Community Development Internship Jobs in Virginia

Purpose of the position
The Regional Internship Manager will be part of a mission-driven team working to strengthen Virginia's economy and shape the future of talent development in the Commonwealth. The Manager will be responsible for creating meaningful partnerships with employers, educational institutions, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), and other stakeholders across the region to increase employer awareness of and participation in quality paid internship programs and matching grants from the Innovative Internship Fund. Work is performed under the general supervision of the EO staff, but as a VEDP intermediary for Regions 1 and 2, EO's Regional Internship Manager will have the same performance expectations as VEDP's other Regional Internship Managers and will be included in VEDP communications related to the role. This is a highly mobile position and will require travel throughout the region as well as to VEDP's Richmond office and in-state conferences.
The Regional Internship Manager will help companies in GO Virginia Regions 1 and 2 (Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Buchanan, Campbell, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Roanoke, Russell, Pulaski, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe Counties and the Cities of Bristol, Covington, Galax, Lynchburg, Norton, Radford, Roanoke, Salem) develop internship programs, connect with potential interns, and access the matching grant program. The Manager's responsibilities include business outreach and engagement, internship program development and grant support, partner engagement and program promotion, and data tracking.
Essential functions
Business outreach and engagement (40%)

• Develop and execute a strategy to identify, engage, and educate regional businesses on the value of internships through group sessions and one-on-one meetings
• Coordinate with VEDP staff and partners to connect with companies interested in developing or growing internship programs
• Focus on outcomes including companies successfully hiring interns and growing their internship programs

Internship program development and grant support (30%)

• Advise businesses on designing and implementing high-quality internships that meet the company's needs, including helping the company write effective internship job descriptions and post internship opportunities on a technology platform
• Facilitate online training sessions on effective components of high-quality internship programs
• Guide businesses through the matching grant program, including assistance applying for the matching grant, submitting requests for reimbursement, progress tracking, and post-grant surveys
• Stay informed about best practices and emerging trends in internships and contribute to program improvement and expansion
• Participate in regular staff meetings and training sessions

Partner engagement and program promotion (20%)

• Actively promote the program to partners, companies, and students through various channels, including events, presentations, and partner collaboration
• Build strong partnerships with higher education, workforce, and industry organizations and participate in regional partner meetings

Data tracking, reporting, and evaluation (10%)

• Enter all company engagements, matching grant applications, and reimbursements in Salesforce (access provided by VEDP) in order to be tracked along with the program outcomes

Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to work in a culture of high service, high support, and high expectations in serving business community
• Consultative sales approach and adept at diagnosing client pain points, influencing decisions, and crafting innovative, value-driven proposals
• Resilience and tenacity in pursuing leads and following up to drive progress toward program goals
• Strong networking skills with an ability to move comfortably and credibly in the community
• Proven ability to build trust and long-term relationships with clients and stakeholders
• Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to listen actively, ask insightful questions, and effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders
• A professional and resourceful style with the ability to work independently and effectively across internal and external teams
• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail
• Effective time management skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize workload, and meet deadlines
• Accuracy and timeliness in record-keeping, data entry, and compliance reporting
• A solid understanding of the high-quality paid internship model, including effective recruitment and hiring practices
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications especially Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
• Proficiency in using CRM for tracking interactions, managing pipelines, data management, and reporting

As an intermediary for VEDP in the region, the Regional Internship Manager must follow
VEDP's Operating Principles:
One VEDP - Work together as a collaborative and supportive team. Demonstrate a consistent commitment to our organizational purpose by contributing to team objectives, regardless of role or title. Value others for their contributions and support collective success.
Authentic Partnerships - Build strong partnerships based on integrity, authenticity, and
respect. Consistently do the right thing. Show sensitivity and empathy to others, respecting the dignity and rights of every individual. Develop trust by consistently acting fairly, honestly, and responsibly in all matters and holding self and others accountable.
Distinctive Insight - Cultivate deep expertise and diverse perspectives. Communicate with clarity, accuracy, and consistency, both verbally and in writing, to provide meaningful insight and guidance across the organization. Engage diverse perspectives and ensure that everyone who is integral to a given project or process is fully informed, regardless of division or structure.
Growth Mindset - Embrace continuous improvement with humility and boldness. Exercise
sound judgment. Strive to perform every job or action in a superior way. Address top priorities first, identify root causes to problems, offer sound solutions, seek feedback, and view challenges as opportunities to learn.
Results Focus - Compete with the grit to win and the curiosity to learn from our results. Provide exceptional service and value to both internal and external customers. Consistently demonstrate action and follow-through in achieving desired outcomes. Deliver work that meets or exceeds performance standards and expectations.
Work environment
This position is based in the Radford, Virginia office. Local travel required 60-70% of the time and some out-of-town overnight stays.
Physical demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Position type and expected hours of work
Employee should be able to work core hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with frequent meetings, events, and possible emergencies outside of core hours.
Travel required
The ideal candidate will reside in the service area and be available to attend early morning, evening, and/or weekend meetings and should be able to travel independently throughout the region as well as to VEDP's Richmond office and in-state conferences.
Certificates, licenses, registrations required

• Valid driver's license and automobile insurance
• Reliable high-speed home internet

Required education and experience

• Bachelor's or master's degree in business development, marketing, sales, employer relations, project management, or a related field, with a minimum of two years of relevant experience

Preferred education and experience

• Familiarity with the assets and community dynamics of GO Virginia Regions 1 and 2
• Experience coordinating or supporting internship programs
• Proficiency with Salesforce or similar customer relationship management (CRM) systems

Affirmative Action/EEO statement
EO is an equal employment opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered for vacancies without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age, or status as a veteran or other category protected under applicable state or municipal law. EO will reasonably accommodate the disabilities of qualified applicants to permit them to perform the essential functions of the subject position.
Other duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.