Assistant Director, Quattrone Center

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

Assistant Director, Quattrone Center

Job Profile Title

Manager E, Research

Job Description Summary

The Assistant Director oversees the day-to-day operations of assigned sections of the Quattrone Center’s research portfolio, including the supervision of departmental employees, providing advice and guidance to faculty researchers working with the Center, and managing all aspects of research personnel activity, including the development and use of training initiatives, audit manuals, and standard operating procedures.
The Assistant Director collaborates with the Quattrone Center Executive Director and Academic Director on strategy development for all operational activities and ensures that appropriate research strategies are aligned with institutional and project objectives. The Assistant Director will develop best practices, methods, techniques, and operational standards for research across the Quattrone Center.
Assistant Director ensures streamlined and standardized processes, eliminates redundancies, and ensures sound financial stewardship of space, equipment and expenditures. Assistant Director partners with the Law School Business Office, the University’s Office of Research Services, and other finance and administration offices throughout the University as needed to manage research budgets and ensure accurate allocation of personnel.
The Assistant Director develops and maintains collaborative partnerships with organizations and individuals both internal and external to the University, and acts as a liaison between and among key stakeholders (e.g., commercial partners, alumni, industry and legislators). The Assistant Director is responsible for direct communication of Center and research priorities to these stakeholders to ensure execution of goals and milestones through regular meetings, status updates, and other written communications.
Where appropriate, the Assistant Director operationalizes and oversees the data collection, archival and reporting of clinical trials metrics. Assistant Director establishes data collection methodologies, data validation, and the implementation of reporting technologies and oversees internal audits to ensure adherence to quality standards, operational best practices, and to identify potential risks.
The Assistant Director is responsible for participating in, the overall conceptualization, planning and execution of a coordinated program of scholarly and scientific research for the Quattrone Center.
The Assistant Director reports to the Executive Director of the Quattrone Center, and works closely with the Center’s post-doctorate Fellows, the faculty and staff of the Law School, and the Center’s Advisory Board, as well as criminal justice professionals, advocacy groups, and students, promoting their active involvement and orchestrating the use of their time and talent to advance the Center’s portfolio and public profile.

Job Description

• Supervise professional staff, students, and researchers from the law school and other schools and/or scientific disciplines who design, conduct, and report on research in areas of interest to the Quattrone Center, including (but not limited to):  errors in the administration of criminal justice, aggregation of criminal justice data, evaluation of biases in the administration of justice, understanding of incentives and disincentives for criminal justice practitioners, policy recommendations to enhance the fair administration of justice, etc.;
• Oversee data-driven research projects in areas of interest to the Quattrone Center, including the management of budget, audit and associated administrative oversight;
• Oversee the Center’s recruitment and hiring process for post-doctoral Quattrone Research Fellows;
• Work with Center directors and associated faculty to engage, cultivate, and steward partnerships with criminal justice policy and practitioner organizations and world-class researchers across multiple academic, professional and scientific disciplines to enable innovative and unbiased research on topics of priority for the Center;
• Participate in the production and dissemination of original research on topics such as those listed above;
• Advocate for best practices supported by the Center’s research;
• Participate in grant-writing and other internal and external fundraising initiatives for the Center;
• Additional activities to support the Center’s research as appropriate.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree and 7-10 years of experience required or an equivalent combination of education and experience; advanced degree (JD, Ph.D., MA) preferred
• Familiarity with and appreciation of the role and mission of the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice and the Law School and its relationship to the University, as well as understanding of the criminal justice system; strong ability to articulate that role and interact comfortably with the broad range of individuals and constituency groups crucial to the advancement of the Law School and the Center
• Solid strategic and administrative skills and the ability to establish objectives, set performance standards, and organize and motivate staff, faculty, and volunteers to achieve research goals in timely and cost-effective fashion;
• Demonstrated ability to partner with government agencies and/or public organizations to conduct research or to implement change;
• Demonstrated capacity for data-driven research;
• Strong written and oral communication skills;
• Ability to function independently, yet relate comfortably to a centralized framework for research and development, participating in and contributing to a total team effort
   

Job Location – City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Law School

Pay Range

$74,476.00 – $115,000.00 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.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay