Assistant director star team - enrollment management - utk

The Office of Visitor Center in Enrollment Management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) invites applications and nominations for our Assistant Director- STAR Team position. We are seeking candidates who can contribute in meaningful ways to enhance the accessibility of higher education, fostering a diverse and inclusive academic environment, and improving the recruitment and graduation of our students. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been ranked by Forbes as one of America’s best large employers, as recognized on the 2026 list.

The minimum starting salary for this position is $60,000. Final compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES

This is an on-campus position with some hybrid/remote work schedule flexibility.

Leadership & Program Management

• Provide strategic leadership, vision, and oversight for the STAR Team student leadership program by fostering a culture of professionalism, service, and student development.
• Lead all aspects of the STAR Team program including:
• Recruitment and selection
• Hiring and onboarding
• Training and leadership development
• Scheduling and supervision
• Coaching and performance management
• Recognition and retention
• Assessment and continuous improvement
• Develop annual goals, strategic initiatives, and assessment plans that align STAR Team with VolCorps and Enrollment Management priorities and the University's mission.
• Identify opportunities to expand STAR Team's impact through innovative programming, student leadership development, and campus partnerships.
• Provide ongoing mentorship to student leaders while cultivating future leaders within Vol Corps.

Access Initiatives & Strategic Partnerships

• Serve as the primary Visitors Center liaison with Access & Engagement and lead collaborative initiatives that expand educational access and recruitment opportunities.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with:
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Regional Recruiters
• Access & Engagement
• Pre-College Programs
• Academic Colleges
• Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)
• K-12 school partners
• Campus departments supporting recruitment and outreach
• Lead the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of access-focused campus visit experiences including:
• Middle School Tours
• Community-Based Organization (CBO) visits
• Access-focused recruitment events
• Special population visit programs
• Flagship recruitment experience
• Establish standardized operational models and annual schedules for group tours and access programs while ensuring consistent, high-quality visitor experiences.

Recruitment Programs & Student Engagement

Provide leadership and operational oversight for STAR Team's participation in recruitment initiatives that enhance the prospective student experience.

Coordinate and oversee student involvement in:

• Flagship recruitment programs
• Student Lunch Connections
• Information Sessions
• VIP campus visits
• Group tours
• Recruitment yield events
• Special enrollment initiatives
• Pre-College Programs
• Verto Vols programming (as applicable)

Partner with the Assistant Director for Guest Relations & Group Experiences to support VIP guests, community partners, and specialized group experiences.

Develop new programming that creates authentic connections between prospective students and current Volunteers.

Community Outreach & Signature Initiatives

Provide leadership for STAR Team signature engagement initiatives that extend the University's recruitment efforts beyond campus.

Serve as program owner for the Rocky Top Home Sweet Home initiative by:

• Developing annual program goals
• Creating training materials
• Establishing participation expectations
• Coordinating communications
• Assessing program outcomes
• Prepare STAR Team members and other Vol Corps ambassadors to serve as University representatives while home during fall, winter, and spring breaks by engaging prospective students, families, schools, and communities through authentic storytelling and outreach.
• Identify and develop additional community engagement initiatives that support the University's access mission.

Assessment, Reporting & University Service

• Develop and maintain assessment measures for STAR Team initiatives using participation data, student feedback, recruitment outcomes, and program evaluations.
• Prepare reports that measure program effectiveness and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support Visitors Center operations and Enrollment Management priorities through participation in university committees, strategic initiatives, recruitment events, and division-wide programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree.
• Two years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, student affairs, admissions, enrollment management, student leadership, event management, community engagement, or a related field.
• Experience supervising student employees or student leaders.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to inspire, supervise, mentor, and develop student leaders.
• Knowledge of student development theory and leadership development practices.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across campus and with external partners.
• Knowledge of higher education recruitment, enrollment management, and access initiatives.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple large-scale programs simultaneously.
• Ability to develop operational processes, training programs, and assessment plans.
• Skill in event planning, logistics, and program management.
• Ability to analyze data and use assessment to improve programming.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations and create welcoming, inclusive environments.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make independent decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, CRM systems (Slate preferred), and event management technology.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master's degree.
• Experience in admissions, enrollment management, campus visit programs, or college access initiatives.
• Experience leading recruitment events and developing student leadership programs.
• Experience building partnerships with schools, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience leading student leadership organizations.
• Experience with campus visit programs or admissions recruitment.
• Experience developing student training curricula.
• Experience working with K-12 outreach, college access initiatives, or community engagement.
• Experience supervising professional and/or student staff.
• Experience using Slate CRM.
• Experience with assessment and program evaluation.

Benefits:

University of Tennessee employees are eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits that includes:

• Generous paid leave, accruing up to 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave annually, plus 14 paid holidays and administrative closing days
• Flexible work arrangements, offering a hybrid schedule to most team members
• Education benefits for employees and their dependents at UT System campuses
• Retirement and deferred compensation plans, including 401(k), 403(b), etc.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Employee discounts to attractions, services, and goods

The Division

The Enrollment Management division comprises more than 190 full-time staff who serve our students through the following departments and functions: Undergraduate Admissions, International Recruitment, Transfer Center, One Stop Student Services, Financial Aid and Scholarships, the Center for Financial Wellness, University Registrar, Pre-college Research Excellence Programs, EM Research & Analytics, EM Communications, and EM Operations. The Division of Enrollment Management is committed to our Vision, Mission and Values. We are passionate about fulfilling our land-grant mission of accessible education and making an impact that will transform lives through the student experience.

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!