Executive Director, Venture Lab

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

Executive Director, Venture Lab

Job Profile Title

Director E, Business and Finance, Innovation

Job Description Summary

The Executive Director (ED) reports to the Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship and serves as the most senior staff leader of Venture Lab and its home in Tangen Hall. The ED is responsible for maximizing Venture Lab’s impact, visibility, community, brand recognition, and partnerships, while ensuring the workplace functions as a high-performing, collaborative ecosystem.
The ED works closely with students, alumni, faculty, staff, and external partners, aligning with University priorities and expanding stakeholder networks. This role drives organizational growth, leads change, and strengthens culture, ensuring priorities are clear, collaboration is effective, and work is both engaging and productive. The ED provides accessible, hands-on leadership to a team of professional staff, advancing strong management practices, operational efficiency, and a consistently high level of service to all constituents.

The ED has a critical leadership role providing strategic oversight of programming, core support functions, and resource management, including more than 80 funds comprising a self-sustaining budget of over $8 million annually. In close partnership with External Affairs and University Development, the ED supports donor stewardship and cultivates relationships that ensure financial sustainability. As the steward of Tangen Hall, the ED provides oversight so the facility operates as a vibrant, strategically aligned hub for the entrepreneurial community. This role requires balancing significant financial, managerial, and operational responsibilities with indirect but meaningful influence on day-to-day activities, while serving as a visible, trusted leader who engages broadly across students, alumni, and external partners.

Job Description

  

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 Position

The Executive Director (ED) rep