Engineering Coordinator of Internships and Apprenticeships

Department: Engineering
Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Salary Range: $52,000–$65,000 annually
Work Schedule: 40 hours per week
Reports To: Engineering Project Manager

Who We Are

Ferrum College is committed to preparing students for success through meaningful educational opportunities, hands-on learning, and strong connections with industry and community partners. Through collaboration with employers and workforce leaders, the College works to connect academic programs with the skills and credentials needed in today's evolving workforce.

What We’re Looking For

Ferrum College is seeking an organized, relationship-focused Coordinator of Internships and Apprenticeships to develop and manage experiential learning opportunities for students. This individual will serve as a key connection between the College, employers, and industry partners to establish high-quality internship and apprenticeship placements. The Coordinator will also oversee program registration and compliance, strengthen employer partnerships, and help ensure academic credentials align with current workforce needs.

Key Responsibilities

Program Compliance and Registration

• Manage registration, regulatory tracking, and compliance requirements for official state and federal Registered Apprenticeship Programs.
• Serve as the primary contact for external labor, workforce, and government compliance agencies.
• Maintain accurate and audit-ready documentation related to student hours, safety requirements, master-apprentice ratios, and program benchmarks.
• Ensure credit-bearing internships and apprenticeship placements align with regional accreditation frameworks and College policies.

Advisory Council and Industry Engagement

• Establish, organize, and facilitate an Employer Advisory Council with corporate, agricultural, manufacturing, and healthcare partners throughout southwestern Virginia.
• Conduct regular surveys and focus groups with council members to identify important workforce skills, technology proficiencies, and professional credentials.
• Translate employer feedback into actionable recommendations for academic departments to support curriculum development and modernization.

Student Placement and Coordination

• Identify, evaluate, and finalize formal agreements for internship and apprenticeship placements that support student retention and future employment opportunities.
• Coordinate student outreach, preparatory training, and matching workshops to align student career interests with appropriate external hosts.
• Conduct periodic on-site visits and evaluations to monitor student progress, review workplace safety, and address feedback from employers.

Institutional and Cross-Departmental Collaboration

• Work closely with academic chairs, faculty, and the Enrollment Management division to develop pathways that integrate hands-on workforce training into degree programs.
• Collaborate on targeted marketing and recruitment materials to attract students to specialized apprenticeship and credential programs.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with employers, faculty, students, and external workforce partners.

Who You Are

You are a proactive and organized professional who enjoys building partnerships, coordinating programs, and helping students prepare for meaningful careers. You communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, manage multiple priorities, and understand the importance of maintaining accurate records and meeting compliance requirements. You are comfortable working with employers, academic departments, and students to develop opportunities that connect education with workforce needs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Higher Education, Human Services, or a closely related field. A master's degree is preferred.
• Professional Background: Three to five years of experience in career services, corporate recruiting, workforce development, or managing experiential learning programs.
• Compliance and Apprenticeship Knowledge: Familiarity with state and federal apprenticeship laws, Department of Labor compliance requirements, or structured workforce training initiatives.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to present confidently to executive-level corporate partners and diverse student populations.
• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with career services management platforms, such as Handshake or Symplicity, customer relationship management (CRM) software, and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Higher Education, Human Services, or a closely related field.
• Background in developing employer partnerships and coordinating internship or apprenticeship programs.
• Knowledge of workforce development initiatives and employer engagement strategies.
• Ability to collaborate across academic departments and external organizations to develop career pathways aligned with industry needs.

What Makes This Opportunity Unique?

This position offers the opportunity to help shape the connection between higher education and workforce development. By building relationships with employers, coordinating experiential learning opportunities, and supporting apprenticeship pathways, the Coordinator will help students gain practical skills, strengthen career readiness, and prepare for employment in high-demand fields.

What We Offer

Ferrum College offers the opportunity to contribute to a collaborative educational community while helping students connect their academic studies with practical workplace learning. This position provides the opportunity to build meaningful industry partnerships and support programs that advance student career readiness and regional workforce development.

Ready to Join Our Team?

Interested candidates should submit the following materials for consideration:

• Letter of Interest
• Resume
• Completed Employment Application

Ferrum College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.