Engineering Coordinator of Internships and Apprenticeships

Ferrum College•Ferrum, VA

13d

About The Position

Ferrum College is seeking an organized, relationship-focused Coordinator of Internships and Apprenticeships to develop and manage experiential learning opportunities for students. The position connects the College with employers and industry partners to establish high-quality internship and apprenticeship placements, oversee program registration and compliance, strengthen employer partnerships, and help align academic credentials with workforce needs. The Coordinator manages registration and compliance for official state and federal Registered Apprenticeship Programs, maintains audit-ready records, and ensures credit-bearing placements align with accreditation frameworks and College policies. The role also establishes and facilitates an Employer Advisory Council, gathers employer input about workforce needs, and shares recommendations with academic departments. The Coordinator identifies and finalizes placement agreements, prepares and matches students with external hosts, and conducts site visits and evaluations. The position collaborates with academic leaders, faculty, Enrollment Management, employers, students, and workforce partners to integrate hands-on training into degree programs and promote apprenticeship and credential opportunities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Higher Education, Human Services, or a closely related field.
Three to five years of experience in career services, corporate recruiting, workforce development, or managing experiential learning programs.
Familiarity with state and federal apprenticeship laws, Department of Labor compliance requirements, or structured workforce training initiatives.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to present confidently to executive-level corporate partners and diverse student populations.
Familiarity with career services management platforms such as Handshake or Symplicity, CRM software, and Microsoft Office applications.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Higher Education, Human Services, or a closely related field.
Background in developing employer partnerships and coordinating internship or apprenticeship programs.
Knowledge of workforce development initiatives and employer engagement strategies.
Ability to collaborate across academic departments and external organizations to develop career pathways aligned with industry needs.

Responsibilities

Manage registration, regulatory tracking, and compliance requirements for state and federal Registered Apprenticeship Programs.
Serve as the primary contact for external labor, workforce, and government compliance agencies.
Maintain accurate, audit-ready documentation of student hours, safety requirements, master-apprentice ratios, and program benchmarks.
Ensure credit-bearing internships and apprenticeship placements align with regional accreditation frameworks and College policies.
Establish, organize, and facilitate an Employer Advisory Council with partners in corporate, agricultural, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors throughout southwestern Virginia.
Conduct surveys and focus groups with advisory council members to identify workforce skills, technology proficiencies, and professional credentials.
Translate employer feedback into actionable recommendations for academic departments to support curriculum development and modernization.
Identify, evaluate, and finalize formal agreements for internship and apprenticeship placements that support student retention and future employment opportunities.
Coordinate student outreach, preparatory training, and matching workshops to align student career interests with external hosts.
Conduct on-site visits and evaluations to monitor student progress, review workplace safety, and address employer feedback.
Work with academic chairs, faculty, and the Enrollment Management division to develop pathways integrating hands-on workforce training into degree programs.
Collaborate on marketing and recruitment materials for specialized apprenticeship and credential programs.
Build and maintain productive relationships with employers, faculty, students, and external workforce partners.