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 for Case Management and Outreach, Student Intervention Services

Job Profile Title

Associate Director C, Student Services

Job Description Summary

Student Intervention Services is the principal administrative office in the Division of University Life for responding to student emergencies and critical incidents. The Associate Director for Case Management and Outreach plays a key role in responding to student crises and collaborates with other departments to manage students in distress and other situations that may interfere with students' ability to function in the University community. In this capacity, the Associate Director provides individual support, advocacy, and referrals to resources. The Associate Director oversees the coordination of services, convenes case conferences, and works with University offices to implement appropriate case management plans. The Associate Director is responsible for collaborating with University representatives to respond to critical incidents, helps determine a recommended course of action, and provides support to members of the community. The Associate Director for Case Management and Outreach manages the emergency grant program supported by the VPUL Access and Retention Fund and leads outreach efforts to raise awareness of SIS among students, staff, and faculty.

Job Description

Duties:

• Case management: Manage coordination of short- and long-term services and provide individual support for students who experience crises or have complicated needs. Participate in case conferences regarding complex cases, and lead implementation of case management plans. Provide ongoing follow-up as needed for monitoring and support. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with students, parents, University offices, and external service providers.
• Manage the emergency grant program supported by the VPUL Access and Retention Fund. Meet with grant applicants to assess needs and provide case management support. Collaborate with Student Financial Services, Penn First Plus, and other SIS/VPUL staff to review applications and make award decisions. Advocate for applicants to receive emergency grants from other sources. Collaborate with SIS' administrative coordinator to track applications, communicate award decisions, and analyze data.
• Crisis intervention: Coordinate the operational response in student emergencies. Collaborate with Student Health and Counseling, the Division of Public Safety, and other relevant offices when there is a concern for a student's safety or the safety of others. Communicate with parents, families, or designated emergency contacts regarding student emergencies.
• Serve as a consultant for the schools and other University partners regarding management of student crises and complicated student situations. Act as a liaison between SIS and the Weingarten Center and International Student and Scholar Services by providing guidance and support in identifying strategies to assist and connect students to appropriate University resources.
• Lead outreach efforts to raise awareness of SIS among students, staff, and faculty. Make connections with cultural centers and student groups, especially international students. Develop presentations and events for training and outreach. Partner with ISSS to offer training and outreach on specific issues related to international student student support needs.
• Serve in SIS’ on-call rotation for nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Serve as a member of the Case Management Support Team and the Critical Incident Stress Management Team. Represent SIS on working groups, committees, etc.

Qualifications:

Master's degree in social work, counseling, education, or related field required. Minimum of three to five years of experience, preferably in higher education, required. Experience working with a diverse population required. Understanding of issues concerning students from low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds required. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and computer skills required. Must be able to work well under pressure and be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Must be able to work collaboratively. Alternative work schedule may be required, including evenings and/or weekends. Responsibilities include on-call coverage during evenings, weekends, and holidays.

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.

Budgeted Pay Range:

$55-65K commensurate with education and experience.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Student Services

Pay Range

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements
Background check 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