Job Details

Job Description

The Assistant Director (AD) for Undergraduate Research in the office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships (URF) 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 URF's functional areaswith the principal goals of expanding and diversifying the pool of fellowships candidates and more robustly, directly, and strategically supporting diverse 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 Existing Undergraduate Research Programs

• Manage semester and summer research assistantship programs, to include liaising with faculty, staff, and students, as well as external partners
• Manage semester and summer undergraduate research enrichment programming
• Manage multiple campus undergraduate research exhibitions, including the Summer Research Symposium, Discovery Day, and EUReCA
• Manage conference travel grants program
• 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
• URF Coach (full-time employee)

Undergraduate Student Engagement and Outreach to Encourage and Increase Student Participation in Undergraduate Research

• Advise PURSUIT (undergraduate research journal) and the Undergraduate Research Ambassadors (URA)
• Present on undergraduate research opportunities to classes, departments, offices, and student groups; at campus events and programs; and at URF-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 URF's functional areaswith the principal goals of expanding the pool of fellowships candidates
• Support fellowships application review, interview processes, writing support, student advising, and workshops

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree
• Experience: Experience working with diverse undergraduate researchers, faculty undergraduate research mentors, and undergraduate research programs on a university campus; Experience conducting and disseminating independent research; 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, diverse student population; Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion and work effectively and professionally 1-on-1 and in groups with students, faculty, staff, and external audiences; Demonstrated ability to organize complex events on a university campus; Ability to work well and remain organized and composed under the pressure of deadlines and high-volume times of year; Public speaking skills necessary to present effectively to large and diverse audiencesprimarily students, but also faculty, staff, and external partners; Advanced skill in written communication and ability to work effectively with diverse students seeking to develop and strengthen their research/project statement-writing; Knowledge of research methods of an academic field and ability to initiate and execute independent academic research; Ability to take direction, initiate action, develop ideas into programs, and work as a collaborative team member; Ability to supervise and develop staff; Skills to leverage data and student success technologies in order to make informed, timely decisions

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 undergraduate research; Experience writing for scholarly publication and successful grant applications
• 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

Work Location

• Knoxville, TN

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: 10
• Anticipated hiring range: Minimum $55,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

For best consideration applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references.

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 that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.

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!