Job No. 157780
- Job Title:
- Program Specialist - Office of Professional Licensure - UTK
- Employer:
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The University of Tennessee
- Location:
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Knoxville , TN
- Posting Date:
- 11-Feb-2026
- Description:
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Job Description
The Program Specialist for the UT Plays Program serves as a central hub of support, communication, and coordination for teacher candidates, mentor teachers, faculty, and district partners. This position combines academic evaluation, program administration, and relationship-building to ensure exceptional candidate experiences and high-quality licensure outcomes.
This position manages and oversees all aspects of candidate support, licensure pathways, and program operations to ensure teacher candidates progress smoothly through preparation and endorsement requirements. The role requires exercising sound judgment in making decisions about grading, enrollment, fiscal operations, and learner support, as well as proactively identifying challenges and implementing solutions to improve candidate outcomes. In addition, the position serves as the lead point of contact for initial licensure, mentor training, and district partnerships, making independent determinations on compliance, communication, and collaboration with external stakeholders. Finally, the role drives program growth and continuous improvement through curriculum updates, data management, reporting, and professional development, using evidence-based decision making to guide program enhancements and strengthen institutional and district partnerships.
Responsibilities
Candidate Support, Assessment, and Program Management:
Course Management
Provide comprehensive assessment and feedback on coursework assignments, projects, and assessments for both initial licensure and additional endorsement candidates
Develop and maintain detailed rubrics aligned with state standards and university expectations
Ensure timely turnaround of graded materials to support candidate progression through programs
Maintain detailed gradebooks and provide analytical feedback to improve candidate performance
Coordinate with course instructors to ensure consistent grading standards across multiple sections
Enrollment for New Candidates
Process and review initial applications for program admission and prerequisite verification
Maintain accurate enrollment records and communicate status updates to candidates and stakeholders
Troubleshoot enrollment issues and provide guidance on program pathways
Fiscal Management
Process invoices, purchase orders, and reimbursements related to program operations
Monitor and project enrollment revenue to support strategic planning
Coordinate with university financial services to maintain program efficiency (i.e. Subscription extensions)
Learner Support (Office Hours, Phone Calls, Emails)
Provide individualized academic and professional guidance through scheduled office hours and on-demand consultations
Respond to candidate inquiries regarding coursework, program requirements, and career planning
Maintain comprehensive communication logs to track candidate interactions and interventions
Develop and distribute informational resources to support candidate success
Progress Monitoring for Candidates
Implement systematic tracking systems to monitor candidate advancement through program milestones
Identify at-risk candidates and develop intervention strategies to support completion
Conduct regular check-ins with candidates to address challenges and celebrate achievements
Exit Interviews
Design and conduct comprehensive exit interviews with program completers
Analyze feedback data to identify program strengths and areas for improvement
Track post-graduation outcomes and maintain alumni contact information
Use exit data to inform continuous improvement initiatives
Comprehensive Feedback on demonstration of program competencies
Database Management (Enrollments, Orders, Progress, Completion)
- Contact information:
- The University of Tennessee
- Knoxville, TN 37996
- United States
- Employer's Website:
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