Academic Internship Site Development Specialist

Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Paid annual and holiday leave

Tuition benefits

Retirement planning and savings

Employee discounts

Well-being resources

Job summary

Virginia Commonwealth University seeks an Academic Internship Site Development Specialist to source, develop, and manage a network of academic internship sites. The role blends research, outreach, and relationship-building on behalf of the Academic Internships Office.

The position reports to the inaugural Director of the VCU Academic Internships Office and focuses on vetting sites, executing placement contracts, and creating innovative programs to support student learning and experiential

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university.
• Ability to develop and sustain partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Comfort with technology platforms for relationship management, data tracking, and communication.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, professionalism and civility with faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds.
• Experience in internship coordination or experiential learning in higher education.
• Familiarity with regulatory standards, site agreements, and risk management for academic internships.
• Knowledge of NACE competencies and REAL/experiential learning frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Identify, recruit, and onboard new internship sites that align with academic programs and student career pathways.
• Engage with employers, community organizations, and alumni to promote collaboration in hosting credit-bearing internships.
• Represent the Academic Internships Office at outreach events, employer roundtables, and professional meetings.
• Maintain strong, ongoing relationships with approved internship sites to ensure high-quality learning experiences.
• Provide consultation and resources to site supervisors on developing meaningful learning objectives and mentoring interns.
• Support the identification and resolution of site-related challenges in collaboration with faculty, students, and community partners.
• Vet and support the approval of internship sites in accordance with university standards and risk management policies.
• Support development and execution of placement agreements, learning contracts, and partnership documentation.
• Aid in developing internship site orientations, training, and other resource needs for success.
• Contribute to the development of forms, processes, and other foundational infrastructure needed to support site development.
• Responsible for creating innovative new programs, services, or practices.
• Manages and executes specialized projects or processes.
• Institutional Representation on university committees and task forces as needed.

Skills

Partnership development

Communication

Relationship management

Organizational skills

Technology literacy

Diversity & civility

Experience in internship coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM systems

Data tracking tools

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Unit: Office of the Provost

Department: Academic Internships Office, Academic Affairs

Duties & Responsibilities

The Office of the Provost is dedicated to ensuring a safe, high-quality and engaged learning experience for all students; ensuring that the institution recruits and retains talented faculty and provides the resources necessary to promote and support world-class teaching, scholarship, research and creative expression; and maintaining a strong commitment to the global engagement of students, faculty and staff that transforms lives and communities.

Position Overview

Reporting to the inaugural Director of the VCU Academic Internships Office in VCU’s University College, the Academic Internship Site Development Specialist (Specialist) will be part of a team responsible for sourcing, developing and managing a robust network of academic internship sites. The role combines research, outreach and relationship building on behalf of VCU.

Key Responsibilities

Partnership Development & Outreach

• Identify, recruit, and onboard new internship sites that align with academic programs and student career pathways.
• Engage with employers, community organizations, and alumni to promote collaboration in hosting credit-bearing internships.
• Represent the Academic Internships Office at outreach events, employer roundtables, and professional meetings.

Relationship Management & Site Support

• Maintain strong, ongoing relationships with approved internship sites to ensure high-quality learning experiences.
• Provide consultation and resources to site supervisors on developing meaningful learning objectives and mentoring interns.
• Support the identification and resolution of site-related challenges in collaboration with faculty, students, and community partners.

Program Implementation & Quality Assurance

• Vet and support the approval of internship sites in accordance with university standards and risk management policies.
• Support development and execution of placement agreements, learning contracts, and partnership documentation.
• Aid in developing internship site orientations, training, and other resource needs for success.

Program Planning & Innovation

• Contribute to the development of forms, processes, and other foundational infrastructure needed to support the work of site development.
• Responsible for creating innovative new programs, services, or practices
• Manages and executes specialized projects or processes

Additional Responsibilities (As Assigned)

• Institutional Representation: Serve on university committees, task forces, or working groups as needed to advance institutional goals related to the department of Academic Affairs.
• Other Duties as Assigned: Perform additional responsibilities as requested to support the effective functioning of the Academic Internships Office and the broader academic mission.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and sustain partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Comfort with technology platforms for relationship management, data tracking, and communication.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in internship coordination or experiential learning within a higher education context.
• Familiarity with regulatory standards, site agreements, and risk management for academic internships.
• Knowledge of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) competencies and REAL/experiential learning frameworks.

The Office of the Provost is committed to the growth and professional development of the Academic Affairs team and will provide opportunities to foster a culture of learning and career development.

Priority Consideration

All application packets submitted by Wednesday, September 30th will be reviewed in alignment with VCU guidelines. Applications received after this date may be considered should the priority pool provide insufficient.

Salary Range: $58,000 - $72,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid; Requires recurring on-site presence

University Job Title: 10911-10913Y - Administrator AA 1-3, Depending on Experience

Contact Information

Name: Cameron Carter, Director, Academic Internships Office

Contact Email: [e-mail]