Pennsylvania State University logo

Pennsylvania State University

VIP Program Specialist

🇺🇸 University Park, Pennsylvania 🕑 Full-Time 💰 $54K - $78K 💻 Other 🗓️ September 24th, 2026

Edtech.com's Summary

Penn State University is hiring a VIP Program Specialist to manage and coordinate the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) initiative. The specialist will oversee administrative coordination, outreach, communication, assessment, and resource development to support and grow multi-year, faculty-led student projects across the university.

Highlights
  • Manage infrastructure needs, data collection, software, and collaboration support for VIP project development
  • Serve as a point of contact for faculty leaders and student teams involved in VIP
  • Work with the Oversight Committee and faculty to define VIP program elements and ensure compliance
  • Conduct outreach to raise awareness and promote equitable access to VIP opportunities among students and faculty
  • Create and manage VIP website and communication platforms
  • Collect and analyze data on enrollment, completion, and satisfaction metrics to assess program outcomes
  • Represent Penn State at internal and external meetings and support special projects
  • Preferred qualifications include a Master’s degree and strong communication skills
  • Minimum requirements: Bachelor’s degree and 1+ years of relevant experience or equivalent
  • Salary range: $54,060.00 - $78,444.00 with competitive benefits including tuition discounts

VIP Program Specialist Full Description

VIP Program Specialist
Penn State University Park
Full time

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:


Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants
 
POSITION SPECIFICS
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowship Mentoring is hiring a VIP Program Specialist for a new initiative: Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP). The program specialist will provide management, administrative coordination, communication, assessment, and outreach to support the growth, quality, and sustainability of VIP at Penn State. As this is a newly created role, the incumbent will build the structures needed to establish, grow, and sustain these projects over time. VIP is a university-identified priority: multi-year, faculty-led, curricularly integrated projects that support student growth as they work in teams to contribute to project objectives across multiple semesters, frequently in collaboration with external stakeholders.

Responsibilities Include:
  • Identifies infrastructure needs and cultivates resources — data collection, software, collaborators — to support VIP project development across Penn State, while serving as point of contact for faculty leaders and student teams
  • Works with the Oversight Committee, Faculty Champion(s), and faculty leaders to define VIP elements, ensure VIP consortium compliance, and build faculty trainings and communities of practice
  • Conducts outreach to raise VIP awareness among students, faculty, departments, and other stakeholders, and builds structures that promote equitable access to VIP opportunities
  • Collaborates with faculty VIP leaders to create and manage the VIP website and related communication and access structures
  • Creates and manages data collection from VIP projects and faculty mentors to assess outcomes, tracking enrollment, completion, and satisfaction metrics
  • Represents Penn State at internal and external meetings, supports special projects, recommends process improvements, and may directly supervise part-time, student, or temporary employees

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's degree
  • Strong written and oral communication skills: Ability to produce written materials for internal and external stakeholders, manage web content, and communicate program value to prospective faculty and students
  • Able to build structures and processes from scratch for a newly created program, manage multiple concurrent responsibilities (outreach, reporting, faculty relations), and keep initiatives moving
  • Comfortable cultivating and maintaining relationships across very different audiences: faculty leaders, students, university committees, external community/industry/government partners
  • Basic competency in designing data collection processes, tracking metrics (enrollment, completion, satisfaction), and using that data to inform program improvements
 
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONSBachelor's Degree
1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience 
accepted
Required Certifications:
None
 
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
 Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa.  Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
 
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $54,060.00 - $78,444.00.
 
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
 
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive.  We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.