Regional Internship Manager

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) is seeking a Regional Internship Manager to support the Innovative Internship Program, a statewide initiative to dramatically expand paid internship opportunities for higher education students across the Commonwealth. 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 position will help companies in the Greater Richmond and Southern Virginia regions (Amelia, Brunswick, Buckingham, Caroline, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Gloucester, Goochland, Greensville, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Henry, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Nottoway, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Sussex, and Westmoreland Counties and the Cities of Colonial Heights, Danville, Emporia, Fredericksburg, Hopewell, Martinsville, Petersburg, and Richmond) 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.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a strategy to identify, engage, and educate regional businesses on the value of internships and the Program 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
• Actively promote the program to partners, companies, and students through various channels, including events, presentations, and partner collaboration
• 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
• Build strong partnerships with higher education, workforce, and industry organizations and participate in regional partner meetings
• Stay informed about best practices and emerging trends in internships and contribute to program improvement and expansion
• Enter all company engagements, matching grant applications, and reimbursements in Salesforce in order to be tracked along with the program outcomes
• Focus on outcomes including companies successfully hiring interns and growing their internship programs
• Participate in regular staff meetings and training sessions

Skills:

• 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 resourceful style with the ability to work independently and effectively across internal and external teams
• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail
• Effective time management skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize workload, and meet deadlines
• Accuracy and timeliness in record-keeping, data entry, and compliance reporting
• A solid understanding of the high-quality paid internship model, including effective recruitment and hiring practices
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Proficiency in using CRM for tracking interactions, managing pipelines, data management, and reporting

Experience:

• 2+ years of experience with business development, marketing, sales, employer relations, project management, or similar
• Experience with internship programs is preferred
• Experience with Salesforce is preferred

This position will work remotely in the region it serves, but a considerable amount of travel throughout the region as well as to VEDP's Richmond office and in-state conferences will be required. A valid Virginia driver's license is required.

Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. VEDP uses the E-Verify system and does not provide sponsorship.

All candidates must apply through our website Salary Minimum: $80,000. Application deadline: October 22, 2025.

VEDP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or against otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities. It is VEDP's intent that its employment and personnel policies and practices conform to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Applicants requiring more information or requiring assistance may contact VEDP Human Resources at or ). TDD