Program Design & Development Lead – Local Government Services

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants .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 .This position is funded for 7 months; continuation past 7 months will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

POSITION SPECIFICS Penn State Outreach is seeking a strategic and entrepreneurial leader to design and develop a new program supporting local governments across the Commonwealth. This role will lead the creation of a comprehensive initiative focused on training, assistance, and service delivery to support elected officials, municipal staff, and community partners.

The Program Design & Development Lead will guide a structured design process that integrates stakeholder engagement, research and benchmarking, program architecture, and enterprise model development. The outcome of this work will be a scalable, implementation-ready program that positions Penn State as a trusted resource for local government services.

This is a unique opportunity to shape and build a community serving high-impact program, leveraging Penn State’s academic strengths, outreach mission, and commitment to community engagement and support.

Reporting to Penn State Outreach’s Senior Strategy and Innovation Officer and working closely with the Vice President for Outreach and other Outreach leadership, Program Design & Development Lead will:

Lead development of the overall program vision, framework, and service model for local government services

Define core service lines, including training, workforce development, and advisory services

Engage and build relationships with elected officials, municipal staff, and statewide associations to inform program design

Conduct market analysis and benchmarking of peer programs to identify gaps, opportunities, and differentiators

Develop a high-level curriculum framework for target audiences including various delivery models (in-person, hybrid, and online)
Develop revenue strategies, pricing approaches, and partnership opportunities

Develop a phased implementation roadmap and pilot program design with key performance indicators (KPIs) and evaluation methods

Prepare recommendations for long-term program leadership and sustainability MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS If filled as Community Engagement Specialist
- Senior Professional, this position requires:

Bachelor's Degree6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted

Required

Certifications:

None If filled as Community Engagement Specialist
- Advanced Professional, this position requires:

Bachelor's Degree3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted

Required

Certifications:

None The successful candidate will have:

Demonstrated experience working in and with local governments

Experience in program design, strategic planning, or organizational development

Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skillsA robust network of local government contacts throughout Pennsylvania Experience working with local government related professional organizations in Pennsylvania Knowledge of public sector training and workforce development practices and opportunities

Experience designing hybrid or online learning programs

This is a hybrid role based at the University Park campus in University Park, PA.About Penn State Outreach Penn State Outreach is a leading provider of lifelong learning and community engagement, connecting the University’s…