Program Coordinator, Entrepreneurship Education & Programs

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

Program Coordinator, Entrepreneurship Education & Programs

Job Profile Title

Coordinator C

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 Program Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day execution of assigned educational programs and provides operational coordination that strengthens the effectiveness of Venture Lab's Philadelphia-based programming portfolio. This position supports assigned Philadelphia-based programs supporting students and engaging alumni, and will be the primary Coordinator to assume responsibility for new Philadelphia-based programs, supporting the successful implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of strategically important co-curricular initiatives. 
 
Following established processes for assigned programs, the Program Coordinator develops annual work plans and timelines aligned with program goals; coordinates student and stakeholder engagement; supervises student leadership teams, and serves as the primary operational contact for students, alumni, faculty, reviewers, and external partners. The Coordinator supports program financial administration, including expense tracking, policy-aligned budget stewardship, and coordinating with Finance & Administration; maintains program records and CRM data integrity; collects analyzes, and reports program data and key performance indicators; supports donor stewardship through data and participant materials collection, and preparing reports; assesses program performance and recommends improvements; and implements approved operational improvements that enhance program quality, participant experience, and educational outcomes. 
 
In addition to assigned program responsibilities, the Program Coordinator strengthens the operational capacity and visibility of Venture Lab's Philadelphia-based programming portfolio by supporting portfolio-wide reporting and data management, coordinating shared operational resources, and supporting coordination between Programming and Marketing. Supporting the Senior Director, the Coordinator serves as a central point of coordination for program marketing requests, activities, timelines, and routine communications; communicates program priorities and audience needs; facilitates effective collaboration; and provides hands-on support for routine program marketing needs as appropriate. The position also coordinates with Operations, IT, and other functional partners and contributes to the development and improvement of shared processes, organizational initiatives, and special projects that improve the effectiveness and consistency of Venture Lab's Philadelphia-based programming. 
 
This position is hybrid-eligible depending on business needs and evaluation of several factors. Student or alumni facing roles will require more in-person work some weeks than others. This position is contingent upon continued funding.

Job Description

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years in higher education, non-profit, or a similar environment with progressively responsible professional experience in program coordination, program administration, project coordination, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Interest in entrepreneurship and innovation and demonstrated ability to quickly develop knowledge of new subject areas, programs, and stakeholder communities.

• Demonstrated ability to independently coordinate multiple programs, projects, and priorities, manage competing deadlines, exercise sound judgment, troubleshoot routine issues, maintain strong attention to detail, and consistently follow through on deliverables in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience coordinating programs, projects, events, or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, including managing timelines, logistics, communications, materials, scheduling, and follow-up to support successful execution.

• Experience coordinating program marketing, communications, or audience engagement activities, such as email communications, website content, newsletters, event promotion, or promotional materials; familiarity with marketing principles and best practices and ability to work effectively with marketing and communications partners.

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative working relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, volunteers, external partners, and other stakeholders and to coordinate activities and information across multiple departments or functional areas.

• Experience collecting, maintaining, analyzing, and reporting program and operational data, including tracking participation, outcomes, or other key program metrics; maintaining accurate records and documentation; and using information to support program assessment, planning, and continuous improvement.

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to independently prepare clear and professional correspondence, reports, presentations, program materials, and stakeholder communications for a variety of audiences.

• Strong organizational and administrative skills, with demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective processes, documentation, calendars, and workflows that support efficient program operations.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience using or learning enterprise technology platforms, databases, CRM systems, event or project management tools, and other business applications used to support program administration and operations.

 
Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in entrepreneurship, innovation, venture capital, startup ecosystems, experiential education, or a similarly dynamic participant-focused environment.

• Experience providing day-to-day guidance, mentorship, or coordination to student employees, interns, volunteers, or student leadership teams, including assigning or coordinating work, providing direction, and supporting successful completion of responsibilities.

• Experience supporting program assessment and evaluation efforts, including tracking outcomes and key performance indicators (KPIs), analyzing participant or program data, preparing reports, and identifying opportunities to strengthen program delivery and participant engagement.

• Demonstrated commitment to delivering exceptional service and creating high quality participant experiences, with the ability to anticipate needs, respond effectively to questions or concerns, and contribute to a welcoming, professional, and engaging program environment.

• Experience monitoring program or event budgets, tracking expenditures, reconciling expenses, processing financial transactions, or coordinating other financial and administrative activities in accordance with established policies and procedures.

• Experience using technology to coordinate programs, manage information, and improve workflows, including CRM systems, survey platforms, event management software, project management tools, or other enterprise applications.

 
A cover letter is preferred.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Wharton School

Pay Range

$65,628.00 - $68,000.00 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