Associate Director, VIP Incubator, Venture Lab, Wharton School

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

Associate Director, VIP Incubator, Venture Lab, Wharton School

Job Profile Title

Associate Director C, Student Services, Academic Programs

Job Description Summary

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 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 worldwide 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 staff population representing a rich array of backgrounds, expertise, and cultures. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.

The Associate Director provides leadership for Venture Lab’s key strategic priorities through the delivery, management, and end-to-end operations of the Venture Initiation Program (VIP) Incubator. This work will enable Venture Lab to deliver co-curricular learning opportunities in innovation and entrepreneurship to Penn students and connect them to Penn alumni leaders and experts to receive practical instruction, advice, mentoring, and networking support.

Job Description

Reporting to the Senior Director of Venture Lab, the Associate Director will:

• Lead the VIP Incubator program, providing Penn students with the opportunity to develop and to receive feedback on their business ideas or startups. Develop the program strategy, plan program curriculum, prepare and manage program budget.

• In consultation with Senior Director, lead program management, including all program logistics and day-to-day execution. This includes application development and selection process, selection criteria and rubric, student experience, summer programming, partner onboarding/engagement, administrative tasks, alumni and external partner-led workshops, collaboration with other Venture Lab programs, data tracking and reporting, and other tasks associated with this program. 

• Lead the development, program design and delivery, alumni merchandise showcase program, and space planning and development of one of Venture Lab's innovative learning labs, the Retail Lab - a space that serves as a teaching tool that showcases alumni ventures; gives students opportunity to test products, conduct customer and market research; host events, speakers and workshops in collaboration with other programs and centers.

• Prepare management reports and presentations for Venture Lab leadership to deliver.  Devel