Associate Director of Cultural 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

Associate Director of Cultural Partnerships

Job Profile Title

Associate Director B, Academic Affairs, Academic Partnerships

Job Description Summary

This role oversees multiple partnership programs and initiatives for the Penn Cultural Heritage Center that support public engagement and academic outreach in the field of cultural heritage and cultural exchange. Under the direction of the Director of Research and Programs, and in coordination with the Associate Director for Cultural Rights Initiatives and Associate Director for Cultural Property Programs, implements the delivery of high-quality programs and research. This role leads medium- and short-term planning, supervises the Research Collaborations coordinator, manages resources, and strengthens collaborations across the Penn Cultural Heritage Center, Penn Museum, and the University as well as with external stakeholders.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Articulates and implements the vision and goals of the Center in collaboration with core and affiliated Center faculty and in concert with Center and Penn Museum leadership. Leads the cultivation, coordination, and sustainability of strategic cultural partnerships, collaborative networks, and coalitions to strengthen the Center’s long-term impact, visibility, and external engagement. Supports the Center’s role as a thought leader in cultural heritage and community-based partnerships through institutional engagement, networking and field-based visits with partners, practitioners, and peer organizations. Supports the intellectual design of convenings, dialogues, and exchanges that advance the Center’s strategic priorities and align with extramural funding.
• Facilitates overall management, collaborative engagement, and development of the staff and programs that comprise academic partnerships and related programs. Facilitates collaboration across the Center, its programs, and internal and external stakeholders. Leads operational coordination of workflows, project tracking, internal processes, staff meetings, and scheduling in support of Center initiatives and strategic priorities. Acts as a liaison with donors and the Center’s Advisory Board. Coordinates with Penn Museum Development and promotes funded research. Supports effective utilization of financial resources, human resources (including staffing), and physical infrastructure of the Center. Represents the Center in meetings as needed and communicates Center priorities to internal and external stakeholders. Supervises the Research Collaborations Coordinator and supports the Business Administrator on administrative processes related to events.
• Establishes and maintains partnerships by determining requirements for a successful relationship. Tailors communication activities, project updates, and materials to specific partnerships, including the for the Asuray Land Restoration Project and international regional networks for cultural property protection and exchange under the IMLS National Leadership Grant. Conducts research and support processes that strengthen partnerships with communities and institutional partners. Develops and leads new research and programmatic cultural heritage initiatives by exploring project ideas, identifying collaborative opportunities, contributing to knowledge exchange, and designing relevant convenings.
• Supports the Director of Research and Programs in advancing the Center’s strategic goals by translating ideas into actionable initiatives, partnerships, collaborative projects, and funding pathways. Contributes to the development and coordination of strategic initiatives that strengthen the Center’s long-term growth, institutional partnerships, and external research activities. Provides support on proposal development to align with funder priorities, institutional goals, and partner needs. Advances the development of collaborative initiatives and externally engaged projects that support the Center’s research and engagement priorities.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and 2 to 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. 3 to 5 years of experience preferred.
• Master’s degree strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with the administration of Federal grants involving academic institutions and non-profit organizations is required.
• Experience administering National Resource Center awards from the U.S. Department of Education is strongly preferred.

Application Requirement

• A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.

** Please not e that this is a term position with a target end date of 9/30/2028

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

University Museum

Pay Range

$58,506.00 - $72,500.00 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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