ABCS Research and Program Coordinator, 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

ABCS Research and Program Coordinator, Netter Center for Community Partnerships

Job Profile Title

Coordinator B

Job Description Summary

The ABCS Research and Program Coordinator coordinates the development and ongoing implementation of ABCS courses; coordinates connections between ABCS courses and ABCS faculty; and coordinates and helps conduct research on ABCS development, implementation and impacts (individual and collective). This includes work with faculty to develop syllabi, course partnerships and collaborative projects with those partners, orientation and reflection activities, ABCS TA recruitment and support, and identifying University and community resources that will contribute to the success of ABCS research and teaching. These will be carried out by this staff member and by staff and students supervised by this staff member.

Job Description

Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) courses are at the core of the Netter Center’s work. ABCS students and faculty work with West Philadelphia public schools, communities of faith, and community organizations to help solve critical campus and community problems in a variety of areas such as the environment, health, arts, and education. Penn has 80-90 undergraduate and graduate ABCS courses each year, enrolling over 1800 students. 

More specifically, ABCS courses integrate service with research, teaching, and learning; are a form of Community-Engaged Scholarship (CES); bring together academic expertise and the expertise of the community via mutually-beneficial, mutually-transformational democratic partnerships; use collaborative local problem-solving to improve the quality of life and learning in the community and the quality of learning and scholarship in the university; foster structural community improvement (e.g., effective public schools, neighborhood economic development); emphasize student and faculty reflection on the service experience; and help students become active, creative, contributing citizens of a democratic society. 

Responsibilities:

This position meets regularly with ABCS faculty, teaching assistants and university-assisted community school partners to help ensure mutually beneficial collaboration between university and community partners. This position works closely with Penn students who are working with faculty to develop new ABCS courses. Other activities include coordinating the ABCS course development grants program and working with the Assistant Director to recognize faculty, students and partners for their ABCS work. 

The ABCS Research and Program Coordinator also works with faculty and students to develop ABCS collaborations within and across departments and Penn schools to help create integrated ABCS projects and programs of study. This includes coordinating thematic ABCS faculty seminars and ad hoc working groups. Additionally, this position works with the Assistant Director to facilitate collaboration among Netter Center programs and among other Penn programs and centers to support and advance ABCS. 

This position helps coordinate and support the Netter Center’s Faculty Advisory Board, the Provost’s Faculty Fellows at the Netter Center, and the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Community Engaged Scholarship, as well as various ABCS student leadership programs including the Provost’s Graduate Academic Engagement Fellowship at the Netter Center, , the Penn Graduate Community-Engaged Research Mentorship, and a preceptorial for student leaders facilitated by emeritus faculty. This position maintains extensive files and records on ABCS courses and recruits and manages interns, work-study students, and volunteers to support ABCS programs. 

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s Degree and 2 to 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Experience working with Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) programs, including as a student, with faculty teaching ABCS, and as an ABCS program partner is preferred.
• Experience is necessary to help advise the development and implementation of current ABCS courses and the development of new ones.
• ABCS or service learning course instruction a plus. 
• Experience working with a college or university service learning program office is a plus.
• Experience working with an evaluation program.
• Understanding of pedagogies associated with ABCS, such service-learning, problem-based learning, and peer-assisted education.
• Ability to work with a wide range of people and communities. 
• A team player with excellent writing, organizational and computer skills who is able to work a flexible schedule and has a deep interest in university-community academic partnerships. 
• A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.

Job Location – City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$43,919.00 – $56,000.00 Annual 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, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile. 

Affirmative Action Statement 

Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements 

Background check 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 

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