Strategic Internship Partnerships Lead

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

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