Assistant Director of the Center of Financial Wellness: Financial Aid - UTK

Reporting to the Associate Director, the Assistant Director for Financial Wellness & Engagement leads the day-to-day implementation of financial wellness programming, education, and outreach for the Center for Financial Wellness (CFW) within the Division of Enrollment Management. This position coordinates a team of professional staff and peer educators to deliver impactful, student-centered financial wellness experiences across the academic journey. The Assistant Director also oversees the coordination of CFW communications, ensuring that student-facing financial wellness messaging is consistent, timely, and aligned with divisional priorities. The ideal candidate brings a student affairs or co-curricular programming mindset and a genuine commitment to advancing student financial capability, success, and retention at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Responsibilities

Implements and coordinates financial wellness programming with a student success and student life lens, ensuring broad reach and meaningful student impact.

Oversee the day-to-day coordination of CFW communications, ensuring student-facing financial

Provides day-to-day coordination and professional support to CFW’s Coordinator and Financial Wellness Coaches, ensuring program staff are well-supported and equipped for excellence in student-facing work.

Supports the operational effectiveness of CFW programs and contributes to assessment and reporting that demonstrates program impact.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree

• Experience:

  • 3 years of professional experience

  • Demonstrated experience developing and facilitating high-impact student-facing educational programs or events.

  • Demonstrated collaboration and relationship-building skills across campus units.

  • Experience coordinating or supervising professional or paraprofessional staff.

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Student-Centered Mindset:

  • Approaches program design and delivery with genuine investment in student success, belonging, and financial empowerment.

  • Collaborative Execution: Builds effective working relationships with campus partners and cross-functional teams to carry out shared goals.

  • Operational Reliability: Manages multiple program priorities with attention to detail, follow-through, and consistent quality.

  • Strategic Communication: Translates financial wellness content into accessible, engaging messaging for diverse student audiences.

  • Data-Informed Improvement: Use participation data and student feedback to continuously strengthen program offerings.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s

• Experience:

  • Experience working within or in close partnership with an Enrollment Management division.

  • Familiarity with student communications platforms, CRM systems, or digital outreach tools.

  • Background in financial literacy education, coaching, or counseling.

  • Experience contributing to communications or marketing campaigns targeting student population.

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Builds effective working relationships with campus partners and cross-functional teams to carry out shared goals.

  • Manages multiple program priorities with attention to detail, follow-through, and consistent quality.

  • Translates financial wellness content into accessible, engaging messaging for diverse student audiences.

  • Use participation data and student feedback to continuously strengthen program offerings.

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville, TN

• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: 10

• Anticipated hiring range: $60,000

• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here

• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before [DATE]

• Resume

• Cover Letter

About The College/Department/Division

The Enrollment Management (EM) division comprises more than 190 full-time staff who serve our students through the following departments and functions: Undergraduate Admissions, International Recruitment, Transfer Center, One Stop Student Services, Financial Aid and Scholarships, the Center for Financial Wellness, University Registrar, Pre-college Research Excellence Programs, EM Research & Analytics, EM Communications, and EM Operations. The Division of Enrollment Management is committed to our Vision, Mission and Values. We are passionate about fulfilling our land-grant mission of accessible education and making an impact that will transform lives through the student experience.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!