Deputy Director, Center for Climate Adaptation – Resilience

Penn Information Systems & Computing

. Serve as the Center's chief operating officer .

Posted 10/27/2026full-timePhiladelphia • Pennsylvania • United StatesLead💰 $95,136 - $140,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in operations management, program development, and fundraising strategies within research centers or nonprofit organizations. Proven ability to lead teams, manage budgets, and build effective partnerships across various sectors.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Operations ManagementProgram DevelopmentFundraising StrategyTeam SupervisionBudget Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Project TrackingResource AllocationGrant WritingProposal DevelopmentBudget ForecastingPerformance MonitoringStrategic PlanningContract ManagementFunding Opportunity IdentificationDocumentation Processes

Soft Skills

Excellent Communication SkillsExceptional Organizational SkillsCoaching and DevelopmentRelationship StewardshipCommitment to Mission

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor's DegreeMaster's Degree (MBA, MPA, MPP)

Industry Keywords

Nonprofit OrganizationResearch CenterPolicy InstituteFoundationCorporate PartnershipsGovernment ContractsSponsored ResearchPhilanthropyAdvisory Board ManagementPublic Events Coordination

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as the Center's chief operating officer
Manage daily operations across the Urban Resilience Lab, Corporate Resilience Initiative, and RCAR Core
Work with the Faculty Director and unit leads to set priorities, plan and staff projects, and monitor progress and performance
Supervise unit leads and their teams; set performance expectations, coach and develop team members
Coordinate recruitment and onboarding of staff, postdoctoral fellows, and students
Build and maintain operating systems, including project tracking, meeting cadence, quarterly goals, and documentation
Design and execute the Center's funding strategy across foundation grants, government contracts, corporate partnerships, and individual philanthropy
Identify and qualify funding opportunities; lead letters of inquiry, proposals, budgets, and reports
Develop new programs and initiatives and prepare scopes of work and budgets for government and corporate engagements
Forecast funding for staff positions and advise on resource allocation
Steward relationships with government, corporate, foundation, and academic partners
Manage communications, contracting logistics, deliverable schedules, and partner reporting
Oversee the Center's budget, grant and gift accounts, contracts, and expenditures
Ensure grant, contract, and reporting deadlines are met
Develop and maintain the strategic plan and milestones
Convene and support an advisory board and track progress against goals
Support external communications by translating research findings into briefs and materials
Plan and run seminars, convenings, and public events
Coordinate with strategic communications and design teams
Travel to partner sites, convenings, and events approximately 6–10 times per calendar year
Participate in convocation and graduation ceremonies as needed

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree required
Master's degree (MBA, MPA, MPP, or related field) strongly preferred
Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in operations, program management, or fundraising in a research center, nonprofit organization, policy institute, foundation, consulting firm, or comparable setting
At least 3 years supervising staff
Demonstrated success raising funded foundation grants, government contracts, sponsored research, or individual philanthropy
Ability to manage budgets with multiple funding streams
Ability to supervise and develop staff across several teams
Ability to allocate resources according to program needs
Experience building operating infrastructure in a young or fast-growing organization, including project tracking, planning cycles, written processes, and reporting
Excellent written and verbal communication skills across audiences, including senior government officials, corporate executives, foundation program officers, and academic researchers
Exceptional organizational skills and capacity to manage multiple concurrent deadlines requiring advance forecasting
Strong commitment to the Center's mission and to building a healthy, high-performing work environment
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer

Benefits

Comp & perks

Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
Flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children, including at other institutions
Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans
Substantial time away from work
Long-term care insurance
Wellness and work-life programs and resources
Professional and personal development resources
Access to University resources, libraries, athletic facilities, arboretum, art galleries, cultural and recreational activities
Discounts and special services for arts, entertainment, transportation, mortgages, cars, cellular plans, movie tickets, and theme parks
Flexible work hours and flexible work options
Forgivable homeownership loan for eligible employees in West Philadelphia
Adoption assistance for qualified expenses, up to two adoptions in the household