About University of Pennsylvania
What is the University of Pennsylvania?
The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia. Penn calls itself "America's first university," with "a history that dates back to 1740." Twelve schools sit on a West Philadelphia campus of "299 acres, 225 buildings (excluding hospital)," among them Wharton, the Perelman School of Medicine and Carey Law. Penn's own figures put its regular workforce at 21,045 faculty and staff, with 45,461 more in the Health System.
Where will I work?
Roles are based across the West Philadelphia campus, the Health System and outlying sites. Penn's flexible work programme covers flextime, hybrid and fully remote arrangements, plus a compressed work week defined as: "A traditional 35- to 40-hour work week is condensed into fewer than five days of work." Penn publishes worked examples — for a 40-hour post, "10-hour days (plus one hour each day for lunch) Monday through Thursday with Friday off." The university is candid about the trade-off, warning that "an ongoing schedule of ten-hour or nine-hour days" can be "physically and mentally draining." Arrangements are agreed with a manager and HR designee, then recorded in Workday.
What is the University of Pennsylvania team like?
Penn employs roughly 28,000 people across twelve schools, central administration, libraries, research centres, IT, finance and facilities, alongside some 6,000 faculty members. Postings on Careers at Penn span research, clinical, technical and administrative staff work.
Work-Life Balance
Penn's compressed week condenses existing hours into fewer days rather than reducing them; the long days are the explicit cost. Paid time off accrues by service: 20 days a year for the first two years, 22 days from two years and 24 days from three, on top of nine recognised University holidays. Staff whose schedules do not fall on a holiday "are eligible for a compensatory day(s) in lieu of the holiday." Penn also closes for a Special Winter Vacation — "the weekdays between the Christmas Day and New Year's Day holidays are designated as special winter vacation days," giving staff "time off with pay between the fall and spring semesters." Paid parental leave provides "up to a maximum of four (4) weeks," and where both parents work at Penn, both are eligible.
Perks and Benefits
- Penn contributes up to 5% of base pay to the Basic plan automatically, and matches Matching Plan contributions "dollar for dollar" up to a further 5%.
- Tuition covering "100% of the tuition general, and technology fees at Penn for up to two course units per term" after six months, 75% for dependent children and 50% for a spouse after three years.
- 20 to 24 days of paid time off, plus nine holidays and the Special Winter Vacation closure.
- Four medical plans, all including prescription, behavioural health, dental and vision; the high-deductible option adds a Penn HSA contribution of $1,000, or $2,000 with dependents.
- Up to four weeks of paid parental leave.
- Adoption assistance reimbursing "up to $10,000 in qualified adoption expenses," and Carrot Fertility with "a flat $30,000 lifetime maximum."
- Up to ten days of subsidised back-up childcare a year, at $15 per child per day.
- Life insurance, plus optional Genworth long-term care cover with no underwriting if you apply when newly hired.