Research Analyst, Wharton Leadership Pillar

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

Research Analyst, Wharton Leadership Pillar

Job Profile Title

Research Analyst

Job Description Summary

Wharton School Overview
Founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in both Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education’s individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. Wharton is home to a dynamic community of staff, bringing a wide range of skills, experiences, and perspectives. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.

The Wharton School's 20+ research centers and initiatives serve as a hub for exchange and study where faculty, students, and members of the business community address pressing global business challenges. Their work generates courses, academic programs, community outreach, working papers, published research, and partnerships among academics, industry, and government.

Wharton's Leadership Research Pillar supports and disseminates cutting-edge work across centers, programs, and initiatives in Leadership, covering areas including management, people analytics, human resources, operations and decisions, and leadership.

The Leadership Pillar is hiring for two (2) Research Analyst positions. These positions will advance the goals of Wharton Leadership Pillar by managing a portfolio of pillar research units in the execution of research projects.

The delineation of research project oversight is captured as follows.

The first Research Analyst will primarily support the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, Wharton People Analytics, the Center for Human Resources, and faculty research across MGMT and Marketing, grounded in human resource management, decision-making, and neuroscience.

The second Research Analyst will primarily support the Center for Leadership and Change Management, People Lab, and faculty research across MGMT and OID, grounded in organizational behavior, emotions, culture, and leadership.

Each Research Analyst works closely with corporate partners to support data access, transfer, storage, preparation, and documentation for student experiential learning and research projects. This role also assists students and researchers in using and understanding the data, and provides business intelligence and administrative support. The Research Analyst supports survey design, data collection, and survey data analysis for academic research projects and student experiential learning projects.

Job Description

Duties:

• Provide research project and relationship management support for a portfolio Leadership Pillar research units by coordinating activities among internal stakeholders, including Wharton and Penn faculty, postdoctoral researchers, students, and administrative departments, and external partners including corporations, foundations, government entities, and the broader academic and business communities. Facilitate communication, monitor project progress, and ensure timely completion of research deliverables. 
• Assist in the design and administration of surveys, collect and analyze large and complex data sets, and report findings to support research projects.
• Work with Leadership Pillar faculty and staff on the development of presentations, content, and other custom projects.
• Assist in the development and expansion of data storage, research applications, and technical documentation and collaborate with the Leadership Pillar staff, Wharton Computing, and Penn departments to ensure research technology operations follow computing standards.
• Support the development and execution of sponsored and internally funded research projects by assisting with research proposals, coordinating project plans, facilitating data use agreements, supporting IRB and regulatory submissions, tracking budgets and deliverables, and preparing sponsor reports in collaboration with faculty and administrative partners. 
• Coordinate research proposal and grant administration activities by assisting faculty with proposal preparation, assembling supporting documentation, monitoring submission timelines, coordinating post-award requirements, and supporting ongoing grant reporting in partnership with Wharton Finance & Administration and other University offices. 
• Perform additional duties as assigned. 

Qualifications:

Master's degree required, PhD preferred.

• 5-7 years of experience working with data and data analysis tools.
• Proficiency in SQL, Python, R, and Data Visualization.• Familiarity with cloud computing services like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Background conducting research grounded in organizational behavior, emotions, culture, and leadership preferred.
• Experience working with AI tools/services like LLMs, ChatGPT, and the OpenAI API.
• Experience with survey design, data collection, and survey data analysis.
• Experience with human subject research. Familiarity with survey software like Qualtrics, Prolific, or SurveyMonkey Apply.
• Experience in mentoring or technical project management with students.
• Experience with teaching and/or online course development a plus.
• Strong communication, writing, and presentation skills with the ability to translate between technical processes and actionable business insights.  
• Detail-oriented and experienced in leading projects from end to end.
• Experience executing data based and data analytics projects with companies.
• Ability to identify relevant and interesting business questions, supporting datasets, and an understanding of the implementation of solutions a plus.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply new processes and technologies required.  

Resume and cover letter are required. In your cover letter, please indicate whether you have a particular interest in one or both of the research portfolios described above and briefly explain your interest.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Wharton School

Pay Range

$67,155.00 - $96,000.00 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