Deputy Director, Center for Climate Adaptation & Resilience

University of Pennsylvania

1d•$95,136 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Deputy Director serves as the Center for Climate Resilience’s chief operating officer, reporting to the Faculty Director. The role manages daily operations across the Center’s Urban Resilience Lab, Corporate Resilience Initiative, and Research in Climate Adaptation and Resilience (RCAR) Core, and supervises and develops unit leads and their teams. The Deputy Director works with the Faculty Director on the Center’s fundraising strategy, leads grant writing and program development, and stewards relationships with government, corporate, foundation, and academic partners. The position builds and maintains the Center’s operating systems for project tracking, meetings, budgeting, reporting, and onboarding, and serves as the primary liaison to School of Social Policy and Practice finance, human resources, research administration, and development offices. Responsibilities also include overseeing budgets, accounts, contracts, and expenditures; supporting the Center’s strategic plan and advisory board; and coordinating external communications and events. The position is contingent on grant and gift funding. It is based in person at the School of Social Policy and Practice in Philadelphia, with hybrid flexibility by arrangement and regular travel to New York City for partner work. Travel to partner sites, convenings, and events is expected approximately 6–10 times per calendar year, primarily within the United States, including some evenings and weekends. All SP2 staff may be required to participate in convocation and graduation ceremonies as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in operations, program management, or fundraising in a research center, nonprofit organization, policy institute, foundation, consulting firm, or comparable setting.
At least 3 years of staff-supervision experience.
Demonstrated success raising funds that were awarded, including foundation grants, government contracts, sponsored research, or individual philanthropy.
Ability to manage budgets with multiple funding streams, supervise and develop staff across several teams, and allocate resources according to program needs.
Experience building operating infrastructure in a young or fast-growing organization, including project tracking, planning cycles, written processes, and reporting.
Excellent written and verbal communication across audiences, including senior government officials, corporate executives, foundation program officers, and academic researchers.
Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines requiring advance forecasting.
Strong commitment to the Center’s mission and to building a healthy, high-performing work environment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (MBA, MPA, MPP, or a related field).
Experience navigating university research administration, contracting, and development offices.
Working familiarity with applied social science research methods, including basic causal inference.
Familiarity with climate risk, adaptation, or sustainability.

Responsibilities

Manage daily operations across the Center’s three operating units: the Urban Resilience Lab, Corporate Resilience Initiative, and RCAR Core.
Work with the Faculty Director and unit leads to set priorities, plan and staff projects, and monitor progress and performance.
Supervise unit leads and their teams; set performance expectations; coach and develop team members; and coordinate recruitment and onboarding of staff, postdoctoral fellows, and students.
Build and maintain operating systems, including project tracking, meeting cadence, quarterly goal-setting, and operating documentation.
Serve as the Center’s primary liaison to SP2 human resources.
Work with the Faculty Director to design and execute funding strategy and pipeline across foundation grants, government contracts, corporate partnerships, and individual philanthropy.
Identify funding opportunities; lead preparation of letters of inquiry, proposals, budgets, and reports; and coordinate with SP2 research support, SP2 development, and Penn Development and Alumni Relations.
Develop programs and initiatives with the Faculty Director and unit leads, and prepare scopes of work and budgets for government and corporate engagements.
Forecast staff-position funding and advise the Faculty Director on resource allocation.
Steward relationships with government, corporate, foundation, and academic partners; manage communications, contracting logistics, deliverable schedules, and reporting.
Oversee the Center’s budget, grant and gift accounts, contracts, and expenditures in accordance with University and sponsor policies.
Ensure grant, contract, and reporting deadlines are met; serve as the Center’s primary liaison to SP2 finance and research administration on budgets, subawards, and expenditures.
Work with the Faculty Director and SP2 leadership to develop and maintain the Center’s strategic plan and milestones, convene and support an advisory board, and track progress against goals.
Support external communications by translating research findings into briefs and materials for partners and the public; plan and run seminars, convenings, and public events.
Coordinate external communications and events with the SP2 Strategic Communications and Design department.
Perform additional duties as assigned and participate in convocation and graduation ceremonies as needed.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
Flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children at Penn, and for dependent children at other institutions.
Basic, matching, and supplemental retirement plans.
Substantial time away from work during the year.
Long-term care insurance.
Wellness and work-life programs and resources.
Professional and personal development resources.
Access to University libraries, athletic facilities, cultural and recreational activities.
Discounts and special services, including arts and entertainment, transportation, and other goods and services.
Flexible work options.
Forgivable home-purchase loan for eligible employees in West Philadelphia.
Adoption assistance reimbursement for eligible expenses.