Basic Needs Resource Navigator TEMP- Center for Basic Needs - UTK

The Basic Needs Resource Navigator supports the Center for Basic Needs by serving as the first point of contact for students and campus partners, managing front-line communications, and coordinating referrals to university and community resources. This role also assists with initial review and delegation for Basic Needs Consultation requests and referrals, supports program operations and outreach efforts, and ensures students receive timely, ongoing support.

The Basic Needs Resource Navigator plays a key role in the day-to-day operations of the Center for Basic Needs. This position serves as the first point of contact for students, families, faculty, and staff who reach out via phone, email, or in person, responding to questions, making appropriate referrals, and delegating inquiries to the appropriate staff or campus partners.

Responsibilities include:

• Serving as the front-line contact for phone, email, and walk-in inquiries from students, families, faculty, and staff
• Responding to questions, making referrals to university and community resources, and appropriately routing communications to staff or partners
• Supporting the Basic Needs Consultation process by:
  • Conducting initial review of student consultation requests and referrals
  • Determining whether a case should be opened or referred elsewhere
  • Assisting with follow-up communications to ensure ongoing student support
• Maintaining accurate records and notes of student interactions and support
• Providing administrative support to basic needs programs and outreach efforts, including UT to West TN, Barbershop Pop-Ups, and Vols Swipe Out Hunger drives
• Assisting with general office coordination, communications, and logistics to maintain efficient day-to-day operations, which may include supporting the operations of the Big Orange Pantry or Smokey’s Closet
• Contributing to a welcoming and responsive environment that centers student care and access to resources

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Experience: Experience with providing front-lines customer services

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: Experience supporting students or individuals
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Knowledge of university or community resources related to basic needs

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville, TN
• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

• Anticipated hiring range: Commensurate with education and experience

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

About The College/Department/Division

The Center for Basic Needs provides comprehensive basic needs resources, advocacy, and support with the vision that all students have their essential needs met in order to learn, lead, and serve at the University of Tennessee and beyond.

College students’ basic needs encompass essentials crucial for their personal well-being and academic success. Specifically, these include secure housing, reliable food access, healthcare services, transportation options, financial resources, academic support, and personal safety (Maslow, 1943; The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, n.d.). Meeting these needs is paramount in creating a supportive environment that enables students to focus on their studies, personal growth, and overall success at the university.

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 that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.

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!