Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives

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

Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives

Job Profile Title

Director D, Business and Finance

Job Description Summary

Reporting administratively to the Vice President and Chief of Staff and working day-to-day under the direction of the Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives is a senior member of the President’s Office and an integral member of the President’s leadership team.
The Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives is responsible for advancing Penn Forward and other major strategic initiatives of the University from concept through coordination, execution, evaluation, and communication. This role requires close collaboration with senior leaders, schools, centers, and administrative units across the University, as well as strong project management, communication, and stakeholder-engagement skills. The Senior Director will help ensure momentum, coherence, and accountability across complex, multi-year initiatives while supporting the President’s Office in advancing institutional priorities.
Accelerated contributions to the science and scientific impact of the University are key elements of successful outcomes. Integrity, exceptional judgment, intellectual curiosity, a collaborative spirit, and the ability to drive progress in complex environments will be essential traits for success in this role.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Serves as a central driver of Penn Forward and other strategic initiatives as assigned, ensuring initiatives move from planning to implementation with clear milestones, timelines, and deliverables.
• Partners closely with the Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, operational leads, and senior administrators across the University to coordinate workstreams, align efforts, and resolve barriers to progress.
• Provides high-level project management for complex, cross-institutional initiatives, including tracking progress, identifying risks and dependencies, and escalating issues as appropriate.
• Engages actively with a wide range of stakeholders—including faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumni, and external partners—to support collaboration, shared understanding, and sustained momentum.
• Prepares and coordinates briefings, presentations, updates, and materials for the President, senior leadership, and governance bodies related to strategic initiatives.
• Encourages progress through clear communication, follow-up, and support, helping translate strategic intent into operational action.
• Supervises, mentors, and develops 3–6 interns at any given time, typically early-career professionals or recent graduates, including responsibility for hiring, onboarding, training, work planning, feedback, and performance management
• Conducts research and analysis on strategic questio