Assistant Director Community Engagement: Division of Access and Engagement - UTK

The Office of Community Engagement and Outreach (OCEO), within the Division of Access and Engagement seeks a full-time Assistant Director to provide leadership in a complex and fast-paced environment. Reporting to the Director of Community Engagement and Outreach, this position provides a key support role in a fast-paced environment for the general support of OCEO. This professional assists with providing management of and support for UT's full continuum of community engagement and outreach initiatives, including community-engaged scholarship. The position provides guidance and individualized support to individuals, organizations, programs, initiatives, and events as we seek to improve the well-being of Tennessee citizens by addressing critical issues affecting citizens, while advancing UT's land-grant mission of teaching, research, and public engagement. The position does include some travel, nights and weekends.

• Manage, plan, and lead new and ongoing community engagement and outreach initiatives.
• Lead and manage office-wide initiatives, including but not limited to the annual Engagement and Outreach Conference, Campus Chest, Nonprofit Day, Community Impact Summit, Community Conversations, Coffee Chats, SMART REU, and various sponsored/co-sponsored initiatives.
• Strategically manage a portfolio of projects that will lead to positive outcomes to report to various audiences, including the state legislature.
• Evaluate program impact, track participation across multiple years, and provide annual assessments of program activities.
• Develop materials to be used in conjunction with educational initiatives such as executive summaries, datasets, fact sheets, etc.
• Assist with the management, progress, evaluations, conference invitations and publishing opportunities for DAE funding recipients.
• Develop initial contact with faculty, staff, and/or community partners to explore potential projects.
• Identify and create new methods to elevate the impact of UT's community engagement and outreach efforts.
• Foster and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with a variety of individuals, community partners, community-based organizations, and alumni.
• Provide guidance to students, staff, postdocs, faculty, and community organizations who wish to leverage interdisciplinary research/scholarship, community dialogue, human capacity, community capacity, and innovation.
• Identify opportunities and create a variety of initiatives that will connect community-based organizations to the University and the University to nonprofits, NGOs, government etc. while expanding and enlarging engagement and outreach locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally.
• Supervise and provide direction to OCEO Coordinator, student workers, interns, and others.
• Identify and develop relationships with community partners who may co-lead collaborative educational sessions and programs as appropriate.
• Collaborate with the Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development, Jones Center for Leadership and Service, Graduate School, and other campus partners to identify ways to partner on joint opportunities.
• Create OCEO's quarterly, semi-annual, and annual impact reports.
• Conduct and provide analyses, reports, and evaluations to divisional leadership as requested.
• Assist the Executive Director of Access and Engagement with statistics and data-related projects.
• Oversee various special projects and cross-functional initiatives.
• Represent OCEO and the division at various campus and community event and on a variety of working groups and committees.

Educational Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree

Required Experience/Skills/Competencies

• Minimum 3-5 years of relevant experience
• Experience functioning in a fast-paced, dynamic environment required
• Ability to manage multiple projects.
• High level of personal initiative.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office software including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate and interact effectively with faculty, staff, administrators, students, community partners, and stakeholders.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Excellent organizational and problem solving skills.
• Excellent grammar and proofreading skills.
• Detailed oriented.
• Possess a strong, proven record of teamwork.
• Capable of working individually and in a team environment.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.

Preferred Experience/Skills/Competencies

• Master’s degree
• Experience working with university-community partnerships
• Experience working with college faculty and college students
• Knowledge and experience with event management

Work Location

• Knoxville, TN: onsite

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR11
• Anticipated hiring range: $62,000-$67,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

For full consideration, interested individuals should submit the following materials:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Contact information for 3 professional references

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!