About Summer Discovery

Our mission is to provide best-in-class, immersive summer college enrichment experiences that perfectly balance courses curated by top tier universities in diverse fields of study, with opportunities for students to have fun, travel and explore new places with new friends. 

We support students in their mission to deepen their knowledge of their academic passion and foster college-ready confidence through hands-on learning experiences in their preferred field of study. We are the industry trailblazers, applying nearly sixty years of learning, refinement and relationship building into what we do each day. 

Simply put, our team is obsessed with summer and determined to help our students excel, building lifelong skills, embracing intellectual curiosity, innovation, and a love of learning.  

We partner with world-class universities including UCLA, University of Michigan, and University of Pennsylvania’s portfolio of programs including the School of Arts and Science, Law, and Wharton Global Youth to run programs where students learn, have fun, and thrive.

What’s the job?

The UPenn Campus Manager will be responsible for overseeing the high-profile business relationship between Summer Discovery and the University of Pennsylvania pre-college programs. The UPenn Campus Manager will be the primary point of contact for all program matters concerning the client. The role includes maintaining operational control over and providing exemplary service to enrolled students, pre- and post-arrival on campus. This role will play a large part in creating and influencing a company-wide culture of putting the customer first. 

A critical aspect of this role is developing deep expertise in the Penn Arts & Sciences High School Programs, becoming intimately familiar with all course offerings, faculty, program structures, and student outcomes to effectively support the partnership year-round and provide expert guidance to prospective families.

The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, patient, empathetic, and passionately communicative with the ability to resolve conflicts efficiently and professionally. Experience in luxury brands client service is a plus. Our clients expect a very high level of service and this person will be excited to work with families after they enroll, answering questions and proactively communicating along the way. Your goal will be to make every client feel like they made the best decision to send their children on a program with us.

Summer Discovery is a growing company with a seasonal business, so flexibility and the ability to pivot will be important. You will work hard, occasionally in the evenings, and during the summer, you will spend extensive time on campus and will work to run the program.

Experience is important. We are looking for someone with a demonstrated track record of providing team leadership, exemplary customer service, conflict resolution, surprising and delighting clients, and working with clients who expect a very high level of service.

The UPenn Campus Manager will live residentially for 7-11 weeks on campus during the summer in an administrative role, working closely with campus operations and student life programming. 

The candidate should be based in the Northeast USA area to maintain close proximity to the University of Pennsylvania for ongoing relationship management and program development.

Responsibilities

• Spend at least 7 weeks on campus during the summer in an administrative role, overseeing daily operations and student programming 
• Serve as the primary contact and liaison between Summer Discovery and the Client 
• Demonstrate operational experience in planning, implementing, and executing a summer residential life experience for the Client 
• Develop comprehensive expertise in Penn Arts & Sciences High School Programs, including detailed knowledge of all course offerings, faculty profiles, academic requirements, and program outcomes 
• Maintain year-round presence in Philadelphia/NYC area for ongoing relationship management and program development 
• Help the Managed Program team to grow summer programs with this Client (and others, as needed) 
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for summer and executing programs at the highest levels of service 
• Answer questions from families about Penn Summer Programs 
• Call families and welcome them to their program, work with individual families from enrollment to post-campus 
• Respond quickly to customer inquiries 
• Process pre-campus student forms 
• Host regular zoom meetings for clients 
• Maintain and manage client outreach calendar, hitting all deadlines 
• Develop and sustain strong working relationships across all functions of the business 
• Conduct regular program assessments and provide detailed feedback to enhance offerings
• Visa letter management for international students
• Program compliance oversight and monitoring
• Summer staff onboarding and training coordination
• Pre-summer, summer, and post-summer operational tasks management
• Overall financial management including end of summer reconciliations
• Management of part-time and seasonal team members working with Penn programs

Core Competencies

• Self-starter who is resourceful, driven, and capable of handling multiple projects at one time and meeting deadlines 
• Ability to lead a team for operational and client services excellence 
• Skills in client management communication and conflict resolution 
• Ability to service international and domestic clients 
• Ability to work independently in a very fast-paced, deadline-driven environment while efficiently and effectively managing competing priorities 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills 
• Strong organizational skills with strong ability to plan, prioritize, and organize work effectively to produce measurable results 
• The ability to assess situations accurately and determine appropriate action 
• Deep analytical skills to understand and articulate complex academic program structures 
• Geographic flexibility to maintain presence in the Northeast USA area and spend extended periods on campus

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Education, Hospitality Management, or a related field is required.
• A minimum of 3-5 years of experience in operations management, preferably in an educational, summer program, or multi-site environment. Preferred experience in managing both direct-to-consumer services and private label partnership service delivery, with a focus on ensuring customer experience success
• Demonstrated experience managing campus-based operations, including logistical planning, facility management, and adherence to operational guidelines and protocols. Experience with summer programs or educational enrichment activities is highly desirable.
• Experience with Microsoft technologies (Outlook, Office 365) and Google Workspace (Google Drive) 
• Salesforce experience highly desired 
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders, including university partners, students, parents, and program staff.
• Ability to commit to at least 7-11 weeks of on-campus administrative role during summer operations.

Salary range: $75,000 - $85,000 annually.  In addition to a competitive base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, retirement savings plans, and generous paid time off. Employees also have access to performance bonuses, summer differential plan, professional development opportunities, and various perks that promote work-life balance.

Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory employment background check. 

Summer Discovery embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.