DSS Coach - Rocky Top Scholars - UTK

University of Tennessee • Knoxville, IA

12d • $49,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The DSS Coach for Rocky Top Scholars provides proactive, intentional academic support to students in the four-year, cohort-based Rocky Top Scholars program. The program offers comprehensive student development opportunities in academic and career development, financial wellness, and community engagement for students receiving UT Promise, Pledge, and Flagship scholarships.

The coach builds meaningful relationships with assigned students and helps them understand their strengths, set goals, and support their academic success and well-being. Using data and referrals from faculty and staff, the coach identifies students who may benefit from short- or long-term intrusive academic support and conducts strategic outreach. Coaching may address time management, learning strategies, goal-setting, and referrals to campus resources. Sessions take place in structured office settings and in convenient, less-structured locations across campus.

Alongside managing a student caseload, the coach develops knowledge of the assigned student population and relevant office resources. The role also includes maintaining accurate appointment and progress records, implementing programming, designing student resources, delivering workshops, supporting assessment, and contributing to departmental and university-wide student success initiatives. The position is onsite in Knoxville, Tennessee. The anticipated hiring range starts at $49,000 (UT market range MR8).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 1 year of experience mentoring, coaching, or advising undergraduate or high school students; experience as a student leader or graduate assistant may count.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States full-time without requiring employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• 1–2 years of experience mentoring, coaching, or advising undergraduate students as a full-time higher education professional.
• Familiarity with student development theories and coaching methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized, group, and/or classroom coaching to support students’ academic, career, and personal development.
• Use strengths-based approaches to help students set and achieve goals related to academic success, career exploration, and personal growth.
• Develop divisional coaching competencies and expertise in the assigned unit’s area of focus.
• Empower students, foster self-efficacy, and support well-being through strengths-based coaching.
• Manage an assigned student caseload and conduct check-ins as needed to provide ongoing support.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to identify students who may need additional coaching.
• Maintain accurate records of coaching sessions and student progress using university-approved systems.
• Participate in departmental initiatives, professional development, strategic planning, the RTS care team, and program assessment.
• Manage academic alerts and outreach associated with the RTS care team and assigned RTS caseload.
• Deliver workshops and design student-facing resources for student success.
• Serve on committees or task forces supporting university-wide student success initiatives, as assigned.
• Conduct outreach and participate in student events to promote coaching services and recruit participants.
• Assist office leadership with administrative tasks such as reporting and data analysis, including data collection and timely, consistent appointment notes.
• Develop knowledge of the needs of the assigned student population and the resources available through the assigned office.
• Implement programming and design resources for students.

Benefits

• Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and development and training opportunities.
• The university describes its employee values as focusing on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level