Regional Internship Manager, GO Virginia Regions 1 and 2

Purpose of the position

The Regional Internship Manager will be part of a mission-driven team working to strengthen Virginia’s economy and shape the future of talent development in the Commonwealth. The Manager will be responsible for creating meaningful partnerships with employers, educational institutions, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), and other stakeholders across the region to increase employer awareness of and participation in quality paid internship programs and matching grants from the Innovative Internship Fund.

Work is performed under the general supervision of the EO staff, but as a VEDP intermediary for Regions 1 and 2, EO’s Regional Internship Manager will have the same performance expectations as VEDP’s other Regional Internship Managers and will be included in VEDP communications related to the role. This is a highly mobile position and will require travel throughout the region as well as to VEDP’s Richmond office and in-state conferences.

The Regional Internship Manager will help companies in GO Virginia Regions 1 and 2 (Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Buchanan, Campbell, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Roanoke, Russell, Pulaski, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe Counties and the Cities of Bristol, Covington, Galax, Lynchburg, Norton, Radford, Roanoke, Salem) develop internship programs, connect with potential interns, and access the matching grant program.

The Manager’s responsibilities include business outreach and engagement, internship program development and grant support, partner engagement and program promotion, and data tracking.

• Develop and execute a strategy to identify, engage, and educate regional businesses on the value of internships through group sessions and one-on-one meetings
• Coordinate with VEDP staff and partners to connect with companies interested in developing or growing internship programs
• Focus on outcomes including companies successfully hiring interns and growing their internship programs

• Advise businesses on designing and implementing high-quality internships that meet the company’s needs, including helping the company write effective internship job descriptions and post internship opportunities on a technology platform
• Facilitate online training sessions on effective components of high-quality internship programs
• Guide businesses through the matching grant program, including assistance applying for the matching grant, submitting requests for reimbursement, progress tracking, and post-grant surveys
• Stay informed about best practices and emerging trends in internships and contribute to program improvement and expansion
• Participate in regular staff meetings and training sessions

• Actively promote the program to partners, companies, and students through various channels, including events, presentations, and partner collaboration
• Build strong partnerships with higher education, workforce, and industry organizations and participate in regional partner meetings

• Enter all company engagements, matching grant applications, and reimbursements in Salesforce (access provided by VEDP) in order to be tracked along with the program outcomes

• Demonstrated ability to work in a culture of high service, high support, and high expectations in serving business community
• Consultative sales approach and adept at diagnosing client pain points, influencing decisions, and crafting innovative, value-driven proposals
• Resilience and tenacity in pursuing leads and following up to drive progress toward program goals
• Strong networking skills with an ability to move comfortably and credibly in the community
• Proven ability to build trust and long-term relationships with clients and stakeholders
• Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to listen actively, ask insightful questions, and effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders
• A professional and…