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 Employers By State in 2021.

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.

COVID-19 vaccination is a requirement for all positions at the University of Pennsylvania. New hires are expected to be fully vaccinated before beginning work at the University. For more information about Penn’s vaccine requirements, visit the Penn COVID-19 Response website for the latest information.

Posted Job Title

Chief of Staff Office of the Vice President, Development & Alumni Relations (Hybrid Eligible)

Job Profile Title

Director E

Job Description Summary

The Chief of Staff is responsible for activities that enable the Vice President of Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) to be both productive and strategic in the execution of his internal and external responsibilities. Managing a broad and diverse range of relationships with key stakeholders, the Chief of Staff serves as an advisor to the Vice President on matters related to workflow, priority setting and time-management; a strategic coordinator of the Vice President’s prospect portfolio and external activities; and a meeting facilitator for the Senior Management Group. Working in partnership with colleagues across DAR and the University, this role is grounded in a holistic understanding of the organization and its key functions and helps to ensure effective decision-making by the VP and among the organization’s executives.

Job Description

Targeted Pay Range: $175,000 - $235,000

This Targeted Pay Range is only applicable to this job posting. All 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.

The Chief of Staff will be an excellent and empathetic communicator who possesses strong project management skills and is adept in applying strategic thinking to every aspect of their work. Comfortable with ambiguity and a strong self-starter, the Chief of Staff has a front row seat to matters that are vital to developing the next phase of Penn’s growth in fundraising and alumni engagement.

The Chief of Staff will embrace opportunities to serve as a peer leader across the organization while demonstrating a proactive commitment to DAR’s values of trust, mutual respect, collegiality, and collaboration, and to our responsibilities as a community dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Areas of Responsibility:

Donor & Stakeholder Engagement

This role will provide critical input to the VP’s direct fundraising activity and will proactively surface opportunities for the Vice President to advance relationships critical to Penn’s fundraising goals. Proactively partners with the VP in the management of his prospect portfolio. Organizes the VP’s engagement with philanthropic & volunteer leaders, managing the VP’s portfolio of responsibility in this area and proactively engages with colleagues to surface recommendations, field requests and develop strategies. Communicate with select donors on behalf of the Vice President and meet with donors and prospective donors when appropriate. Serve as a secondary prospect manager as appropriate. Lead all follow up items related to this work ensuring all parties are updated in a timely manner.

Process Management

Maximize time that the VP is devoting to high-impact strategic work by establishing clear workflow protocols, setting week to week priorities, and limiting interruptions to the VP’s agenda. Oversees the VP’s schedule to maximize effectiveness of his involvement in both internal and external activity. Partners with any internal program and project leads to plan for VP’s time and participation. Acts independently in decision making and execution of tactical matters when appropriate. Escalates matters based on independent judgment to the VP when warranted.

SMG Meeting Facilitator

Ensure that SMG meetings are focused on the group’s most important priorities. Maintain meeting agendas and track progress of priorities across meetings. Communicate with members on a regular basis to ensure that everyone is staying up to date on core organizational initiatives in between meetings. Tracks the VP’s deliverables and obligations to members of the SMG, helps to execute where appropriate, and anticipates briefing needs for the VP in advance of individual and group meetings.

DAR Engagement

Collaborate with key Advancement Services staff and other colleagues on matters related to the flow of information between the Vice President and DAR. Partner with other senior staff and communications staff to manage the pace of the VP’s internal communications and to propose opportunities for meaningful and creative staff outreach and engagement. Ensures that the VP is well prepared for internal speaking engagements and presentations.

Requirements:

• Minimum 10 years in a high-level sole contributor role or management experience.

• Prior frontline fundraising experience, as this position will play a key role in the VP’s external work.

• Undergraduate degree in any field of study.

• Exceptional project and process management skills.

• Organizationally savvy in working cross functionally in a highly matrixed organization, with internal and external constituents.

• Ability to align all work to support the strategies of DAR and aligning those strategies with the tactics needed for maximum results and impact.

• Strong decision making, collaboration and interpersonal skills.

**Please provide a resume and cover letter in order to be considered for this role. Please upload all documents in the “Resume/CV” section of the application prior to submitting.**

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Hybrid Eligible - This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule with a work week divided between working onsite and working remotely.

Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations

Pay Range

$110,850.00 - $174,270.66

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