Assistant to the Director, Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies

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.

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.

Job Description Summary

Provide administrative support for the Director of the Katz Center and act as a liaison between the center, Advisory Board, Donors, the Administration, other academic units, and outsider partners.

Job Description

The Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania is driven by the mission to deepen and broaden the understanding of Jewish history, texts, cultures, ideas, and experiences. The research it supports spans all periods of Jewish history, from distant antiquity through to the present day; it reaches into every part of the globe where Jews have lived, and it is grounded in a wide range of disciplines and approaches. Over the decades, after supporting hundreds of scholars and untold numbers of discoveries and publications, it has earned a reputation as the nation’s preeminent research center in the study of Jewish history and culture.

It did not secure this status overnight. The Katz Center is heir to an intellectual legacy that is more than 110 years old, developing out of an earlier institution known as the Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning, founded in 1907 as the first secular institution to grant PhDs in Jewish studies. From Dropsie, the Katz Center has inherited some of the features that define its success such as the core of its Judaica library and the Jewish Quarterly Review, but in the quarter-century since it merged into the University of Pennsylvania, it has come to reflect Penn’s strengths and has advanced its mission in key ways. Especially relevant is Penn’s commitment to “integrated knowledge,” its investment in bringing different disciplines and approaches together in ways that lead scholarship in new directions. The Katz Center is organized around this idea of integrated knowledge, using its fellowship program and other activities to bring scholars from different fields and disciplines together to pursue research in a collaborative setting.

The Katz Center is committed to creating an intellectual space welcoming to all scholars regardless of nationality, religious orientation, racial or ethnic identity, gender identity and expression, professional rank, or institutional affiliation.

Job Responsibilities/Duties:

• Provide support to the Director of the Center by managing schedules and organizing Zoom and in-person meetings. Responsibilities include proofreading, signing, and converting documents, adding letterhead and signatures, submitting expense reports, and maintaining records of proposals and funding for Director-led projects. Additionally, coordinate travel arrangements, assist with forms, and handle document scanning as needed.

• Support the Director in developing, implementing, and managing the Center’s development initiatives. Responsibilities include sending and tracking acknowledgements and thank-you letters to donors, compiling and entering information on history, gifts, proposals, and contacts into the database, and serving as the primary liaison to the SAS Office of Advancement. Additionally, coordinate the distribution of annual reports to donors.

• Support the coordination of various board meetings, including those of the Board of Advisors. Responsibilities include managing and updating lists, information, and bios as needed, organizing biannual board meetings and events for over 20 participants across different time zones, and maintaining files on board members. Additionally, assist with board nominations and removals, including reporting to University trustees, and help the Director acknowledge gifts and new pledges.

• Provide day-to-day administrative support and assist with special projects for the Director. Cover the front desk in the Receptionist’s absence and offer occasional staff support during large events.

• Handle the processing of the Director’s expense reports and reimbursements.

• Purchase Order requisitioner and add vendors/guests In Penn Marketplace, responsible for ensuring the supplier completes the registration process and provides any necessary information or documentation.

Qualifications:

High School degree with 5 to 7 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, is required. Excellent oral and written communication skills required. Must have strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects at same time. Must possess proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite to effectively navigate email and electronic calendaring. Must have impeccable customer service skills. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

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.

To learn more about Penn Benefits and Pay, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay