Associate Director, Faculty Affairs

University of Pennsylvania

8d•$67,155 - $90,000•Onsite

About The Position

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. 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.

Requirements

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.

Nice To Haves

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.

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.

Benefits

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
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.
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.
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.
Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments.
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.