Urban Studies Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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
Academic Coordinator, Urban Studies
Job Profile Title
Academic Coordinator
Job Description Summary
The Academic Coordinator is a vital member of the Urban Studies Program's collaborative administrative team and plays an essential role in supporting the program's academic mission. This full-time position is ideal for candidates who thrive in dynamic academic environments, enjoy balancing a variety of responsibilities, and are energized by helping students, faculty, alumni, and academic programs succeed. The Academic Coordinator serves as a primary point of contact for the program and provides comprehensive support to the Co-Director and Faculty Director for undergraduate academic advising, course and curriculum administration, student engagement initiatives, events, communications, and day-to-day program operations. Working closely with faculty leadership, students, alumni, and partners across the University, the Academic Coordinator helps ensure the smooth functioning of the Urban Studies Program and contributes to a vibrant intellectual community focused on cities, urban policy, and social change.
Job Description
Penn Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary program within the School of Arts in Sciences that integrates resources across the social sciences (anthropology, sociology, history, economics, political science) and professional fields (city planning, education, environmental studies, public health, public policy, real estate) in the service of studying urban trends.
Urban Studies at Penn is a flexible and intimate program. Students can shape their experience through courses that reflect interests and that cover the range of concerns in the field. Urban Studies is the only major on campus that requires students to carry out an internship for academic credit. Our students experience a strong sense of community in the program because of small classes, an active Undergraduate Advisory Board, many extra-curricular activities, and the opportunity to learn directly from faculty working in their respective fields. Urban Studies also has a strong alumni network and opportunities for mentorship and career exposure.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Co-Director of Urban Studies, the Academic Coordinator provides administrative support with responsibilities including:

• Coordinating undergraduate and graduate academic programs, including student services and curriculum support
• Serving as a point of contact for faculty, students, and external stakeholders
• Supporting academic processes such as course scheduling, registration, and student tracking
• Assisting with event planning and departmental communications
• Supporting departmental financial processing
• Contributing to website updates and other digital communications

Qualifications:

• High School Grad/GE Degree and 5 to 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. A Bachelor's degree is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with Penn and an academic setting is strongly preferred.
• The ideal candidate will be detail oriented, well organized and can multi-task.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and outstanding interpersonal skills required, especially with undergraduate students and faculty.
• Occasional weekend and/or evening hours may be required based on business needs.
• The ability to work on campus at least 75% of the time is required.
• Successful candidates must also possess the ability to work effectively under pressure and within deadlines, have strong organizational skills, and the ability to work independently.
• Experience with social media marketing and event promotion (Instagram, LinkedIn, Mailchimp) strongly preferred.
• Experience with web development applications, Concur, Penn web systems (NGSS and Curriculum Manager, Ben Financials, Penn Marketplace), is highly desired.

This hourly paid position may present an opportunity for fewer working hours in the summer months of June and July.
*For consideration, please submit a cover letter as well as a resume in the CV section of your application. You can upload multiple documents to the "Resume/CV" section.
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School
School of Arts and Sciences
Pay Range
$21.52 - $29.00 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.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay