Job Description
Reporting to the Assistant Director for Internship Development, the Internship Development Coordinator plays a key role in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the VOLintern program and broader internship initiatives within the Employer Relations Team in the Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration. This position is responsible for advancing program strategy and growth, including developing internship opportunities, expanding partnerships, and designing program structures that enhance access to experiential learning for students across majors.
In addition to program development, the coordinator manages day-to-day program operations, including coaching VOLintern students, executing core program elements, serving as a primary contact for employer and student engagement, and coordinating internship logistics. This role serves as both a strategic and operational partner to employers and campus stakeholders, ensuring program quality, scalability, and positive outcomes for students and employer partners.
Responsibilities
PROGRAM OPERATIONS COORDINATION (35%)
- Lead the day-to-day operational management of the VOLintern Program, including coordinating student application cycles, interview processes, placement logistics, and maintaining accurate program records to ensure efficient program delivery
- Oversee the implementation and delivery of onboarding materials, host site communications, and support resources for student interns, ensuring a consistent and effective internship experience
- Collect, track, and maintain participation data, hiring outcomes, feedback, and employer engagement metrics to support ongoing program monitoring and reporting.
- Execute established outreach and engagement activities to support participation in the VOLintern program, including coordinating information sessions, employer engagement events, and communications campaigns
- Coordinate relationships with campus offices and internship host sites to facilitate internship placements and ensure alignment with program requirements
- Manage documentation and compliance processes related to contractual forms, partnership agreements, and VOLintern position descriptions, ensuring adherence to university standards and risk mitigation practices
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGIC EXPANSION (25%)
- Lead the strategic development and continuous evolution of the VOLintern program, identifying opportunities for growth, innovation, and alignment with institutional priorities
- Design and implement strategies to expand internship opportunities, with a focus on increasing access for students in low-outcome majors
- Develop and refine program structures, policies, and processes to enhance scalability, effectiveness, and student career outcomes
- Build and advise employer and campus partnerships to co-create high-impact internship experiences aligned with career readiness competencies and workforce needs
- Identify gaps in experiential learning opportunities and develop targeted strategies to address unmet student and employer needs
- Collaborate with leadership to shape program direction and ensure alignment with broader Employer Relations, Career Development, and Student Success strategies
STUDENT EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT (20%)
- Conduct site visits with VOLintern students to provide individualized career coaching, including debriefing internship experiences, translating skills to post-graduation opportunities, and identifying tailored next steps aligned with student interests and career goals
- Co-develop and administer VOLintern program requirements in partnership with the Assistant Director, including overseeing student completion of professional development components and ensuring alignment with program expectations
- Design and deliver student-facing programming, including pre- and post-internship workshops, career development sessions, and supervisor trainings focused on internship preparation, skill articulation, and professional growth
- Coordinate the integration of the Vol Edge curriculum into the VOLintern experience, embedding modules and professional development milestones into onboarding and offboarding processes to support institutional completion goals
- Track and assess student engagement and completion of program requirements, analyze outcomes and feedback, and implement improvements to enhance the student learning experience
- Manage relationships with student interns and host sites to ensure a high-quality internship experience, maintain compliance with program standards, and proactively address issues or risks
- Administer program assessments related to student experience and supervisor feedback, and collaborate with CCDAE and DSS Analytics to refine evaluation methods and inform continuous program improvement
CAMPUS OUTREACH AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (15%)
- Create internship resources around best practices and assist in facilitation of internship roundtables with faculty and staff.
- Partner with on-campus employer and the CCDAE team to design and implement resources that embed UTK Career Competencies in student positions
- Develop and disseminate resources across campus designed to elevate the student employment experience through the integration of UTK career competencies into student employment roles
- Create relationships with on-campus internship coordinators to coordinate the connection of employers to specific college staff
- Serve as a resource for campus offices on internship creation best practices
OTHER TEAM, DEPARTMENTAL, DIVISION & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES (5%)
Team:
- Support other Employer Relations Team efforts including orienting employers to UTK recruiting, researching and staying informed of employer development and employer industry trends, and identifying and suggesting areas for growth and new opportunities to leadership
Departmental:
- Serve department to ensure most effective operations of the department, analyze long-term impact of decisions and plans, and establish and evaluate standards of performance.
- Assist in planning, implementing, and staffing other departmental activities, events, and programs that are in line with the center’s mission, including career fairs and major events, departmental marketing and community outreach.
Divisional:
- Participate in division activities that are in line with the overall mission of the Division of Student Success.
Professional:
- Participate in professional development activities to ensure professional growth and knowledge needed to provide effective leadership.
- Investigate employment trends and hiring practices and train center staff on such information
- Participate in various local, state, regional, and national organizations such as, chambers of commerce, SoACE and NACE to increase employment opportunities for students and alumni.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Education:
- Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree by date of hire; One year of experience in customer service, event coordination, and developing and executing communications strategies; experience in higher education, employer engagement, or student programming preferred – will accept student experience
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships and professional networks with internal and external stakeholders.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a professional demeanor and the ability to work independently.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated goal-setting and achievement abilities, along with proficiency in database management and other essential computer skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Knowledge of employment trends and ability to research economic development.
Work Location
- Location: Knoxville, TN
- Onsite
Compensation and Benefits
- UT market range: MR6
- Anticipated hiring range: $46,000 – $49,000
- Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
- Find more information on UT Benefits here
Application Instructions
To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted.
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- List of 3 Professional References
About Us
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees-the Volunteers-who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!
Job Info
- Job Identification 8167
- Job Category Student Services
- Posting Date 05/20/2026, 10:51 AM
- Job Schedule Full time
- Locations 1331 Circle Park, Knoxville, TN, 37996, US
Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), ADEA (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the (EEO). Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the EEO office.
