Community Economic Development Jobs in Tennessee

The Assistant Director of Partnerships (ADP) serves as a key industry-facing professional within the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS), with responsibility for managing assigned external partnerships and implementing workforce development, experiential learning, and strategic engagement initiatives. Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Partnerships and Economic Development (ADPED), the Assistant Director manages relationships, projects, and engagement activities within the strategic priorities established by College leadership.

The Assistant Director serves as a primary point of contact for assigned industry and workforce partners and is responsible for maintaining productive relationships, identifying opportunities for expanded engagement, coordinating partnership activities across internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring effective execution and follow-through. The position works closely with the Assistant Dean to advance CECS partnership and economic development priorities and exercises professional judgment in managing day-to-day partner relationships, addressing implementation needs, and recommending opportunities for further development.

Required Qualifications

• Education:

  • Bachelor's degree

• Experience:

  • Three years of progressively responsible professional experience in partnerships, workforce development, higher education, business engagement, program or project management, economic development, or a related field.

  • Experience managing professional relationships, projects, programs, or stakeholder engagement activities.

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, stakeholders, priorities, and deadlines.

  • Ability to exercise professional judgment, address implementation challenges, and recommend appropriate courses of action.

  • Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and professional communication skills.

  • Demonstrated organizational, project management, and follow-through skills.

  • Ability to work effectively across organizational boundaries and with internal and external stakeholders.

  • Proficiency with database systems, spreadsheets, and standard office software.

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:

  • Master's Degree preferred.

• Experience:

  • Five years or more of relevant professional experience in partnerships, workforce development, higher education, business engagement, or related fields.

  • Experience working with industry, workforce, government, community, or higher education partners.

  • Experience working with advisory boards or external stakeholder groups.

  • Familiarity with workforce development systems, talent pipeline initiatives, economic development, or higher education partnership models.

  • Experience managing events, employer engagement initiatives, or strategic projects.

  • Experience conducting research, analyzing information, or preparing reports and recommendations to inform organizational decision-making.

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville, TN, UTK Campus

• Onsite 

Compensation and Benefits 

• UT market range: MR11

• Anticipated hiring range: $70,000-80,000, depending on experience

• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here

• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments:

• Resume

• Cover Letter

To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before August 7, 2026.

About the College: 

The College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is at the forefront of changing the future of higher education. It is a first-of-its-kind college created to meet the needs of students seeking a customizable degree path in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and data science that leads to rewarding careers upon graduation. CECS offers timely, innovative, student-centric degrees, minors, and stackable certificates at both undergraduate and graduate levels that address the future talent gap and expose students to experts and disciplines from across campus through a cross-cutting curriculum. CECS utilizes strong industry partnerships to ensure students gain relevant skills and real-world experience, offering for-credit internships and multi-disciplinary projects. CECS emphasizes the cohort experience where students learn and interact with fellow students from across campus and disciplines, allowing them to learn from one another and work together to solve real-world problems.

Who We Are:

We are a small team of energetic, adaptable, and hardworking individuals committed to educational initiatives that will lead to meaningful careers for our students and a positive impact on society. Every member of our team is a valuable collaborator, driven entrepreneur, and proficient multi-tasker dedicated to working together to find innovative approaches to achieving our shared goals. We are fast-moving and growing. Our work is constantly evolving to meet changing needs.

The Assistant Director of Partnerships develops, manages, and expands strategic relationships with industry, workforce, government, and community partners while serving as the primary liaison for assigned partnerships. The position oversees partnership engagement processes, maintains partnership records and agreements, and ensures effective tracking, reporting, and continuous improvement of partnership activities.

The role coordinates workforce development initiatives, employer training programs, and labor market analysis to identify emerging workforce needs and support the development of new educational opportunities. The position also expands experiential learning through internships, capstones, mentorships, and other applied learning opportunities by connecting employers, faculty, and students.

In collaboration with CECS leadership, the Assistant Director coordinates advisory boards and stakeholder engagement, manages strategic engagement events, and represents the College with external organizations to strengthen partnerships and enhance CECS's visibility. The position leads partnership-related projects, monitors outcomes and performance metrics, recommends process improvements, and contributes to strategic planning through data-informed decision-making.

Responsibilities are divided into these categories:

• Industry Partnership Development and Relationship Management

• Partnership Infrastructure and Engagement Management

• Workforce Development Programs and Initiatives

• Experiential Learning and Talent Pipeline Development

• Advisory Board and External Stakeholder Engagement

• Events, External Engagement, and Representation

• Strategic Coordination and Continuous Improvement