fostering meaningful collaborations and advancing the center’s global partnerships, this role will play a key part in expanding the Kleinman Center’s visibility and influence as a leading institution in energy and climate policy research and education.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

International Programs

Design, implement, and oversee international programs that
expand the Kleinman Center’s global presence, including short courses, and
exchange programs. All programing is new and requires a high level of detail
orientation and strategic direction to build new models, gain buy in, and launch.
Design metrics for assessing success and determining which programs are viable and which should not be continued. Part of this expansion requires a deep understanding of the philanthropic and fundraising opportunities that will be pursued to support this expansion.

Instruction

Build and teach at least one new graduate-level course in international
comparative energy policy. This course will attract multidisciplinary graduate
students from across Penn’s campus and will be a required course in the certificate in energy management and policy.

Research

Actively engage in the center’s research agenda, leading projects and
supervising/mentoring students on research topics related to the center’s missions, especially related to international energy policy.

Lead Aspects of Center’s Public-Facing Agenda

Provide strategic advice and energy expertise to center’s research agenda. Advise on podcast topics and speakers, with a specific focus to include international speakers; advise on the selection of speakers and contribute to event preparations/hosting; act as one of the principals for the review of policy digests (finding reviewers, providing recommendations on problematic submissions); identify and share with affiliated faculty opportunities for
global collaboration in research, policy, and education.

Integrate International Energy Policy into Campus Environment

Host, organize, and coordinate events and classes with international visitors invited by the center, by other Penn-affiliated centers, departments, institutes or relevant Philadelphia-based organizations.

Represent the Center

Participate in internal committees (e.g. ESAC) and in relevant seminars and events organized by other schools, departments or centers at Penn.

Other Duties as Assigned.

Qualifications

Required

Bachelor’s degree and 5 to 7 years experience: in the field of energy policy and regulation required; ideal candidates will have a mix of experience in academia, government (including regulatory agencies), and industry in the US and abroad. Strategic, analytical, and subject-matter expertise; ideal candidates will demonstrate a deep understanding of global energy systems, climate policy, and sustainable development, supported by strong analytical and strategic planning skills

Preferred

Advanced degree, with a strong foundation in policy analysis, economics, and international development. 10+ years experience: in the field of energy policy and regulation preferred. Demonstrated success in designing, implementing, and administering research related academic programs that advance organizational goals. Leadership and collaboration; ideal candidates are recognized for exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with extensive experience fostering partnerships and collaborations across disciplines in academia and in the public and private sector. Multilingual communication with the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively across linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Design

Pay Range

$79,500.00 - $105,500.00 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