Associate Director, Faculty Affairs

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, Faculty Affairs

Job Profile Title

Associate Director C, Academic Affairs, Faculty Affairs

Job Description Summary

The Associate Director, Faculty Affairs serves as a trusted advisor and operational leader within the Social Sciences division of the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS). Reporting to the Executive Director and working in close collaboration with the Faculty Affairs team, this role is the primary resource for the Associate Dean, faculty in administrative roles, and department, program, and center staff on all matters related to faculty appointments, promotions, leaves, searches, and tracking of compensation. The Associate Director ensures that University and School policies are applied consistently and thoughtfully, supports the administration of faculty appointments at every stage of their career trajectory, and drives continuous improvement across Faculty Affairs processes and systems.

Job Description

The School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) is the academic foundation of the University of Pennsylvania, providing liberal arts education for all Penn undergraduates and supporting graduate studies and research across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The Dean of SAS provides broad leadership for the School’s academic departments, education programs, research centers, and operations, working closely with ten associate/vice deans to oversee an organization with nearly 2,000 faculty and staff and 10,000 students.

Responsibilities:

The Associate Director is the primary expert resource for department chairs, program and center directors, staff, and faculty on all matters related to the administration of faculty appointments, reappointments, promotions, and leaves across the Social Sciences division. This includes managing the full dossier review process for tenure and promotion cases, overseeing Associated Faculty, Academic Support Staff, and postdoctoral appointments, advising on faculty search and waiver processes, and administering offer, retention, and retirement letters in compliance with School and University policies. The Associate Director also serves as a knowledgeable resource on faculty benefits, FMLA, and related policies.

Operationally, the Associate Director leads Academic Unit functions in Workday, drives process improvements, ensures protocol compliance, and coordinates aspects of the annual faculty salary increase process. They maintain the faculty database as the School's official record and produce standard and ad hoc reports for the deans and University offices.

Throughout all of this work, the Associate Director develops and communicates policy guidance, recommends updates to procedures and documentation as School and University practices evolve, and maintains a range of web resources for faculty and administrators. This is a role for someone who takes ownership, builds trust with faculty and administrators alike, and brings both rigor and care to complex, high-stakes processes.

Qualifications:

Required

Bachelor’s degree and 3 to 5 years of relevant/related experience in higher education administration or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Demonstrated knowledge of faculty appointment, reappointment, and promotion processes.

Familiarity with and/or ability to learn to administer aspects of Workday, the University’s system of record for academic appointments.

Experience interpreting and applying complex institutional policies and procedures.

Strong analytical skills with the ability to produce clear and accurate reports from databases and other systems.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex policies into clear guidance for diverse audiences.

Proven ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously with accuracy and attention to detail.

Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion, diplomacy, and sound judgment.

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build collaborative relationships with faculty, deans, and administrative staff.

Commitment to collaboration, problem-solving, ability to work effectively in a complex environment.

Preferred

Experience administering faculty leaves.

Knowledge of faculty benefits administration, including retirement and tuition programs.

Experience administering faculty recruitment processes.

Proficiency with faculty database management and reporting.

Experience managing web content and developing online resources.

Familiarity with human resources in general.

*For consideration, please submit a cover letter as well as a resume in the CV section of your application. You can upload multiple documents to the "Resume/CV" section.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$67,155.00 - $90,000.00 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 re