Strategic Initiatives and Workforce Development Lead - National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for the Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture - Penn Engineering
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
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JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$79,500–$112,000 Per Year
LOCATION
Philadelphia, PA
POSTED
Today
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
Strategic Initiatives and Workforce Development Lead - National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for the Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture - Penn Engineering
Job Profile Title
Manager Research Project C
Job Description Summary
The Strategic Initiatives and Workforce Development Lead will serve as a senior advisor to Center Leadership, providing strategic analysis, operational insight, and high-level project management to advance the Center’s mission and long-term sustainability. Drive implementation of key strategic initiatives strengthening synergy across research, innovation, and workforce development components, and help guide positioning for diversified funding opportunities. Lead the Center’s workforce and education portfolio and direct its strategy, partnerships, and cross-site engagement. In collaboration with Leadership, oversee Center-wide outcome and impact reporting to meet current federal funding requirements and to support competitive applications for future funding and the building of strategic partnerships necessary for the Center’s legacy.
Job Description
Job Responsibilities
Strategic and Executive Support
+ Serve as a trusted advisor to the Director, Site Directors, Executive Committee and other relevant Center Leaders, providing analysis, insight, and recommendations on the Center’s strategic and operational matters to deliver on its Mission and Strategic Plan at a pace that meets or exceeds federal funding agency’s expectations.
+ Work with Center Leadership, and Communications, Development and other relevant units at Penn and the other Center Sites, to continually build the Center’s external-facing communications and messaging to reinforce the Center’s strategic priorities.
+ Identify and facilitate the Center’s positioning for funding opportunities that have potential to advance Center progress to independence from its current federal funding mechanism.
Strategic Plan Implementation
+ Act as a high-level project manager for the Center’s key special initiatives, especially for initiatives that develop and strengthen the synergy among the Center’s Foundational Components (i.e., research, innovation and workforce development)
+ Synthesize information from multiple internal and external stakeholders to support strategic decision-making and Center planning.
+ External Partnerships exploration and development (Lead for workforce component; Support Leadership team for research and innovation components)
+ Strategic engagement with the ERC network (Lead for workforce component; Support Leadership team for research and innovation components)
Strategic Plan Outcomes for Continued and New Funding Mechanisms
+ Contribute to the translation of Center activities, including the highlighting of relevant outcomes and future directions, for new federal, state, philanthropic, donor, and other novel funding initiatives and partnerships engagement
+ Support the Center Leadership team in understanding progress across initiatives, challenges, and alignment of goals across the Center
+ Lead the workforce development aspects for outcome and vision reporting for the current funding agency annual reporting and site visit requirements
+ Support the Center’s overall outcome and vision reporting for the current funding agency annual reporting and site visit requirements, including special projects to enhance procedural efficiencies and to increase capture rate of relevant Center outcomes and impact
Workforce Development and Education Lead
+ Direct priorities and activities for the Center’s workforce/education component consistent with Center’s overall strategic plan and responsibilities above, including running the workforce E^3 Portfolio working group
+ High-level program, new project, and evolution of existing programs management, including, oversight and mentorship of Penn-based paid and volunteer contributors (i.e., students and staff), and Center-affiliates and volunteers at other Center Sites.
+ Stakeholder and Partnership development, including continued leveraging of the Center’s EWD Advisory Board expertise and external Evaluation Team, and strategic expansion of the Ag Sector/technology end-user components of the Center’s workforce-education activities to synergize with research and innovation efforts for end-user engagement
Qualifications
+ Master’s degree in engineering, engineering education, or a related field and 5 to 7 years of related experience in higher education or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
+ Demonstrated excellent project management skills and experience
+ Exceptional written and oral communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact with and address diverse audiences from varying educational, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds.
+ Ability to exercise good judgment in a fast-paced environment, both independently and working collaboratively.
+ Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Pay Range
$79,500.00 - $112,000.00 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.
To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay
The University of Pennsylvania’s special character is reflected in the wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community and help create an educational and working environment that best supports the University’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship. 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.
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