Title: Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership Intern #W0018

State Role Title: Intern

Hiring Range: $15.00 an hour

Pay Band: 3

Agency: State Council of Higher Educ

Location: State Council of Higher Educ

Agency Website: www.schev.edu

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Overview
The Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership or V-TOP is a collaborative effort between SCHEV, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, and Virginia colleges and universities. This unique-in-the-nation program is focused on significantly increasing the number and quality of work-based learning opportunities for Virginia students (paid internships, co-ops, apprenticeships, project-based experiences, etc.). We are seeking a junior or senior-year college student who is a Virginia resident and/or attending a Virginia higher education institution. Preference given to students who reside in or near the SCHEV central office in Richmond, VA.

About the Position
The intern will use their classroom skills to help V-TOP engage followers and continue to market our vision, mission, and success stories to statewide partners.

Duties
The intern will:
•Assist in the final planning and execution of Virginia Intern Day, including day-of events and social media content leading up to the event.
•Monitor and assist in executing the Virginia Intern Day Student Ambassador program.
•Plan and develop V-TOP module training sessions both virtually and in-person.
•Continue to develop and update the V-TOP digital newsletter by gathering content and creating a template for news.
•Update the V-TOP social media plan to attract new followers and monitor and report on analytics.
•Develop social media content for Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, in accordance with the social media plan and amplify messaging from V-TOP partner organizations.
•Suggest enhancements to the V-TOP website and develop content for approved ideas.
•Assist with other communications about V-TOP, including outreach to institutions of higher education, presentations to executive leadership and advisory panel members, press releases, etc.
•Facilitate a plan to reward students for completing the V-TOP Career Readiness Modules.
•Update and maintain the V-TOP email distribution list.
•Review V-TOP's materials directed toward students and create a plan to change or update the information and present it to the V-TOP staff.
•Assist in planning and executing new V-TOP initiatives to gain student buy-in.
•Work with the Work-Based Learning Analyst to report and present data to key stakeholders in a visually appealing way.
•Aid the Financial Support Specialist in updating, ordering, and dispersing V-TOP promotional materials.
•Gather employer, student, and institution testimonials from those who have participated in V-TOP programs.
•As available, participate in SCHEV staff activities such as monthly SCHEV Talks, staff meetings, and other office events.

Minimum Qualifications

•Junior or senior year college student that is a Virginia resident and/or enrolled at a Virginia higher education institution.
•Firm grasp of social media, communications, and marketing skills, as demonstrated through coursework, portfolio, or other means.
•Excellent written communication and strong editing skills, as demonstrated through a writing sample.
•Excellent computer skills, as demonstrated through coursework, portfolio, or other means.
•Eager to learn and willing to pitch in on other tasks as needed.

Additional Considerations

•Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc., as demonstrated through coursework, portfolio, or explanation in cover letter
•Knowledge of WordPress
•Graphic design skills preferred. (V-TOP uses Canva)

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

The expected time commitment is 10 to 15 hours per week from May 2026 to August 2026, with at least half the hours occurring between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. The number of hours per week, days of the week, start and end dates, and whether the position is partially remote/in-person will be negotiated with the selected intern before start. No benefits are associated with this wage position.

The Handshake system required SCHEV to choose a specific "job location"; SCHEV offices are located in Richmond, VA, but the selected intern will negotiate whether the position is fully remote or hybrid remote/in-person.

Instructions to Applicants
Cover letter and resume are required.

Applicants may apply through Handshake at their institution or through the Commonwealth of Virginia Recruitment Management System (RMS): www.jobs.virginia.gov #COVAinternships

Applications submitted via email, postal mail, fax, or in person will not be considered. If applying through RMS, applicants are expected to fully represent qualifications and work history on the State applications and/or in resumes. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided in the application, resume, or other relevant documents provided; therefore, it is essential for applicants to supply detailed information. Submitting an incomplete state application/resume, or a state application/resume lacking in detail, may impact your interview eligibility. The RMS website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted successfully.

About the Organization
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the Commonwealth's coordinating body for higher education. SCHEV was established by the Governor and General Assembly in 1956. Then as now, our mission, which is outlined in the Code of Virginia, is "to advocate and promote the development and operation of an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive, and coordinated system of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia …. The Council shall also seek to facilitate collaboration among institutions of higher education that will enhance quality and create operational efficiencies and shall work with institutions of higher education and their boards on board development.” SCHEV serves as a catalyst to promote greater access, quality, affordability, and accountability throughout the system. SCHEV aspires to be a great place to work. As leaders and employees of the Commonwealth and SCHEV, we abide by the Commonwealth’s Standards of Conduct for Employees and related policies and procedures as a starting place. Beyond that, SCHEV values honesty, quality, diversity, inclusion, growth-orientation, personal well-being, equity, transparency, and accountability. More information is available here: https://schev.edu/index/agency-info/agency-overview

Other Information
The Commonwealth of Virginia limits wage workers to a maximum of 1500 working hours in a 12-month period from May 1 to April 30. SCHEV is an E-Verify and Equal Opportunity Employer. SCHEV is an Executive Level Branch agency.

You may apply for this position at https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/home. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Veterans, people with disabilities, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Cover Letter
Resume

Optional Documents
The applicant may submit one or two samples of their work.

Contact Information

Name: Taris Harmon

Phone: 804-292-6482

Email: taris.harmon@dhrm.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.