Job Description

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

Temporary Custom Director - Wharton Executive Education

Job Profile Title

Temporary Employee - Non-Exempt

Job Description Summary

The Temporary Director of Custom Programs plays a central role in managing and growing client relationships, designing high-impact executive development experiences, and ensuring the overall success and profitability of Wharton Executive Education's custom engagements. This role is both strategic and hands-on, with accountability for the end-to-end delivery of executive education programs tailored to the unique needs of leading organizations around the world.

As the primary client relationship manager for an assigned portfolio of clients, the Temporary Director is responsible for cultivating and deepening long-term partnerships with global clients across industries. This includes understanding client goals, anticipating needs, proactively addressing issues, and ensuring high levels of satisfaction. The Temporary Director regularly collaborates with senior leaders, including Wharton/Penn faculty and client stakeholders, to co-create learning journeys that integrate in-person, virtual, online, and experiential elements.

The Temporary Director works closely with faculty and clients to design and deliver customized curricula, selecting appropriate instructors and incorporating post-program follow-up to reinforce learning outcomes. A strong understanding of executive audiences and adult learning principles is essential, along with the ability to translate organizational challenges into actionable program content. Assessing the success of programs --both through formal feedback and client conversations --is a key responsibility, as is the integration of innovative learning formats and approaches that reflect Wharton's latest thinking.

Each Custom program is assigned a program manager(s) to support the logistics and delivery of the program (the Delivery Team). Internally, the Temporary Director provides matrixed leadership for each program's Delivery Team, ensuring clear communication, effective project planning, and high-quality execution and delivery of the learning experience.

Job Description

• Client Relationship Management – Cultivate and deepen relationships with all clients to ensure satisfaction and retention. Deepen relationships by identifying needs for new custom programs for clients and utilizing the breadth of the division’s programs.
• Program Design - Work closely with faculty and clients to design and deliver curriculum, selecting appropriate instructors, ability to translate organizational challenges into content, assess program success, integrate innovative learning formats and approaches that reflect Wharton’s latest thinking.
• Program Financials - responsible for assuring targeted contribution to the profitability of the department through active P&L management, accurate pricing, management of expenses.
• Matrixed Management - Manage the effort of the Delivery Team for assigned programs to ensure that all logistical and operational details are prepared and delivered with exceptional customer service.
• Collaboration - Collaborate with colleagues from Business Development on new proposals and presentations, work across business units to support enrollment in OE, Online, and Live programs, share best practices across business units.
• Business Knowledge - stays current on business trends, monitors developments within portfolio of clients, tracks industry shifts, leadership changes, strategic priorities, and emerging challenges that may inform program design or highlight new learning needs, position Wharton as a strategic learning partner.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Bachelor’s degree and minimum 7-10 years’ experience required. Master’s degree in a related field highly preferred. Experience in designing educational solutions preferably in a high-end solutions environment or higher education, academic environment. Experience in consultative selling and adult learning theory and practices highly desirable. Relevant experience and deep knowledge of at least one corporate sector such as financial services, health care, manufacturing, energy, technology or consumer products a plus.

Main Tasks:

• Maintain Wharton as a leader of innovative and financially successful executive education programs through a proven track record of designing innovative educational program solutions for senior leaders in global companies and suggesting improvements to programs and processes.
• Collaborate with clients to evaluate their learning needs.
• Proven success in completing needs assessments to identify specific business and/or organizational issues and challenges to be addressed, and design a solution to be presented in an educational format.
• Ability to analyze and understand international and domestic business trends and the concerns of executives.
• Demonstrate innovative approaches to educational and management problems, including electronic media.
• Work independently and effectively to design, manage, and deliver a high volume of programs in assigned portfolio that provides sophisticated educational solutions to business challenges of executives and corporations over time.
• Collaborate with Vice Dean, Managing Directors, Senior Director and Business Development Team in support of developing proposals and RFPs.

Expected Skills and Behavior:

• Willingness to develop an in-depth understanding of Wharton and external faculty areas of expertise.
• Experienced, skilled, highly effective professional and leader to represent WEE in client-facing settings and through written communications.
• Action-oriented, results-driven approach, Self-starter and proven ability to work autonomously as well as collaboratively as a member of a program/project team in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.
• Strategic-thinking partner with demonstrated personal strengths that contribute to building a strong, dynamic and unified organization.
• Financial acumen P&L experience. Responsible for assuring positive contribution to the profitability of the department through cost management.
• Experience utilizing business development, sales, or other CRM systems. Strong understanding of metrics and dashboards.
• Ability to negotiate complex and difficult environments.
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally and domestically.
• Ability and willingness to work non-traditional hours, including weekends, early mornings and late evenings as needed.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Wharton School

Pay Range

$7.25 - $120.00 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.