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

Executive Director, McGraw Center for Educational Leadership

 

 

Job Profile Title

Director D, Academic Affairs, Academic Center

 

 

Job Description Summary

The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE) seeks a seasoned, collaborative leader to serve as Executive Director of the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership. The Executive Director will combine strategic vision with hands-on leadership, driving initiatives that advance leadership development across preK-12 education, higher education, corporate and lifelong learning, and nonprofit sectors. This position calls for an action-oriented leader who thrives on collaboration and is committed to ensuring impact through both strategic planning and execution. The Executive Director will elevate the McGraw Center to become the premier hub for educational leadership resources nationwide and enhance Penn GSE’s global reputation in this area.

 

 

Job Description

About Penn GSE

For 110 years, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE) has defined success by our positive impact on society. Today, Penn GSE is known worldwide for rigorous scholarship, high-quality instruction, and impactful, innovative practice. Our academic programs span the educational landscape, producing some of the most highly sought-after educators, leaders, researchers, counselors, and entrepreneurs. Our faculty are widely regarded as leading experts in their fields, our students bring a deep commitment to impact, and our dedicated staff are committed to realizing our mission every day. Penn GSE alumni, numbering nearly 20,000, lead transformative educational change in over 90 countries. Our work is rooted in the belief that education is a public good—essential to a just and thriving society.

 

Strategic Vision

In November 2024, under the leadership of Dean Katharine Strunk, Penn GSE launched Together for Good, a bold and collaborative strategic vision to guide the School over the next decade. The vision responds to a defining moment in education, marked by both urgent challenges and unprecedented opportunities, positioning Penn GSE to lead transformative change across the educational landscape. It centers on four interconnected priorities: preparing and sustaining a highly skilled education workforce; collaborating with communities near and far on programs and scholarship for the public good; innovating by bridging theory and practice to conduct educational research with consequence; and elevating education’s role within a democratic society.

 

The McGraw Center for Educational Leadership is a vital engine for bringing this vision to life. With its cross-sector reach and commitment to cultivating capacious, impact-oriented leaders, the Center embodies Together for Good in action. By building leadership capacity across preK–12, higher education, corporate and lifelong learning, and nonprofit sectors, the Center helps Penn GSE strengthen the educator pipeline, foster meaningful collaboration, and drive systemic change.

 

The McGraw Center for Educational Leadership

Established in 2022 by a $10 million gift from the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation, the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership is a hub for innovation and collaboration, dedicated to advancing educational leadership across K-12, higher education, corporate and lifelong learning, and nonprofit sectors. Through a blend of research, professional learning, and practice, the Center cultivates leaders who can drive systemic change and address the evolving challenges of education and learning today and tomorrow. By partnering with educators, policymakers, and thought leaders globally, the McGraw Center supports a wide community of leaders committed to educational excellence.

 

The Center’s signature programs, including the prestigious Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education, position it at the forefront of shaping the future of educational leadership. The Center also now houses two longstanding Penn GSE programs: the Center for School Study Councils (f. 1941), which supports regional superintendents and district leaders, and the Coalition for Educational Excellence (f. 2004), which partners with schools and districts to close opportunity and achievement gaps. These programs anchor the Center in decades of practitioner-informed leadership development and extend its reach through professional learning communities across the region and beyond. The McGraw Center forms an integral part of Catalyst @ Penn GSE. Led by Michael Golden, Ed.D., Vice Dean of Innovative Programs and Partnerships, Catalyst is a hub for global education innovation and impact, with the mission of connecting people and ideas to develop novel and meaningful ways to advance innovation in world-wide education. Catalyst’s programs cut across sectors to serve educators, entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers, investors, business leaders, and others with a stake in education’s power to create opportunity for all learners. Catalyst partners with diverse stakeholders to create, test, adapt, and disseminate impactful practices and tools to help educators and leaders eliminate opportunity, achievement, and attainment disparities and support equitable outcomes for all learners.

 

Our Next Executive Director

The Executive Director will lead a center dedicated to shaping the future of educational leadership across sectors. The ideal candidate for this role will bring extensive experience in educational leadership, with a deep understanding of the leadership continuum spanning Pre-K through postsecondary education and extending into corporate and lifelong learning, and nonprofit environments. This position demands not only a strategic visionary but a “doer” with an action orientation, ready to build the center’s capacity in its early years of operation.

 

The Executive Director will work closely with colleagues across Penn GSE, as well as with partners throughout the educational landscape, to drive impactful initiatives. Penn GSE’s outstanding faculty, reputational excellence, and collaborative spirit will provide critical support for the Executive Director in developing programs and convening gatherings that benefit multiple constituents—students, alumni, local, national, and global thought leaders, scholars, and practitioners. In addition to advancing new initiatives, the Executive Director will guide the continued integration and growth of the Center for School Study Councils and the Coalition for Educational Excellence.

 

The Executive Director will report directly to the Vice Dean of Innovative Programs and Partnerships with a dotted-line reportage to the Penn GSE Dean. They will also collaborate closely with the directors and faculty of our leadership programs to ensure the success of the Center’s mission.

 

Qualified and interested candidates may also be considered for a Senior Fellow designation, additionally compensated, which entitles them to teach within relevant academic programs.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership and Strategy Development: Provide strategic direction for the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership, aligning initiatives with Penn GSE’s Strategic Vision, the goals of Catalyst @ Penn GSE, and broader educational leadership objectives.
• Design and Implementation of Programs: Design, implement, and assess cutting-edge programs that enhance cross-sector, integrative leadership development across preK-12 education, higher education, corporate and lifelong learning, and nonprofit sectors. Promote and enable inter-programmatic experiences for students and alumni of Penn GSE’s educational leadership degree programs to encourage intellectual cross-pollination on the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of leadership. Collaborate with leadership program faculty to develop co-curricular and professional learning experiences that advance the Center’s mission and goals.
• Program Oversight and Integration: Oversee and strengthen two existing programs now housed within the McGraw Center, including the Center for School Study Councils and the Coalition for Educational Excellence. Manage program directors and sustain and evolve programming to meet emerging needs of education leaders, ensuring their integration into the Center’s broader strategy for cross-sector leadership development.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivate strong buy-in and engagement from internal and external stakeholders, including Penn GSE partners, external experts, students, alumni, and leaders across sectors. Regularly consult with these stakeholders to integrate current trends and ensure the Center’s initiatives receive broad support. Engage alumni, donors, faculty, and students in the mission of the Center, creating opportunities for community involvement and feedback.
• Resource Development and Stewardship: Secure funding through grants, gifts, and strategic partnerships to realize the fullest vision of the Center. Manage the Center’s budget and financial resources to ensure its long-term sustainability and growth.
• Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education: Lead the prestigious Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education, maintaining its legacy of recognizing innovative leaders in the field of education with associated programming and thought leadership.
• Thought Leadership: Serve as a thought leader in educational leadership by representing the Center at conferences, in media, and in public forums. Foster a culture of innovation and research in educational leadership practices. Develop and disseminate innovative practices and cutting-edge research that can inform the field.
• Research and Advocacy: Collaborate with faculty experts at Penn GSE to drive research initiatives on new trends, best practices, and challenges in educational leadership. Advocate for evidence-based policies and practices that advance equitable leadership in education.

 

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required; Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent strongly preferred. Degree can be in fields related to education, learning, leadership, corporate or organizational learning, or related areas.
• 5 – 7 years of leadership experience in educational, nonprofit, or corporate settings with a strong track record of developing and executing programs at the intersection of education and leadership. Strong managerial experience within a matrix organization. Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills, with a track record of driving progress with and without direct authority.
• A history of success in securing substantial funding through grants, gifts, and partnerships, with a strong ability to develop and execute fundraising and resource development strategies. Expertise in cultivating relationships with key donors, partners, and grant-makers to enhance impact.
• Experience with budget management, ensuring responsible allocation of resources, and aligning financial management with strategic goals.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders within Penn GSE and across educational sectors, including educators, policymakers, researchers, donors, and community leaders.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to serve as a public advocate and thought leader in educational leadership, delivering presentations, and engaging with diverse audiences.

 

 

Job Location – City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

 

Department / School

Graduate School of Education

 

 

Pay Range

$110,500.00 – $200,000.00 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, 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.

About Organization

The University of Pennsylvania is one of the oldest universities in America and, as a member of the Ivy League, one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in all the world. Penn is home to 12 schools including the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Nursing, the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Wharton School of Business, as well as several graduate and professional schools such as the Perelman School of Medicine.