Client Acquisition and Retention Specialist Intern

Wisconsin History; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 21,000 - 23,000; Part time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking a Client Acquisition and Retention Specialist Intern for the Community Partners division. The role focuses on lead generation, outreach, and onboarding for Internera and partner businesses, with mostly remote work and occasional in-person meetings.

The candidate should be pursuing a degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field. The position offers part-time Local Work Study status, with a wage of $15–$17 per hour and performance-based

Qualifications

• Knowledge of sales, client management, and business development concepts.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong communication and relationship building skills.
• Ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
• Ability to stay organized and track leads, meetings, and follow ups.

Responsibilities

• Generate and research potential client leads.
• Conduct outreach through phone, email, social media, and networking.
• Follow up consistently with leads and prospects.
• Schedule and coordinate meetings with potential clients.
• Maintain organized lead and client tracking systems.
• Support onboarding and transition of new clients.
• Conduct regular client check ins and follow up communication.
• Identify client concerns early and help improve retention.
• Collaborate with internal teams to improve client experience.
• Assist in identifying upsell and growth opportunities.

Skills

Sales knowledge

Client management

Communication skills

Relationship building

Organization

Proactive attitude

Education

Pursuing degree in Business/Marketing/Communications/Sales

Job description

Client Acquisition and Retention Specialist Intern

• Job No: 512299
• Division/Organization: Community Partners
• Department: The Rigby
• Job Type: Local Work Study Student Jobs
• Remote Eligibility: Partially Remote
• Location: Off Campus Work Study
• Salary/Wage Range or Lump Sum: $15.00-17.00
• Job Categories: Interpersonal Communication, Leadership, Critical Thinking/Problem Solving, Digital Technology, Teamwork/Collaboration, Professionalism/Work Ethic, Communications, Broadcasting, and Media Arts, Business Management, Finance, and Marketing, Customer Service, Data Analysis, Local Work-Study Required Student Jobs, Career Management, Honoring Context and Culture, Federal Work-Study Preferred

Department Overview

The department supports new business generation, client relationships, onboarding, client communication, growth, and long term client retention for Internera and its partner businesses.

Anticipated Start Date

As soon as possible

Anticipated Hours Per Week

Minimum: 5 Maximum:10

Schedule

Varies, working mostly remote with occasional in person meetings with manager, or clients.

Number of Positions

1

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Sales, Entrepreneurship, or related field.
• Comfortable speaking with business owners and new contacts.
• Organized and able to manage multiple conversations and tasks at once.
• Self motivated and proactive.
• Professional and reliable.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of sales, client management, and business development concepts.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong communication and relationship building skills.
• Ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
• Ability to stay organized and track leads, meetings, and follow ups consistently.
• Ability to handle rejection professionally and maintain strong client relationships over time.

Position Summary/Job Duties

The Client Acquisition and Retention Specialist Intern is responsible for generating new business, maintaining strong client relationships, and supporting long term client retention for Internera and its partner businesses. This role focuses on lead generation, outreach, follow up, meeting coordination, onboarding support, client communication, and identifying opportunities for growth and retention.

• Generate and research potential client leads
• Conduct outreach through phone, email, social media, and networking
• Follow up consistently with leads and prospects
• Schedule and coordinate meetings with potential clients
• Maintain organized lead and client tracking systems
• Support onboarding and transition of new clients
• Conduct regular client check ins and follow up communication
• Identify client concerns early and help improve retention
• Collaborate with internal teams to improve client experience
• Assist in identifying upsell and growth opportunities

Compensation Structure

$15 per hour starting wage

• $100 bonus when client signs and makes first payment
• $200 bonus when client reaches 6 months active and paying
• $300 bonus when client reaches 12 months active and paying
• Bonuses are only paid if the client remains active and the employee is still employed at the time of payout

Physical Demands

This role may require local travel for meetings, networking, and client visits. Candidates must be comfortable communicating face to face with clients and spending extended periods using a computer or phone.

Institutional Statements

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

UW-Madison is an Equal Employment, Equal Access Employer committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce.

Institutional Statement on Diversity

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background-people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: diversity.wisc.edu

Advertised: November 06, 2026 09:00 AM Central Standard Time

Applications close: December 12, 2026 11:55 PM Central Standard Time