Job description

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 of Social Media, Wharton Executive Education (Hybrid-Eligible)

Job Profile Title
Associate Director C, Business and Finance, Communications and Marketing

Job Description Summary
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 Associate Director of Social Media, Wharton Executive Education leads the strategy, content planning, and day-to-day execution of Wharton Executive Education’s organic social media presence, including Wharton Online social media accounts.

The role reports jointly to the Director, Marketing Communications (WEE Marketing) and the Sr. Director, Social & Digital Media of the Wharton School Marketing and Communications Department (Wharton MarComm), and works across both teams to ensure social content is brand-aligned, timely, and effective.

This role brings Wharton Executive Education’s portfolio to life through social-first content that builds awareness, deepens engagement, and supports lead generation and enrollments.

The Associate Director partners closely with MarComm and WEE colleagues to develop content and campaigns and will also create content independently when appropriate for social channels.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Lead social media strategy and content planning across Wharton Executive Education and Wharton Online organic channels, including development of an integrated editorial calendar aligned to portfolio priorities (brand awareness, engagement, and lead generation). Manage organic social plans, themes/series, and key moments; guide content briefs and priorities; and optimize distribution across owned channels (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube).
• Build and maintain strong, highly collaborative relationships with Wharton School MarComm team to share and cross-promote overarching school content. Collaborate with MarComm to develop content and ensure alignment with brand standards, best practices, and amplification opportunities. Facilitate similarly collaborative relationships with WEE colleagues across internal teams as well as faculty to craft a dynamic, elevated content strategy that illustrates the unique experience of the Wharton Executive Education participant and positions Wharton faculty as thought leaders in their respective fields.
• Own day-to-day channel execution across Wharton Executive Education and Wharton Online organic social accounts, including publishing, optimization, and real-time/post-program coverage of classroom experience, events, and announcements. Create social-first content and coordinate timely repurposing of approved assets for social distribution. Lead community management efforts, including daily monitoring of and engagement with relevant conversation. Explore new methods of deepening community engagement among Exec Education LinkedIn Groups for past participants and alumni (where applicable).
• Monitor, analyze, and report on social media performance against internal goals, competitors, and industry benchmarks. Collaborate with Director to implement editorial changes based on measurement insights. Develop reports, including key insights and recommended actions, for Team and Leadership to summarize key social media activity and special events. Lead social media listening efforts; identify, elevate, and react to spikes in conversation from a client relations, customer service, and/or media relations standpoint.
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Media or similar field
• 3-5 years of professional marketing and communications experience; at least 3 years of experience managing social media for an institution, organization, media outlet, or agency
• Excellent written skills, experience creating content for social media (e.g. capturing photos and videos; editing graphic templates) and proven ability to represent a brand on social media
• Expertise working in and with social media platforms, publishing and analytics tools, as well as a firm understanding and interest in new and emerging platforms, technologies, and trends.
• Strong news judgment and ability to originate social media content ideas and tailor them to each platform
• Ability to analyze trends and respond strategically to the rapidly changing digital environment
• Ability to explain social media and social media data in an understandable manner
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Experience covering events in real-time
• Experience working with content creators and/or sourcing user-generated content
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines, manage multiple concurrent and competing tasks and responsibilities, prioritize work, and adapt to changing priorities
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with multiple teams simultaneously
• Proactive, self-starter who can work both independently and as part of a tea
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Must be available to work non-standard hours, including occasional weekends
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in content creation and production, including graphic design, professional photography and/or video editing
• Knowledge and experience in other areas of digital marketing, including paid social media advertising, SEO, CRM, and Google Analytics
• Knowledge of and passion for the business world, Wharton and/or Penn experience preferred

Job Location – City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Wharton School

Pay Range
$77,330.00 – $77,500.00 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, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements
Background checks may be 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

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

How to apply

To apply, visit