Community Engaged Scholarship Director, Netter Center for Community Partnerships

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

Community Engaged Scholarship Director, Netter Center for Community Partnerships

Job Profile Title

Associate Director C, Academic Affairs, Academic Center

Job Description Summary

The Community Engaged Scholarship (CES) Director at the Netter Center oversees all CES activities, including Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) courses, which engage Penn students and faculty in collaborative problem-solving with West Philadelphia schools, faith communities, and organizations. This role involves developing and supporting CES projects, ABCS courses fostering new faculty and student involvement, and strengthening university-community partnerships through research, teaching, and service. The Director works across all 12 Penn schools to expand ABCS courses, organize faculty seminars, and support faculty, graduate students, and community partners in integrating CES into academic programs. Additional responsibilities include managing budgets, coordinating grants, organizing recognition events, and maintaining records to enhance CES and ABCS initiatives.

Job Description

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.