Program Coordinator, Entrepreneurship Education & Programs

Program Coordinator, Entrepreneurship Education & Programs

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 Program Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day execution of assigned educational programs and provides operational coordination that strengthens the effectiveness of Venture Lab's Philadelphia-based programming portfolio. This position supports assigned Philadelphia-based programs supporting students and engaging alumni, and will be the primary Coordinator to assume responsibility for new Philadelphia-based programs, supporting the successful implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of strategically important co-curricular initiatives.

Following established processes for assigned programs, the Program Coordinator develops annual work plans and timelines aligned with program goals; coordinates student and stakeholder engagement; supervises student leadership teams, and serves as the primary operational contact for students, alumni, faculty, reviewers, and external partners. The Coordinator supports program financial administration, including expense tracking, policy-aligned budget stewardship, and coordinating with Finance & Administration; maintains program records and CRM data integrity; collects analyzes, and reports program data and key performance indicators; supports donor stewardship through data and participant materials collection, and preparing reports; assesses program performance and recommends improvements; and implements approved operational improvements that enhance program quality, participant experience, and educational outcomes.

In addition to assigned program responsibilities, the Program Coordinator strengthens the operational capacity and visibility of Venture Lab's Philadelphia-based programming portfolio by supporting portfolio-wide reporting and data management, coordinating shared operational resources, and supporting coordination between Programming and Marketing. Supporting the Senior Director, the Coordinator serves as a central point of coordination for program marketing requests, activities, timelines, and routine communications; communicates program priorities and audience needs; facilitates effective collaboration; and provides hands-on support for routine program marketing needs as appropriate. The position also coordinates with Operations, IT, and other functional partners and contributes to the development and improvement of shared processes, organizational initiatives, and special projects that improve the effectiveness and consistency of Venture Lab's Philadelphia-based programming.

This position is hybrid-eligible depending on business needs and evaluation of several factors. Student or alumni facing roles will require more in-person work some weeks than others. This position is contingent upon continued funding.

Job Description Summary

The Program Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day execution of assigned educational programs and provides operational coordination that strengthens the effectiveness of Venture Lab's Philadelphia-based programming portfolio. This position supports assigned Philadelphia-based programs supporting students and engaging alumni, and will be the primary Coordinator to assume responsibility for new Philadelphia-based programs, supporting the successful implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of strategically important co-curricular initiatives.

Following established processes for assigned programs, the Program Coordinator develops annual work plans and timelines aligned with program goals; coordinates student and stakeholder engagement; supervises student leadership teams, and serves as the primary operational contact for students, alumni, faculty, reviewers, and external partners. The Coordinator supports program financial administration, including expense tracking, policy-aligned budget stewardship, and coordinating with Finance & Administration; maintains program records and CRM data integrity; collects analyzes, and reports program data and key performance indicators; supports donor stewardship through data and participant materials collection, and preparing reports; assesses program performance and recommends improvements; and implements approved operational improvements that enhance program quality, participant experience, and educational outcomes.

In addition to assigned program responsibilities, the Program Coordinator strengthens the operational capacity and visibility of Venture Lab's Philadelphia-based programming portfolio by supporting portfolio-wide reporting and data management, coordinating shared operational resources, and supporting coordination between Programming and Marketing. Supporting the Senior Director, the Coordinator serves as a central point of coordination for program marketing requests, activities, timelines, and routine communications; communicates program priorities and audience needs; facilitates effective collaboration; and provides hands-on support for routine program marketing needs as appropriate. The position also coordinates with Operations, IT, and other functional partners and contributes to the development and improvement of shared processes, organizational initiatives, and special projects that improve the effectiveness and consistency of Venture Lab's Philadelphia-based programming.

This position is hybrid-eligible depending on business needs and evaluation of several factors. Student or alumni facing roles will require more in-person work some weeks than others. This position is contingent upon continued funding.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years in higher education, non-profit, or a similar environment with progressively responsible professional experience in program coordination, program administration, project coordination, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Interest in entrepreneurship and innovation and demonstrated ability to quickly develop knowledge of new subject areas, programs, and stakeholder communities.
• Demonstrated ability to independently coordinate multiple programs, projects, and priorities, manage competing deadlines, exercise sound judgment, troubleshoot routine issues, maintain strong attention to detail, and consistently follow through on deliverables in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience coordinating programs, projects, events, or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, including managing timelines, logistics, communications, materials, scheduling, and follow-up to support successful execution.
• Experience coordinating program marketing, communications, or audience engagement activities, such as email communications, website content, newsletters, event promotion, or promotional materials; familiarity with marketing principles and best practices and ability to work effectively with marketing and communications partners.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative working relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, volunteers, external partners, and other stakeholders and to coordinate activities and information across multiple departments or functional areas.
• Experience collecting, maintaining, analyzing, and reporting program and operational data, including tracking participation, outcomes, or other key program metrics; maintaining accurate records and documentation; and using information to support program assessment, planning, and continuous improvement.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to independently prepare clear and professional correspondence, reports, presentations, program materials, and stakeholder communications for a variety of audiences.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills, with demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective processes, documentation, calendars, and workflows that support efficient program operations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience using or learning enterprise technology platforms, databases, CRM systems, event or project management tools, and other business applications used to support program administration and operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in entrepreneurship, innovation, venture capital, startup ecosystems, experiential education, or a similarly dynamic participant-focused environment.
• Experience providing day-to-day guidance, mentorship, or coordination to student employees, interns, volunteers, or student leadership teams, including assigning or coordinating work, providing direction, and supporting successful completion of responsibilities.
• Experience supporting program assessment and evaluation efforts, including tracking outcomes and key performance indicators (KPIs), analyzing participant or program data, preparing reports, and identifying opportunities to strengthen program delivery and participant engagement.
• Demonstrated commitment to delivering exceptional service and creating high quality participant experiences, with the ability to anticipate needs, respond effectively to ques