Graduate Student Project Assistant Jobs in Virginia

Overview:

The Public Service Pathways Program Graduate Communications and Administrative Assistant will provide support to staff in the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Outreach and UVA Public Service partners (Student Affairs, Karsh Institute of Democracy, Center for Community Partnerships, Student Council, and Madison House) as they plan and carry out the Public Service Pathways undergraduate and graduate programs. This program is multifaceted and organized around these main missions:

The goals of the Public Service Pathways program are to:

• Foster the development of a public service mindset where students understand and better define their collective charge and responsibility as citizens.
• Create intentional communities of belonging around issues of public interest.
• Curate existing public service, academic, career, personal advising, and experiential learning opportunities into a centralized program.

Responsibilities:

The success of this program is dependent upon close, open collaboration between many university departments and units, and the continual (re)evaluation of program elements based on student, staff, and faculty feedback. The Public Service Pathways Program Graduate Assistant will be expected to:

• Oversee Pathways' newsletter creation by communicating with various University and Pathways stakeholders to ensure biweekly newsletters are accurate and informative.
  • Curate and create content for newsletters by interfacing with student leads of the Student Advisory Council.
  • Distribute newsletters to members of Public Service Pathways' advisory boards in a professional and timely manner.

• Prepare written reports of program progress and collaborate in the creation and administration of program assessments using Qualtrics and Marketing Cloud and partner with the Office of University Assessment.
• Continually update a new public-facing website reflecting the Pathways Program news and offerings as well as a new student engagement platform.
• Manage the @uvaservice Instagram and social media.
• Attend and actively participate in stakeholder meetings, attended by faculty, staff, and students.
• Collaborate with university staff, faculty, and entire units in the design of undergraduate learning opportunities.
• Other administrative duties as assigned.

Desired Qualities:

The Office for Academic Outreach is seeking an individual who is passionate about public service and student development, and who shares our team's belief that universities can and should be held accountable by the communities they impact. Any experience in a communications role would be extremely beneficial. Please apply if you are interested in learning more about higher education administration, assessment, student development, and the best practices of university-community engagement. The ability to write and speak with clarity as well as confidence before diverse audiences is critical. The ideal candidate should demonstrate flexibility and an ability to navigate ambiguity, as they will be joining a team responsible for leading a new undergraduate program and launching a graduate program. Hybrid meetings will be the standard for the majority of the work.

Duration and Effort:

This assistantship will occur during the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters, with the option to start in July 2026 (Specific start date to be determined by the graduate student and the Director of Public Service Pathways.) We are also eager to identify candidates who are interested and able to be in the position for multiple years during the span of their graduate program.

Compensation & Scheduling:

$21.00/hour for approximately 15-20 hours/week.

Mentoring & Career Development:

The position provides the opportunity for candidates to explore work in a variety of career fields and roles while also meeting leaders from across the University and Charlottesville community. The Public Service Pathways Program Graduate Assistant will be a major contributor to biweekly meetings of the entire Pathways planning team. The core of this team is comprised of staff from Academic Outreach, Student Affairs, Karsh Institute of Democracy, Center for Community Partnerships, Madison House, and the Alumni Association. The Associate Director for the Public Service Pathways program will be the direct supervisor for this student.

DEADLINE: Review of applications will begin on July 27 and continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Resume and Cover Letter.

Education: Bachelor's degree. Registered as a graduate student.
Experience: none
Licensure: None
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.