Project Manager – Computational Social Science Lab

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The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Project Manager – Computational Social Science Lab

Job Profile Title

Manager Research Project A

Job Description Summary

The Computational Social Science Lab is an organization for the research initiatives of Duncan Watts, a PIK Professor affiliated with Wharton, SEAS, and Annenberg, which seeks novel, replicable insights into societally relevant problems by applying computational methods to large-scale data.
The Lab aims to facilitate progress in computational social science and to establish Penn as a global leader and standardsetter in CSS. One new initiative is the development of a real-time bias detector to track bias and misinformation in the news.
Reporting to the Lab’s Managing Director, the Project Manager will manage the development, implementation, and advancement of the bias detector. The Project Manager will be responsible for defining the project scope, setting timelines, coordinating team efforts, and ensuring project milestones are met.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Project Planning and Management: Plan and manage the development and implementation of the bias detector, including setting timelines, coordinating team efforts, and ensuring project milestones are met.

• Stakeholder Management: Liaise with media partners, technical developers, academic researchers, and other stakeholders to present project updates and findings, incorporate feedback into development processes, and share reports and updates for internal and external communication teams

• Team Leadership and Development: Build and mentor a multidisciplinary team, fostering a collaborative environment and encouraging professional growth

• Evaluation: Work with stakeholders to create an evaluation plan; implement testing and evaluation processes to ensure the tool’s accuracy and reliability and successful development

• Budget and Resource Management: Manage the project’s budget, resources, and logistics, ensuring efficient use of resources and financial accountability

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Data Science, Social Sciences) and a minimum of one year of proven experience in project management, especially in tech or research-focused environments or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Strong technical background, with understanding of AI, machine learning, and data analysis.

• Excellent communication and leadership skills. Experience in stakeholder engagement and partnership development.

• This role requires a balance of technical expertise, project management skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.

Job Location – City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Pay Range

$51,824.00 – $65,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile. 

Affirmative Action Statement 
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements 
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn’s exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you’ll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay