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

Program Manager, OCINO, Penn Center for Innovation

Job Profile Title

Manager B, Business and Finance, Innovation

Job Description Summary

The Office of the Chief Innovation Officer (OCINO) serves to catalyze innovation across the entire University. OCINO engages broadly with the Penn community and external partners to identify and provide the critical resources needed to support this mission. OCINO is currently seeking an experienced Program Manager who will play a critical role in support of this effort.

The Program Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of OCINO's funding and investment programs, including oversight of application portals, tracking of funding submissions, communication with applicants, advisors and other key stakeholders, and coordinating the review/due diligence of funding/investment opportunities. This also includes supervising program interns as appropriate. The Program Manger role will serve as a key liaison with faculty, advisors, external investors/partners, and the university community. The Program Manager will also be responsible for supporting marketing and outreach initiatives, CRM/database administration, and financial and administrative operations as appropriate. Working closely with the Senior Executive Director and the Chief Innovation Officer, the Program Manager ensures that OCINO programs are delivered efficiently, and in manner that is consistent with organizational priorities. The role will also collaborate with the Penn Center for Innovation (PCI) as needed on select programs and administrative needs. The Program Manger position requires strong project management and organizational skills, very well developed communication skills, and the ability to balance and prioritize effort in a dynamic and innovation-focused environment. The role operates in a hybrid work setting. Please note, the Program Manager position is contingent upon on ongoing OCINO program funding.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Manage the day-to-day operations of priority OCINO programs including the NextUP Funding Program and the StartUP Fund. This includes oversight of the application/submission process, communication with applicants and external advisors, coordinating the evaluation and due diligence process for funding and investment opportunities, and post-award/funding reporting and communication. The Program Manager will also be responsible for supervising program interns as appropriate.

Develop, manage and execute marketing and communications efforts to promote OCINO initiatives. Work with the Senior Executive Director in support of ongoing outreach efforts across the entire Penn ecosystem and local early stage investment community. The role will serve as the primary manager and administrator for the OCINO website

Serve as primary administrator of OCINO's CRM database, overseeing all aspects of data management, including report generation and analytics to support OCINO leadership decision-making and program evaluation.

Identify, cultivate and maintain strong relationships with relevant internal and external innovation stakeholders to support the growth and sustainability of OCINO initiatives, and to continually expand OCINO's impact on the Penn community

Manage designated financial operations for relevant OCINO programs including budget tracking, ensuring compliance with University policies and financial procedures.

Identify and implement process improvements to enhance OCINO team effectiveness and operational efficiency. Partner with the Penn Center for Innovation (PCI) as needed on select projects and administrative needs

Qualifications

Bachelor of Science and 2 to 3 years of experience in program management, operations, higher education administration or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Demonstratedexperience of successfully planning and managing multi-stakeholder programs in a highly innovative environment.

A high level of proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook along with experience using Salesforce or a comparable CRM/database system is required.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create and edit content for reports, web, or marketing materials, as well as communication with internal and external partners/stakeholders.

Demonstrate excellent organizational and project management skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.

Experience working within a university, innovation, venture capital, startup, or entrepreneurial ecosystempreferred.

Experience developing or supporting marketing and communications strategy, including digital and social media outreach, is desired.

Experience with financial processing and budget tracking are advantageous.

Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities for operational improvement and implement system enhancements is also preferred.

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.

**Position contingent upon funding

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Provost's Center

Pay Range

$65,628.00 - $75,000.00 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 protectedunder 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

University of Pennsylvania

Program Manager - Ocino, Penn Center for Innovation

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