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 consistently ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers.

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.

Posted Job Title

UACS SFH Group Leader

Job Profile Title

Temporary Employee - Non-Exempt

Job Description Summary

Founded in 1992, the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships is the University's primary vehicle for advancing civic and community engagement at Penn. It brings together the resources and assets of both the University and the wider community to help solve universal problems such as poverty, health inequities, environmental sustainability, and inadequate, unequal education as they are manifested in the University's local geographic area of West Philadelphia and Philadelphia at large. The Netter Center develops and helps implement democratic, mutually transformative, place-based partnerships between Penn and West Philadelphia that advance research, teaching, learning, practice, and service and improve the quality of life on campus and in the community. The Netter Center works with and serves as a model for other higher education institutions across the United States and around the world.

The Netter Center’s university-assisted community schools (UACS) is a strategy to educate, engage, empower, and serve all members of the community in which the school is located and engage students (K-16+) in real world, community problem solving. UACS collaborates with partners to advance teaching, research, learning and service, as well as the civic development of their students. The Netter Center UACS implements summer enrichment and youth employment programs for West Philadelphia children and youth.

Job Description

The UACS Sports, Fitness, and Health (SFH) Group Leader supports during-school and after-school programming at six University-Assisted Community School (UACS) partner sites in West Philadelphia. 

UACS uses athletics as a vehicle for youth development, leadership, mentorship, and community engagement. The UACS SFH Group Leader helps deliver high-quality, age-appropriate sports programming while supporting a cross-grade leadership model connecting Penn Division I student-athletes, high school student leaders, and K-8 youth.

A primary focus of the position is Young Quakers (YQ), Penn’s youth athletics initiative designed to expand access to high-quality sports programming for K-8 students. The position works with Penn student-athletes to translate their sport expertise into engaging, developmentally appropriate practices and helps them strengthen their skills as youth coaches and mentors.

The position also supports the Cross Grade Sports (CGS) program, which prepares high school students to coach and mentor younger participants. Through training, observation, and feedback, the position helps student leaders develop communication, facilitation, teamwork, and leadership skills while creating positive experiences for K-8 youth.

Key Responsibilities

Sports Programming & Coaching

• Support implementation of sports-based programming across UACS partner schools.
• Collaborate with Penn student-athletes and coaches to develop age-appropriate practices, drills, games, and skill-building activities.
• Help student-athletes adapt their sport expertise for elementary and middle school participants of varying ages, abilities, and experience levels.
• Provide guidance on practice structure, skill progression, group management, inclusive coaching, and youth mentorship.
• Support consistent, engaging, and developmentally appropriate programming across sports and school sites.

Leadership & Youth Development

• Train and coach high school students serving as mentors and coaches for K-8 participants.
• Provide observation, feedback, and ongoing support to Penn student-athletes and high school student leaders.
• Integrate leadership and social-emotional learning into sports programming, including teamwork, communication, resilience, confidence, accountability, and conflict resolution.
• Foster a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment that promotes sportsmanship, healthy competition, and positive relationships.
• Help students reflect on their experiences and develop their identities as leaders, mentors, and community members.

Enrichment & Program Support

• Connect athletics to academic and career enrichment when appropriate, including math, data analysis, communication, and critical thinking.
• Introduce students to educational and career pathways related to sports, such as coaching, sports medicine, analytics, athletic administration, business, and media.
• Coordinate with UACS staff, Penn coaches and student-athletes, and high school leaders to support schedules, practice plans, communication, and daily programming.
• Observe programming and provide constructive feedback to strengthen quality and consistency.
• Support additional program activities and responsibilities as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Experience coaching, teaching, mentoring, or working with K-12 students.
• Knowledge of youth sports and age-appropriate coaching practices.
• Experience working with student-athletes, coaches, or youth leadership programs preferred.
• Ability to coach and develop student leaders through modeling, observation, and constructive feedback.
• Strong communication, organization, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to youth development, educational opportunity, inclusion, and reducing barriers to sports participation.
• Ability to work effectively with students and colleagues from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience.
• Experience with sports analytics, academic enrichment, or career exploration is a plus.
• Education: High school diploma required, College degree preferred in early childhood education, education or social service fields
• Experience: minimum of 3 years work experience with elementary-aged children and/or high school youth development programming
• Ability to be excited and actively and constructively engage youth in a variety of activities

• Completion and passing of funder-required compliance documentation and all Federal and State background checks/clearances
• Experience with working in School District of Philadelphia, urban settings and diverse student populations
• Ability to be flexible and work on a team
• Excellent interpersonal, organization and communication skills
• Punctual and regular attendance; availability Monday-Friday 1:00PM - 6:00 PM.

Compliance Requirements:

Once or while you are completing the University of Pennsylvania onboarding process, you will need to complete additional documents that are largely required by Netter Center funders.   

• Act 168 UPENN Misconduct Form
• Mandated Reporter Training - staff can be paid for the time to complete this once hired.
• Signed Confidentiality Statement
• National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR)
• UACS Staff Health Assessment  - Please schedule a physical appointment with a medical professional and ask them to complete the form. This also requires a TB test result.
• Signed Netter Center Media Release
• University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) Disclosure Statement 

Schedule: 

• Varies - some average of 20-25 hours/week Monday - Friday 1-6PM 
• Seasonal work appointments are typically made for fall from 8/31/2026 - 12/24/2026; for spring from 1/4/2027 -  6/11/2027 and in the summer from 6/14-2027 - 7/30/2027. Schedules are subject to change.
• ALL STAFF MUST complete background clearances and funder-required compliance documentation before hire.
• Punctual and consistent attendance is required for this program.

Compensation: 

• $18-22 per hour commensurate with experience

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$7.25 - $18.00 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 
A background check 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 and Life: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare.
• 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.

Please note that benefit eligibility is determined/based on ACA guidelines.