Partnerships Manager, Academy at Penn

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

Partnerships Manager, Academy at Penn

Job Profile Title

Coordinator B

Job Description Summary

The Academy at Penn is a college and career readiness program for students from Horace Furness High School and High School of the Future, both comprehensive high schools in the School District of Philadelphia. Through this program, students receive year-round, cohort-based academic, social/emotional, and community support that holds in the highest regard each participant's unique path to, through, and beyond high school. The Academy is a 5-year partnership between the School District of Philadelphia, Foundations, Inc., and the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.

The Academy at Penn Partnerships Manager will develop, cultivate, and coordinate partnerships that expand opportunities for Academy students to explore college and career pathways and engage in meaningful experiential learning. The Partnerships Manager will build relationships with partners across Penn and the broader professional community, identifying opportunities for internships, mentorship, job shadowing, career exploration, campus-based experiences, and other forms of experiential learning. This position requires a relationship-oriented and proactive professional who is comfortable initiating new connections, developing relationships over time, and taking ownership of a portfolio of partnerships and experiences.

The Partnerships Manager will work collaboratively with Academy staff and external partners to ensure opportunities are well designed, responsive to students’ interests and needs, and aligned with the Academy’s broader goals. The Partnerships Manager will report to the Director of Programming & Instruction and work closely with the Assistant Director of Operations and other members of the Academy team.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Partnership Development & Relationship Management: Identify and pursue prospective partnerships with Penn departments and external programs, employers, professional organizations, community organizations, and other partners that can expand opportunities available to Academy students; Build and maintain strong relationships with new and existing partners, serving as a primary Academy point of contact and developing relationships that can be sustained and expanded over time; Proactively engage partners in identifying opportunities for collaboration that align with Academy students’ interests, needs, and college and career goals; Maintain regular communication with partners before, during, and following programming to support strong relationships and successful experiences; Collaborate with partners to gather and provide feedback, identify opportunities for improvement, and strengthen the quality and relevance of programming over time; Maintain organized records of partnerships, contacts, opportunities, student participation, and follow-up to support continuity and long-term relationship management.
• Experiential & Career-Connected Learning: Develop and coordinate experiential learning opportunities, including internships, job shadowing, workplace visits, mentorship, career exploration, and other professional learning experiences; Work with Academy staff to identify opportunities that reflect students’ interests and developmental needs and complement the Academy’s broader college and career readiness programming; Coordinate with external partners to develop experiences that are meaningful, engaging, age-appropriate, and well structured for student participants; Support students and partners in preparing for experiential learning opportunities and facilitate communication and follow-up needed for successful participation; Monitor the implementation of partnership-based experiences and work collaboratively with students, staff, and partners to address challenges and strengthen future programming.
• Program Collaboration & Continuous Improvement: Collaborate closely with the Director of Programming & Instruction, Assistant Director of Operations, and other Academy staff to ensure partnership opportunities are integrated into the broader student experience; Gather feedback from students, partners, and Academy staff to assess the quality and effectiveness of partnership experiences and identify opportunities for improvement; Contribute to planning and reflection around the Academy’s experiential learning and partnership efforts, including identifying gaps and emerging opportunities; Support collection and organization of participation and partnership data to help the Academy understand the reach and effectiveness of its experiential learning opportunities; Participate as an active member of the Academy team and contribute to other program activities and priorities as appropriate. 
• Cohort Leadership: Oversee implementation of all program components for an assigned student cohort for Saturday and summer programming; Supervise and support program staff, including instructors, program leaders, and site liaisons; Ensure a high-quality, consistent experience for all students across program activities; Monitor student engagement, attendance, and overall progress; Troubleshoot programmatic, staffing, and student-related challenges in real time; Serve as the primary point of contact for cohort-related issues during program operation; Facilitate regular team check-ins and provide ongoing coaching and feedback to staff; Collaborate with program leadership to ensure alignment with program goals and expectations; Maintain accurate records and documentation related to cohort operations; Uphold a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment for students and staff. 
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required and 2-3 years of experience is required. 3+ years of experience in education, youth development, or a related field is preferred. 

• Experience working with high school-aged youth in academic or out-of-school-time settings 

• Professional experience in partnership development, program coordination, education, youth development, career readiness, community engagement, higher education, or a related field. 

• Demonstrated ability to build positive professional relationships and communicate effectively with individuals across a range of organizations, roles, and professional settings. 

• Strong interpersonal skills and confidence initiating relationships with new partners and cultivating those relationships over time. 

• Strong organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple partnerships, activities, and timelines simultaneously.  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.  

• Collaborative working style and ability to coordinate effectively with colleagues while taking ownership of assigned areas of work.  

• Strong judgment, responsiveness, attention to detail, and commitment to creating high-quality experiences for students.  

• Interest in and commitment to expanding college and career opportunities for high school students.  

• Experience working with adolescents, schools, higher education institutions, employers, professional organizations, or community-based organizations preferred. 

• Completion and passing of all Federal and State background checks/clearances

Expected Salary Range: $60,000 - $65,000, commensurate with experience

*All applicants must submit a cover letter along with their resume/CV, detailing their interest in the position.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Graduate School of Education

Pay Range

$55,962.00 - $65,000.00 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 protected under 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.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay