Senior Associate Director, Wharton Executive MBA, Student Experience, Advising & Operations - S[...]

Job Title Senior Associate Director, Wharton Executive MBA, Student Experience, Advising & Operations - San Francisco Associate Director E, Student Services, Graduate Programs Job Description Summary Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania offers the Executive MBA program in San Francisco. The Senior Associate Director serves as the on‑site operational and cultural leader for the program, requiring regular on‑site presence Tuesday through Saturday, including all class weekends. The role extends beyond cohort management to lead and supervise staff, set operational standards, foster cross‑team alignment, and drive continuous improvement across campuses. The position also serves as lead class manager for an assigned cohort, overseeing academic logistics, student experience delivery, and weekend execution. Travel to the Philadelphia campus is required at least once or twice per term. The preferred candidate demonstrates people management experience, strong operational judgment, and the ability to influence across functions. Additional Compensation Information This role will be paid at or above California’s required minimum annual salary (currently $70,304). Job Responsibilities SF‑Based WEMBA Operations & People Leadership Provide direct supervision and strategic leadership for SF‑based WEMBA staff, including the San Francisco Class Manager, Program Coordinator, and other assigned team members. Lead and support direct reports through coaching, regular feedback, goal‑setting, and day‑to‑day guidance. Invest in their growth, remove obstacles, and foster a positive, inclusive, and high‑performing environment. Hold individuals accountable to expectations and standards while ensuring fairness, clarity, and follow‑through. Hold full responsibility for hiring input, onboarding, goal‑setting, performance management, coaching, and professional development of direct reports. Establish clear expectations, shared standards, and accountability for operational excellence and student service. Serve as a culture builder and steward of collaboration, fostering a high‑trust, solutions‑oriented environment across WEMBA, WSF Operations, and cross‑campus partners. Lead change management efforts within the SF campus, identifying areas for improvement and guiding the team through operational and cultural shifts. Ensure strong communication and partnership with WSF Operations and other key partners, proactively resolving friction points and strengthening cross‑team alignment. Promote consistency in processes, communication standards, and service delivery across teams. Act as the senior on‑site representative for WEMBA in San Francisco, modeling professionalism, transparency, and collaborative leadership. Academic Program & Cohort Leadership Serve as lead Class Manager for one assigned Executive MBA cohort. Act as primary point of contact for students regarding academic logistics, course formats, and program requirements. Guide students through electives, majors, block weeks, ISPs, and inter‑cohort transfers. Track academic milestones and communicate academic standing considerations. Connect students to appropriate academic and support resources. Ensure academic materials are prepared and delivered on time. Class Weekend Planning & On‑Site Execution Lead planning and execution of biweekly class weekends for assigned cohort. Serve as the senior on‑site operational leader Tuesday through Saturday, including all class weekends. Provide oversight of classroom logistics, technical readiness, materials preparation, hospitality coordination, and student communications, delegating responsibilities appropriately while maintaining accountability for overall delivery. Set standards for preparation and execution, ensuring work is completed accurately, on time, and in alignment with program expectations. Coordinate with faculty, WSF Operations, and the Program Coordinator to ensure readiness and role clarity across stakeholders. Anticipate operational risks and resolve complex or escalated issues in real time. Ensure consistency, professionalism, and quality across all outward‑facing communications and weekend deliverables. Strategic Planning, Standardization & Accountability Strengthen program‑wide consistency and sustainability at the SF campus. Standardize processes across cohorts to reduce variation and risk. Ensure communication workflows between WEMBA and WSF Operations are clear and reliable. Identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements. Serve as an escalation point for complex operational issues. Travel to Philadelphia at least once or twice per term to ensure cross‑campus alignment. Perform other duties as assigned As required, perform other duties as assigned by leadership. Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree and 7–10 years of relevant experience in higher education, academic program management, operations, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Demonstrated experience managing and developing professional staff, including coaching, performance management, and fostering accountability. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage complex, overlapping priorities in a fast‑paced, and at times unpredictable or high‑pressure, environment. Demonstrated ability to work effectively and diplomatically with a wide range of constituents, including students, faculty, operations teams, vendors, and senior leadership. Experience managing complex or escalated participant concerns with a high level of emotional intelligence, diplomacy, discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment. Proven ability to build trust‑based relationships across teams and campuses, valuing collaboration and shared success over siloed execution. Experience operating in a matrixed or multi‑campus environment with shared accountability across functions. Ability to influence without authority and foster alignment among stakeholders with differing priorities. Demonstrated willingness to “roll up sleeves” to support operational needs while maintaining a strategic perspective and engaging effectively with senior leaders. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft clear, thoughtful communications for diverse audiences. Creative and proactive problem solver with experience leading process improvement or change initiatives and constructively challenging existing processes. Flexibility to work evenings and weekends regularly in support of class weekends and program needs. Strongly Preferred Demonstrated experience working directly with adult learners, executive‑level students, or other professional program participants in a high‑touch environment is highly preferred. Experience supporting mid‑career or senior professionals navigating complex academic, professional, and personal commitments. Familiarity with academic policies, faculty engagement models, and curriculum delivery in a higher education setting preferred. Job Location San Francisco, California Department / School Wharton School Pay Range $93,500.00 – $156,250.00 Annual Rate 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. To learn more, please visit: #J-18808-Ljbffr Trustees of University of Pennsylvania