Assistant Director For Student Advocacy
Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Knoxville, TN, United States
Reporting to the Director of Student Advocacy, the Assistant Director provides leadership and operational oversight for the Center for Student Advocacy. The position helps set goals and priorities; develops and implements policies and procedures; supervises professional and student staff; and supports key functional areas including the Tennessee Family Experience and Student Government Association (SGA) advising. The Assistant Director leads outreach and partnership initiatives and collaborates closely with Student Life Communications to support strategic communications efforts. The position also represents the center on university teams and committees.
Responsibilities
25% - Administration: Provide vision, leadership, and oversight of Center services and programs; support budgeting and policy/procedure development; Partners with Student Life Communications on Tennessee family communication strategies; serve as a primary consultant for family advocacy; participate in Center leadership; support recruitment, hiring, and training of student coordinators; ensure compliance with best practices; prepare reports as requested.
25% - Communication, Outreach, and Partnerships: Partners with Student Life Communications to coordinate public relations and communications (including coordinating web updates, reports, and publications); grow Student Advocacy through campus and community outreach and partnerships; serve on and chair select university teams.
20% - Personnel Management: Supervise professional coordinator staff and student coordinators; provide direction/feedback on expectations and procedures; develop professional development opportunities (e.g., NASPA, AHEPPP, SACSA, SEC Exchange); assist with annual intern/practicum recruitment.
20% - Education and Programming: Develop, coordinate, and implement Tennessee Family Experience initiatives focused on communication, advocacy, social programming, and volunteer opportunities; assist with other Center programming/education; review and advise Student Government Association outreach and programming.
10% - Advising: Serve on the SGA advisement team; advise SGA legislative functions; advise student leaders on policies/procedures; empower student leaders and advocate for students; attend meetings and programs; maintain strong collaborative relationships with SGA, university leadership, and supporters.
Qualifications Required Qualifications
Education: Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, public administration, or a related field.
Experience: Four (4) years of related work experience.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Strong interpersonal communication (oral/written) and listening skills; ability to collaborate with internal and external constituents and foster positive, productive relationships; ability to make sound decisions.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience: Experience in a higher education environment; experience advising student organizations; experience in case management; demonstrated commitment to the educational and holistic development of students.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Knowledge of trends/issues affecting students and families (including legal issues, programming, and national trends); knowledge of student development and learning theory and application; knowledge of assessment practices (learning outcomes and reporting); strong presentation, organization, and supervision/management skills.
Work Location
Onsite, Hybrid, or Remote: Onsite (campus-based). Occasional evening/weekend hours and occasional overnight travel may be required.
Compensation and Benefits
UT market range: MR10
Find more information on the UT Market Range structurehere
Find more information on UT Benefitshere
Application Instructions To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before March 17, 2026
Resume
List of 3 Professional References
About the College/Department/Division The Division of Student Life is comprised of an outstanding group of professionals who create student-centered opportunities that contribute to a transformative Volunteer Experience. These opportunities allow students to grow their skills and knowledge outside of the classroom. From health and wellness to service and engagement, we provide opportunities where students exemplify the Volunteer Spirit, inspiring others to
learn, lead, and serve .
Our departments provide essential services that support student success and future growth, fostering engagement, leadership, and wellness while enhancing belonging. Together, they create transformative experiences that help students achieve both academic and personal goals.
About Us 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 to attract and retain top‑tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.
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!
Job Info
Job Identification 7138
Job Category Student Services
Posting Date 03/06/2026, 02:29 PM
Job Schedule Full time
Locations 1502 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37996, US
EEO/AA STATEMENT / NON-DISCRIMINATIONSTATEMENT The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteranstatus.
Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), ADEA (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the (EEO). Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the EEOoffice .
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Responsibilities
25% - Administration: Provide vision, leadership, and oversight of Center services and programs; support budgeting and policy/procedure development; Partners with Student Life Communications on Tennessee family communication strategies; serve as a primary consultant for family advocacy; participate in Center leadership; support recruitment, hiring, and training of student coordinators; ensure compliance with best practices; prepare reports as requested.
25% - Communication, Outreach, and Partnerships: Partners with Student Life Communications to coordinate public relations and communications (including coordinating web updates, reports, and publications); grow Student Advocacy through campus and community outreach and partnerships; serve on and chair select university teams.
20% - Personnel Management: Supervise professional coordinator staff and student coordinators; provide direction/feedback on expectations and procedures; develop professional development opportunities (e.g., NASPA, AHEPPP, SACSA, SEC Exchange); assist with annual intern/practicum recruitment.
20% - Education and Programming: Develop, coordinate, and implement Tennessee Family Experience initiatives focused on communication, advocacy, social programming, and volunteer opportunities; assist with other Center programming/education; review and advise Student Government Association outreach and programming.
10% - Advising: Serve on the SGA advisement team; advise SGA legislative functions; advise student leaders on policies/procedures; empower student leaders and advocate for students; attend meetings and programs; maintain strong collaborative relationships with SGA, university leadership, and supporters.
Qualifications Required Qualifications
Education: Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, public administration, or a related field.
Experience: Four (4) years of related work experience.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Strong interpersonal communication (oral/written) and listening skills; ability to collaborate with internal and external constituents and foster positive, productive relationships; ability to make sound decisions.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience: Experience in a higher education environment; experience advising student organizations; experience in case management; demonstrated commitment to the educational and holistic development of students.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Knowledge of trends/issues affecting students and families (including legal issues, programming, and national trends); knowledge of student development and learning theory and application; knowledge of assessment practices (learning outcomes and reporting); strong presentation, organization, and supervision/management skills.
Work Location
Onsite, Hybrid, or Remote: Onsite (campus-based). Occasional evening/weekend hours and occasional overnight travel may be required.
Compensation and Benefits
UT market range: MR10
Find more information on the UT Market Range structurehere
Find more information on UT Benefitshere
Application Instructions To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before March 17, 2026
Resume
List of 3 Professional References
About the College/Department/Division The Division of Student Life is comprised of an outstanding group of professionals who create student-centered opportunities that contribute to a transformative Volunteer Experience. These opportunities allow students to grow their skills and knowledge outside of the classroom. From health and wellness to service and engagement, we provide opportunities where students exemplify the Volunteer Spirit, inspiring others to
learn, lead, and serve .
Our departments provide essential services that support student success and future growth, fostering engagement, leadership, and wellness while enhancing belonging. Together, they create transformative experiences that help students achieve both academic and personal goals.
About Us 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 to attract and retain top‑tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.
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!
Job Info
Job Identification 7138
Job Category Student Services
Posting Date 03/06/2026, 02:29 PM
Job Schedule Full time
Locations 1502 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37996, US
EEO/AA STATEMENT / NON-DISCRIMINATIONSTATEMENT The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteranstatus.
Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), ADEA (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the (EEO). Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the EEOoffice .
#J-18808-Ljbffr