Assistant Director, Undergraduate Research - Office of Undergraduate Research &
Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Knoxville, TN, United States
Assistant Director, Undergraduate Research - Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowship - UTK
Knoxville, TN, United States
Job Description The Assistant Director (AD) for Undergraduate Research in the Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships (OURF) leads efforts to enhance undergraduate student engagement in research and creative activities across disciplines. This role involves managing wide-ranging programs, including (but not limited to) grants, symposia, workshops, a student research journal, student ambassadors, and professional development initiatives, to provide transformative experiential learning opportunities. The Assistant Director works collaboratively with campus partners— including faculty, departments, and students/student organizations—to promote research opportunities broadly.
The AD also supports the Director and Associate Director in the ongoing assessment and refining of existing programs and the strategic proposal and development of new ones in support of office, division, and institutional goals. Related to this responsibility is the proactive support of faculty and graduate student undergraduate research mentors. In addition, the AD will work with the Director, Associate Director, and Assistant Director of Fellowships to explore and develop opportunities and techniques for collaboration across OURF's functional areas—with the principal goals of expanding and diversifying the pool of fellowships candidates and more robustly, directly, and strategically supporting undergraduates seeking not only internal, but also external research funding and opportunities. The AD also supports division-wide priorities, including the Vole Edge, Vol Connect, DSS Express, and other student-facing priorities.
Responsibilities Management and Refinement of Undergraduate Research Programs
Manage semester and summer research assistantship and support programs, to include assisting with the launch and refinement of a new, student-focused application process
Liaise with faculty, staff, and students, as well as external partners to enhance undergraduate research on and off campus
Create, refine, and lead semester and summer undergraduate research enrichment programming
Create, refine, and teach the new undergraduate research asynchronous course for preparing new researchers
Oversee multiple campus undergraduate research exhibitions, including the Summer Research Symposium, Discovery Day, and EUReCA
Liaise with the Vol Edge Program to find moments of synergy in student support
Support the work of the Director and Associate Director by making substantial contributions in the areas of undergraduate research program assessment, annual reporting, identifying budget priorities, and new program proposals and development
Supervise one OURF Coach (full-time employee)
Undergraduate Student Engagement and Outreach to Encourage and Increase Student Participation in Undergraduate Research
Advise/Co-advise PURSUIT (undergraduate research journal) and the Undergraduate Research Ambassadors (URA)
Supervise student employees (social media and peer ambassadors)
Present on undergraduate research opportunities to classes, departments, offices, and student groups; at campus events and programs; and at OURF-led seminars, workshops, and information sessions
Work with office leadership and division communications staff on communications planning and execution (website, social media, newsletter, promotional materials, etc.)
Integrate Vol Connect and DSS Express in student engagement initiatives
Professional Development and Engagement with Division and Campus Committees, as well as State, National, and International Organizations Focused on Undergraduate Research and Fellowships
Active engagement with Undergraduate Research Advisory Council (URAC)
Active engagement with CUR
Participation in division's various committee work and initiatives
Cross-Functional Office Collaboration and Process Improvement
Collaborate with Director, Associate Director, and Assistant Director for Fellowships to develop opportunities and techniques for collaboration across OURF's functional areas—with the principal goals of expanding the pool of fellowship candidates
Support fellowship application review, interview processes, writing support, student advising, and workshops
Advise at least one fellowship based on background and office needs
Other Duties as Assigned Qualifications Required Qualifications Education:
Master’s Degree
Experience:
Experience working with undergraduate research programs on a university campus, preferably in an administrative role
Experience working with faculty, staff, and offices across functional areas of a university
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Advanced knowledge of best practices in undergraduate research programming
Advanced knowledge of the populations on a university campus and the various opportunities and potential needs presented by a large, varied student population
Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion while working effectively 1-on-1 and in groups with students, faculty, staff, and external audiences
Ability to remain organized and composed under the pressure of deadlines and high-volume times of year
Strong communication skills, including public speaking skills (necessary to present effectively to large and varied audiences) and written communication skills (necessary to develop and strengthen student writing)
Ability to take direction, initiate action, develop ideas into programs, and work as a collaborative team member
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.
Preferred Qualifications Education:
Doctoral Degree
Experience:
Three+ years of relevant experience
Experience at the university level with academic advising, writing support, or teaching
Experience mentoring students
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Knowledge of nationally competitive awards and current trends and issues in fellowships advising
Knowledge of other types of experiential learning in a higher education context, such as international education, service-learning, and internships
Ability to supervise and develop staff
Work Location Location: Knoxville, TN
Onsite
Compensation and Benefits UT market range: M10
Anticipated hiring range: Minimum $61,500
Job Info
Job Identification 7572
Job Category Student Services
Posting Date 03/31/2026, 08:28 PM
Job Schedule Full time
Locations 1331 Circle Park, 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 veteran status.
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 EEO office.
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Job Description The Assistant Director (AD) for Undergraduate Research in the Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships (OURF) leads efforts to enhance undergraduate student engagement in research and creative activities across disciplines. This role involves managing wide-ranging programs, including (but not limited to) grants, symposia, workshops, a student research journal, student ambassadors, and professional development initiatives, to provide transformative experiential learning opportunities. The Assistant Director works collaboratively with campus partners— including faculty, departments, and students/student organizations—to promote research opportunities broadly.
The AD also supports the Director and Associate Director in the ongoing assessment and refining of existing programs and the strategic proposal and development of new ones in support of office, division, and institutional goals. Related to this responsibility is the proactive support of faculty and graduate student undergraduate research mentors. In addition, the AD will work with the Director, Associate Director, and Assistant Director of Fellowships to explore and develop opportunities and techniques for collaboration across OURF's functional areas—with the principal goals of expanding and diversifying the pool of fellowships candidates and more robustly, directly, and strategically supporting undergraduates seeking not only internal, but also external research funding and opportunities. The AD also supports division-wide priorities, including the Vole Edge, Vol Connect, DSS Express, and other student-facing priorities.
Responsibilities Management and Refinement of Undergraduate Research Programs
Manage semester and summer research assistantship and support programs, to include assisting with the launch and refinement of a new, student-focused application process
Liaise with faculty, staff, and students, as well as external partners to enhance undergraduate research on and off campus
Create, refine, and lead semester and summer undergraduate research enrichment programming
Create, refine, and teach the new undergraduate research asynchronous course for preparing new researchers
Oversee multiple campus undergraduate research exhibitions, including the Summer Research Symposium, Discovery Day, and EUReCA
Liaise with the Vol Edge Program to find moments of synergy in student support
Support the work of the Director and Associate Director by making substantial contributions in the areas of undergraduate research program assessment, annual reporting, identifying budget priorities, and new program proposals and development
Supervise one OURF Coach (full-time employee)
Undergraduate Student Engagement and Outreach to Encourage and Increase Student Participation in Undergraduate Research
Advise/Co-advise PURSUIT (undergraduate research journal) and the Undergraduate Research Ambassadors (URA)
Supervise student employees (social media and peer ambassadors)
Present on undergraduate research opportunities to classes, departments, offices, and student groups; at campus events and programs; and at OURF-led seminars, workshops, and information sessions
Work with office leadership and division communications staff on communications planning and execution (website, social media, newsletter, promotional materials, etc.)
Integrate Vol Connect and DSS Express in student engagement initiatives
Professional Development and Engagement with Division and Campus Committees, as well as State, National, and International Organizations Focused on Undergraduate Research and Fellowships
Active engagement with Undergraduate Research Advisory Council (URAC)
Active engagement with CUR
Participation in division's various committee work and initiatives
Cross-Functional Office Collaboration and Process Improvement
Collaborate with Director, Associate Director, and Assistant Director for Fellowships to develop opportunities and techniques for collaboration across OURF's functional areas—with the principal goals of expanding the pool of fellowship candidates
Support fellowship application review, interview processes, writing support, student advising, and workshops
Advise at least one fellowship based on background and office needs
Other Duties as Assigned Qualifications Required Qualifications Education:
Master’s Degree
Experience:
Experience working with undergraduate research programs on a university campus, preferably in an administrative role
Experience working with faculty, staff, and offices across functional areas of a university
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Advanced knowledge of best practices in undergraduate research programming
Advanced knowledge of the populations on a university campus and the various opportunities and potential needs presented by a large, varied student population
Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion while working effectively 1-on-1 and in groups with students, faculty, staff, and external audiences
Ability to remain organized and composed under the pressure of deadlines and high-volume times of year
Strong communication skills, including public speaking skills (necessary to present effectively to large and varied audiences) and written communication skills (necessary to develop and strengthen student writing)
Ability to take direction, initiate action, develop ideas into programs, and work as a collaborative team member
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.
Preferred Qualifications Education:
Doctoral Degree
Experience:
Three+ years of relevant experience
Experience at the university level with academic advising, writing support, or teaching
Experience mentoring students
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Knowledge of nationally competitive awards and current trends and issues in fellowships advising
Knowledge of other types of experiential learning in a higher education context, such as international education, service-learning, and internships
Ability to supervise and develop staff
Work Location Location: Knoxville, TN
Onsite
Compensation and Benefits UT market range: M10
Anticipated hiring range: Minimum $61,500
Job Info
Job Identification 7572
Job Category Student Services
Posting Date 03/31/2026, 08:28 PM
Job Schedule Full time
Locations 1331 Circle Park, 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 veteran status.
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 EEO office.
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