Program Field Coordinator - School of Social Work

Unit: School of Social Work

Department: School of Social Work

Duties & Responsibilities:

Field Program Coordinators for Student Placement at the VCU School of Social Work serve as dedicated partners in student learning, guiding BSW and MSW students from their initial field application through the completion of their final semester of field. Coordinators ensure students are prepared, supported, and empowered as they develop their professional identities and practice skills. They also cultivate and maintain relationships with community agencies to provide competency‑aligned placement environments.

School of Social Work is seeking Program Field Coordinators. The primary purpose of this position is to provide professional support to the Office of Field Education (OFE), which includes managing the cultivation and affiliation of field sites for students, assigning field placement assignments for students, leading course preparation for all assigned field courses, supporting faculty field liaisons working with students should placement disruptions/terminations emerge (in coordination with the Director of Field Education), managing student placement assignments and field courses in the Tavera database, and providing support to students, faculty, and agency partners related to those placement assignments, attending and participating in all field education events, meetings and orientations, and other duties as assigned.

• Review student field applications for completion and assessment of social work interests, stage in the social work curriculum, skill sets, availability, and any special considerations (e.g., background checks, transportation needs, accommodations)
• Evaluate student interests, stage in the curriculum, skill sets, availability, and placement needs to determine alignment with appropriate agency settings and supervision models
• Match students with suitable agencies based on competencies, interests, availability, and identified considerations requiring additional support
• Guide students in submitting a well‑supported proposal when requesting to complete field with their current employer or a previously assigned agency
• Communicate with students and agencies throughout the matching process to clarify expectations, confirm interviews, and support informed decision‑making
• Facilitate and monitor the placement match process in ELC and workflow trackers from initial assignment through agency acceptance, ensuring all required steps—interviews, confirmations, documentation, and onboarding—are completed accurately and on time
• Verify that students have officially started placement and that agencies have confirmed the student’s onboarding and supervision plan
• Identify and elevate any barriers to placement (e.g., delays, declined matches, unmet accommodations) to ensure timely resolution and student progression

• Provide instruction on completing field applications and submitting well‑supported proposals for employment‑based or returning‑agency placements
• Orient students to field education expectations, supervision structures, and competency‑based learning requirements
• Support students in developing a professional social work identity grounded in ethics, reflective practice, and competency‑based growth
• Offer programming that promotes skill development, reflective practice, and effective engagement in field
• Maintain consistent communication to ensure students remain informed, supported, and connected throughout their placement experience
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and community partners to deliver workshops, orientations, and developmental programming that enhance student readiness and success in field

• Conduct outreach and respond to inquiries from prospective and renewing community partners
• Distribute standardized partnership materials and guide agencies through initial information‑gathering requirements
• Review agency submissions and assess alignment with program standards and CSWE competencies.
• Schedule and lead agency meetings to evaluate…