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

Graduate Coordinator, History of Art, Penn Arts and Sciences

Job Profile Title

Coordinator, Program

Job Description Summary

The Program Coordinator independently manages the History of Art graduate program and the Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World (AAMW) graduate group and provides complex academic and operational support to the Department of the History of Art. The position manages the graduate student lifecycle from application through graduation; advises students and faculty on University and Graduate Division policies and procedures; prepares reports and maintains program data; and serves as a primary liaison to the Graduate Division and other University offices. In addition to graduate program administration, the position coordinates departmental projects and operations, curriculum administration, events and programming, routine purchasing and defined program/event budgets, facilities needs, immigration processes, and student-worker supervision. The role requires independent judgment, initiative, data-informed problem-solving, and coordination across multiple functional areas with limited day-to-day supervision.

Job Description

Welcome to one of the country's leading programs for the History of Art and one of the most active organizations on the Penn campus. At home in the Jaffe History of Art Building, we are located at both a physical and a virtual crossroads for Penn's vibrant community of students and teachers.

 

We offer a wide variety of undergraduate instruction to satisfy the curiosity and pique the interest of students. General liberal arts majors and specialists are provided for equally. Our courses regularly transport students to Philadelphia's museums, galleries and historic sites, and we offer seminars in collaboration with the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Arthur Ross Gallery, in which students devise and organize exhibitions. The department is home to the Visual Studies program and is a significant contributor to the Cinema and Media Studies major.

 

Our renowned graduate program is sustained by the Faculty of the Graduate Group in the History of Art, whose collegial appointments drawn from elsewhere in the University enriches the scope and expands the size of the department. The department also hosts the Graduate Group in the Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World, underscoring the breadth of our interests.

Responsibilities:

• Independently manage the History of Art and AAMW graduate programs from admissions through graduation, including registration, academic progress, benchmarks, fellowships, funding records, exams and defenses, degree completion, program data, and reporting
• Advise graduate students and faculty on University and Graduate Division policies, procedures, deadlines, and resources; identify and resolve administrative issues and serve as liaison to the Graduate Division and other University offices
• Coordinate departmental projects and operations, facilities needs, administrative resources, correspondence, issue resolution, and student-worker hiring, training, scheduling, and supervision
• Coordinate curriculum and course administration, including scheduling, permits, room assignments, enrollment information, and updates in NGSS, CLSS/Curriculum Manager, and related systems
• Plan and coordinate departmental academic events and programming, including workshops, colloquia, recruitment and orientation activities, speakers, travel, lodging, catering, communications, event budgets, and expense tracking
• Coordinate routine operational purchasing and defined program/event expenses, monitor spending against approved budgets or funding allocations, and partner with the department’s Financial Specialist and SAS Finance on specialized processing
• Coordinate departmental components of immigration-related requests in partnership with ISSS and other University offices.

This position requires regular on-site presence to effectively perform its essential functions and support departmental operations.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree and 2-3 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is required.
• Experience in higher education or academic administration is strongly preferred.
• The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent organizational, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; sound judgment and discretion; initiative; and the ability to independently manage multiple complex priorities and deadlines.
• Experience advising students or faculty, interpreting policies and procedures, coordinating academic programs, supervising student employees, and working across multiple administrative functions is preferred.
• Familiarity with Penn systems such as NGSS, CLSS/Curriculum Manager, Grad Funding, Concur, Penn Marketplace, or comparable systems is highly desirable.
• This position requires regular on-site presence to effectively perform its essential functions and support departmental operations.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$24.21 - $31.00 Hourly 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