University-Assisted Community Schools Nutrition Education and Health Improvement Coordinator, Netter Center for Community Partnerships

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

University-Assisted Community Schools Nutrition Education and Health Improvement Coordinator, Netter Center for Community Partnerships

Job Profile Title

Coordinator B

Job Description Summary

The UACS Nutrition Education and Health Improvement Coordinator will work as part of the Netter Center’s University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) team to implement local problem-solving curricula in elementary and high schools in the areas of nutrition, school gardens, and wellness where students work with partners to develop implementable projects that aim to improve school and community wellbeing. A major part of the position will be engaging University students, faculty and staff to be partners in longstanding, successful projects; this will include providing training and reflection opportunities that help continuously improve the partnership and its impacts. The UACS Nutrition Education and Health Improvement Coordinator also will help infuse health and wellness activities and policies throughout UACS programs. The position both coordinates and provides direct instruction during the school day, afterschool, and summer.

These partnerships are designed to strengthen teaching and learning (K–16+) through projects that improve health and nutrition — both in the schools and in the neighboring West Philadelphia communities in which the schools are located. Some projects will include work with Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) courses and other forms of community-engaged scholarship, which integrate service with research, teaching, and learning, and bring together academic expertise with community expertise. This work requires listening to the nutrition and health needs of the K12 schools and community partners and mobilizing mutually beneficial and mutually transformational partnerships that help meet those needs. Through collaborative problem-solving, this work is designed to improve the quality of life and learning in the community and the quality of learning and scholarship in the university. It is also designed to help students become active, creative, contributing citizens of a democratic society.

Recent activities and projects have included implementation of student-led School Wellness Councils, after school fruit and vegetable stands where students learn health, nutrition and other skills by improving the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, cooking programs where students learn by cooking community meals, the Good Food Bag program where students support distribution of healthy foods to families, and Culinary Medicine, where students blend the art of food and cooking with the science of medicine to improve health.

Job Description

Founded in 1992, the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships is the University's primary vehicle for advancing civic and community engagement at Penn. It brings together the resources and assets of both the University and the wider community to help solve universal problems such as poverty, health inequities, environmental sustainability, and inadequate, unequal education as they are manifested in the University's local geographic area of West Philadelphia and Philadelphia at large. The Netter Center develops and helps implement democratic, mutually transformative, place-based partnerships between Penn and West Philadelphia that advance research, teaching, learning, and service. These partnerships help improve the quality of life on campus and in the community. The Netter Center works with and serves as a model for other higher education institutions across the United States and around the world.

University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) background: A major component of the Netter Center's work is mobilizing the vast resources of the University of Pennsylvania to help traditional public schools become innovative University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) that educate, engage, empower, and serve public school students, families, and community members. UACS focus on schools as core institutions for community engagement and democratic development, as well as link school day and after school curricula to solve locally identified, real-world, community problems. At the same time, working with community members to create and sustain UACS provides a powerful means for universities to advance teaching, research, learning, and service, as well as the civic development of their students.

Responsibilities:

Primary responsibilities of this role include, preparing materials and teaching hands-on nutrition education activities and training part-time staff and University students and partners in nutrition education program implementation, including connecting to the school gardens, and preparing materials and teaching nutrition education and wellness activities to K-12 students UACS sites. A component of the position will be to further develop the educational frameworks of UACS nutrition and wellness education programming.

The UACS Nutrition Education and Health Improvement Coordinator supports a comprehensive approach to community health improvement, with a focus on the following activities: nutrition and garden education initiatives, year-round youth development programming, improving access to quality foods for children, youth, families and faculty within partnering public schools and community, increasing activity and exercise levels, as well as increasing awareness and understanding of food systems and environment. Academic programming includes collaboration with school day teachers and administrators to support enrichment activities that support learning across the core subjects through problem-based learning and community development activities. This position requires the ability to collaborate with school-day teachers, after-school instructors, community partners, and university faculty and students to co-develop educational activities that are mutually beneficial and mutually transformational. 

Qualifications:

We seek an individual who loves nutrition education, cooking, working with young people in schools, and wants to oversee a team that is working together to develop effective practices for the maintenance and growth of school gardens as living classrooms. A Bachelor's Degree and 2 to 3 years of experience or equivalent combination education and experience is required. Master's in Education, Environmental Science, Public Health, or equivalent degree strongly preferred. A strong candidate will have experience in urban education, supervision, and youth development. Knowledge about Penn and West Philadelphia is a plus. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and foster high quality connections is critical. Must be collaborative, flexible, and work productively with diverse groups. Must be able to work in a wide variety of weather conditions. Must possess a track record of both self-directed and team-oriented accomplishments and be organized, detail-oriented, dependable, and flexible. This position requires full-time on-campus presence unless otherwise approved. This position requires the ability to climb stairs or ladders. This position also involves frequent walking, including walking for extended periods of time indoors or outdoors. 

This position is contingent upon grant funding.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$55,000.00 - $65,000.00 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