Future Workforce Coordinator: College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies - UTK

University of Tennessee•Knoxville, TN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is seeking a forward-thinking Future Workforce Coordinator. This role will operate at the intersection of emerging technology, industry, education, and the future of work. The Coordinator will stay informed about workforce trends, translate these changes into meaningful opportunities for CECS learners, and help them understand future career paths, develop necessary skills, and connect their academic preparation to internships, experiential learning, and evolving employment opportunities. Reporting to the Director of Advising, the position involves collaboration with various CECS teams and the Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration (CCDAE). A key focus is connecting learners with internships, apprenticeships, experiential learning, professional development, and employment opportunities that align with their interests and career potential. The Coordinator will manage learner-facing placement processes, maintain learner engagement, and liaise with industry partners. The ideal candidate is curious, innovative, adaptable, and comfortable in a rapidly changing environment, with a passion for defining future career pathways.

Requirements

Master’s Degree with a preference for backgrounds in a technical field.
Experience in workforce development, career development, experiential learning, industry engagement, talent development, or related field.
Strong ability to translate complex or evolving workforce needs into actionable programs and career pathways.
Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building, written, and oral communication skills.
Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
Exceptional attention to detail, initiative, and follow-through.
Demonstrated adaptability, curiosity, initiative, and comfort working in a rapidly changing, fast-paced environment.
Ability to work in a collaborative, team-oriented academic environment across academic, industry, and organizational boundaries, and build effective relationships with campus and multiple stakeholders.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and CRM technology supporting student, workforce, and professional development programs.
Experience with data tracking and outcome measurement.
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-based visa status.

Nice To Haves

Industry work experience in a related field to CECS programs.
Demonstrated proven ability to understand and communicate emerging workforce, technology, and industry trends through former work experience.
Experience coordinating internships, experiential learning, workforce development programs, or student-industry engagement.

Responsibilities

Stay current and up to date on emerging technologies, occupations, workforce trends, and competencies shaping the future of work.
Develop and define experiential learning pathways in emerging fields where traditional career trajectories may not yet exist.
Translate industry needs into actionable career pathways, professional competencies, and workforce preparation for CECS learners.
Connect CECS learner capabilities with evolving industry and workforce opportunities.
Collaborate with the CECS Advising team to assess CECS learners competencies and interests.
Collaborate with CECS Advising team on administrative procedures and learner tracking of all internships and applied experience programs.
Collaborate with the CECS Partnerships and Economic Development team to identify employer partnerships, talent needs, and workforce opportunities by establishing the internships and other applied experiences programs for CECS learners.
Collaborate with the CECS Student Success and Engagement team to assess and match qualified learners with internships, apprenticeships, externships, service learning, research, and other workforce-connected opportunities.
Develop and implement onboarding, participation, documentation, and completion processes.
Maintain learner and employer engagement to address barriers and strengthen experiential learning outcomes.
Prepare learners for emerging careers through resume development, interviewing, networking, professional communication, and workplace readiness in collaboration with CECS teams and CCDAE.
Implement workforce-readiness milestones that prepare learners for internships and employment.
Lead CECS learner workforce development programming, including CECS’s unique RISE pathway and RISE Summit Showcase programs, and coordinate learner-facing engagements with industry professionals, mentors, and employers.
Connect career-ready learners with employment opportunities and support their transition from college into meaningful, gainful employment upon graduation.
Create and maintain CECS Alumni database to keep current on the statuses of all CECS alumni.
Track and assess learner internship trends, learner readiness, experiential learning participation, placement, and employment outcomes.
Track data on learner performance during their time in CECS and upon graduation.
Analyze learner and pathways data to identify gaps, barriers, and emerging opportunities.
Develop reports and recommendations on CECS learners’ experiences to inform CECS leadership on future workforce development strategy and program improvement.
Continuously adapt career pathways and workforce development programming as technologies, industries, and employment opportunities evolve.
Provide individualized learner development and success support focused on goal setting, time management, learning strategies, problem-solving, resource navigation, and other competencies that strengthen persistence and progression toward graduation.
Maintain proactive, sustained engagement with learners through individual meetings, electronic communication, outreach, programming, and student-facing events, providing targeted intervention when barriers arise.
Review progress and relevant learner information to identify needs, inform individualized strategies, and connect learners with appropriate CECS and University resources and opportunities.
Maintain comprehensive knowledge of University academic policies, procedures, resources, and student support systems to help learners navigate academic decisions and successfully progress toward degree completion.
Support intervention and early-alert initiatives through proactive outreach, learner engagement, documentation, referrals, and follow-up.
Engage prospective and current learners through new student orientation, open houses, recruitment activities, admissions programs, and other college and University events.
Utilize student success and case-management systems, including Banner and related technologies, to document learner engagement, monitor progression, coordinate interventions, and support data-informed decision-making.
Contribute to the development, implementation, and assessment of learner success initiatives, using outcomes and learner needs to inform continuous program improvement.