Community Impact Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville invites applications and nominations for a highly motivated, visionary leader in outreach, community engagement, and engaged scholarship to fulfill the position of Director in the Office of Community Engagement and Outreach (OCEO). Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic and External Relations, the Director will play a vital role in providing high-level leadership and direction for outreach, community engagement, and community-engaged scholarship. The successful candidate will be a thought leader in developing and providing strategies to advance UT's R1 (very high research activity) and land-grant mission while fostering impactful and mutually beneficial partnerships in the local community, region, and across the state, including supporting the Division of Access and Engagement (DAE) and OCEO grants program, community-engaged scholarship initiatives, professional development, seminars, and workshops.
This position provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Office of Community Engagement and Outreach, directing staff, budgets, programs, and initiatives that advance the University of Tennessee's mission of community engagement, outreach, engaged scholarship, and land-grant service. The role cultivates and sustains partnerships with faculty, students, community organizations, and local, regional, state, and national stakeholders; leads university-wide engagement efforts, funding opportunities, awards programs, and special projects; and serves as a key representative of the university in strengthening collaborative solutions to community challenges. Additionally, the position oversees communications, outreach materials, and engagement-related events while leading assessment, reporting, and data management efforts to evaluate impact, guide strategic decision-making, and demonstrate outcomes across engagement and outreach initiatives.
Responsibilities
Leadership, Supervision, and Management (70%)
• Provide leadership and daily supervision of the Office of Community Engagement and Outreach, including budget oversight and supervision of staff which includes an Associate Director, Assistant Director, two Coordinators, Faculty Fellow, and student workers.
• Direct, develop, and oversee community engagement, outreach, and engaged scholarship initiatives that align with the University's goals, while focusing on strategies that enhance and support the University's commitment to access and community, based on best practices and emerging research on community engagement, outreach, and community-engaged scholarship.
• Provide leadership for sustained stakeholder relationships that promote UT's community engagement, outreach, community-engaged scholarship, innovation, and entrepreneurship on local communities and across the state.
• Provide leadership for best practices and emerging research on community engagement, outreach, and community-engaged scholarship.
• Engage faculty, staff, students, and community members to develop solutions to grand challenges while connecting stakeholders to university resources.
• Collaborate with faculty and university leadership to uphold the collective understanding of the scholarship of engagement and shared governance.
• Provide leadership, oversight, and the chair of UT's Carnegie Community Engagement Classification Committee.
• Provide oversight of OCEO's engagement and outreach awards.
• Maintain a competitive funding process to support faculty who engage with the community, have academic outreach initiatives, and/or focus on community-engaged scholarship and provide oversight for the Division of Access and Engagement and Office of Community Engagement and Outreach Request for Proposals.
• Lead, collaborate with, and serve as an ex-officio member of the Engagement and Outreach Council.
• Lead efforts to create and strengthen partnerships across campus, colleges, schools, departments, individuals, and groups of faculty and external stakeholders to develop collaborations while
• focusing on trust and shared governance.
• Work with a variety of stakeholders, including faith-based organizations, schools, civic organizations, and other groups to create opportunities for open dialogue and engaged communities.
• Provide advisement on capacity building across local communities and statewide.
• Cultivate and enhance mutually beneficial partnerships with community groups and organizations across the state that may not frequently interact with UT.
• Oversee special projects that advance UT's R1, land-grant, and community engagement status as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
• Represent the university and serve on behalf of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic and External Relations on campus committees as well as local boards, work groups, and committees.
• Connect UT resources with community changemakers to catalyze new collaborations.
• Recognize exemplary community impact partnerships in Knoxville, the region, state, and beyond.
• Host regular meetings and programs with OCEO's strategic partners.
• Highlight and showcase community partnerships that leverage university innovation, talent development, and other resources to make the world a better place.
• Cultivate relationships and connections with key national, state, and regional partners engaged with communities, while serving as the primary point of contact for the Engagement Scholarship Consortium.
• Manage UT's C. Peter Magrath Community Engagement Award process.
• Partner with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships to support student's community-engaged discovery locally, statewide, nationally, and globally.
• Partner with Teaching and Learning Innovation to leverage faculty's research capacity, community-engaged teaching, and learning.
Communication and Information (15%)
• Oversee and manage communication as it relates to those who participate in community engagement and outreach programs, professional development, workshops, and seminars.
• Create, oversee, and manage letters and/or certificates acknowledging those who participate in community engagement and outreach programs, professional development, workshops, and seminars.
• Develop and manage outreach and promotional materials for faculty, staff, current and prospective students, community partners, and state, municipal and local elected officials.
• Manage calendar of community engagement and outreach events.
• Oversee, manage, and update community resource handbook.
Data and Reporting (15%)
• Provide leadership for the development of deliverables at the end of each fiscal year cataloging the outputs and outcomes of all projects.
• Coordinate the distribution and collection of program evaluations in support of assessment initiatives.
• Survey, analyze, and interpret data. Use assessment and evaluation data to help determine program direction.
• Prepare annual reports and impact summaries.
• Coordinate ongoing development and management of the tracking and records of engagement and outreach projects.
• Provide project summaries and have tangible outputs and products at the end of the projects.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications

• Education:
  
  • Master's Degree
• Experience:
  
  • Five years of community engagement and outreach experience.
  • Demonstrated experience collaborating with a variety of leaders and stakeholders to develop and execute programs or activities involving the campus community and external organizations.
  • Background in the development of mutually beneficial and collaborative partnerships with faculty, staff, students, and external groups and organizations that involve teaching, research, and service.
  • Proven track record of effectively creating, managing, and leading programs involving partnerships with the community.
  • Familiarity of, and experience with, the Carnegie elective community engagement classification.
  • Full understanding, experience with, and commitment to community engagement, outreach, and community-engaged scholarship.
  • Self-starter who has proven leadership skills and the ability to make sound decisions.
  • Experience developing and advancing strategies, projects, and programs across multidisciplinary teams within the higher education and/or community setting.
  • Demonstrated interpersonal, initiative, and self-motivation skills.
  • Experience managing and supervising staff.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  
  • Attention to detail, writing, listening, and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to plan visits, events, and presentations independently and strategically for prospective students.
  • Have oral presentation/public speaking skills.
  • Knowledge of university admissions process.
  • Ability to problem solve and research solutions.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Understanding and familiarity working with faculty while focusing on shared governance.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work with minimum supervision and with individuals and groups from different backgrounds.

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:
  
  • Seven years of community engagement and outreach experience.
  • Seven to ten years of progressive experience in higher education.
  • Teaching and/or research experience in higher education.

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville, TN
• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR-14
• Anticipated hiring range: $90,000 - $100,000
• 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. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before 8/28/2026

• Resume
• Cover Letter

About The College/Department/Division
The Division of Access and Engagement impacts the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's strategic vision through access, belonging, a culture of respect, and community. We support academic access, foster community partnerships, and promote merit-based student success. In addition to our alignment with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's mission, we are aligned with the UT System's aspirational statement.
"We are dedicated to expanding access to educational opportunities, striving to remove barriers, and making academic pursuits more affordable. Consistent with the University's commitment to high academic standards, student achievement, and the preparation of responsible citizens, we believe that engaging with individuals from all backgrounds and perspectives fosters a vibrant learning environment that enhances critical thinking and intellectual growth. Our collective strengths make us stronger, and we are committed to promoting an atmosphere where all members of the University community feel welcome, can thrive, and achieve success."
Additional Information on all postings provided by UTK
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!