VIP Program Specialist

Penn State University; University Park (TX); On-site; USD 54,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition discount 75%

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

Penn State University in University Park, PA seeks a VIP Program Specialist to lead management, coordination, and outreach for the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP). The role will build structures for growth, assess outcomes, and ensure sustainability across semesters in collaboration with faculty and external partners.

Responsibilities include developing infrastructure, defining VIP elements, and creating communications and access systems, while supervising part-time staff as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 1+ years relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to build structures and processes from scratch for a newly created program.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent responsibilities and relationships across diverse audiences.
• Basic competency in designing data collection processes and tracking metrics.

Responsibilities

• Identifies infrastructure needs and cultivates resources to support VIP project development.
• Works with Oversight Committee and faculty leaders to define VIP elements and train communities of practice.
• Conducts outreach to raise VIP awareness among students, faculty, departments, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborates with VIP leaders to create and manage the VIP website and related access structures.
• Creates and manages data collection from VIP projects and mentors to assess outcomes and metrics.
• Represents Penn State at meetings and may supervise part-time staff.

Skills

Written & verbal comms

Web content management

Program development

Stakeholder relations

Data collection & metrics

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s degree

Job description

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowship Mentoring is hiring a VIP Program Specialist for a new initiative: Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP). The program specialist will provide management, administrative coordination, communication, assessment, and outreach to support the growth, quality, and sustainability of VIP at Penn State. As this is a newly created role, the incumbent will build the structures needed to establish, grow, and sustain these projects over time. VIP is a university-identified priority: multi-year, faculty-led, curricularly integrated projects that support student growth as they work in teams to contribute to project objectives across multiple semesters, frequently in collaboration with external stakeholders.

Responsibilities Include:

• Identifies infrastructure needs and cultivates resources — data collection, software, collaborators — to support VIP project development across Penn State, while serving as point of contact for faculty leaders and student teams
• Works with the Oversight Committee, Faculty Champion(s), and faculty leaders to define VIP elements, ensure VIP consortium compliance, and build faculty trainings and communities of practice
• Conducts outreach to raise VIP awareness among students, faculty, departments, and other stakeholders, and builds structures that promote equitable access to VIP opportunities
• Collaborates with faculty VIP leaders to create and manage the VIP website and related communication and access structures
• Creates and manages data collection from VIP projects and faculty mentors to assess outcomes, tracking enrollment, completion, and satisfaction metrics
• Represents Penn State at internal and external meetings, supports special projects, recommends process improvements, and may directly supervise part-time, student, or temporary employees

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree
• Strong written and oral communication skills: Ability to produce written materials for internal and external stakeholders, manage web content, and communicate program value to prospective faculty and students
• Able to build structures and processes from scratch for a newly created program, manage multiple concurrent responsibilities (outreach, reporting, faculty relations), and keep initiatives moving
• Comfortable cultivating and maintaining relationships across very different audiences: faculty leaders, students, university committees, external community/industry/government partners
• Basic competency in designing data collection processes, tracking metrics (enrollment, completion, satisfaction), and using that data to inform program improvements

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s Degree1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience acceptedRequired Certifications:None

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $54,060.00 - $78,444.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State’s salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.

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