Program and Grants Coordinator

About Spark Innovation Center

The Spark Innovation Center (Spark), operated through Cherokee Farm Development Corporation at the University of Tennessee Research Park, helps HardTech advanced energy and value chain startups build, scale, and connect with customers, partners, talent, and technical resources. Spark programs include the Advanced Energy Accelerator, incubator space, SparkShop prototyping support, SparkScholar student talent program, and SparkPlug speaker and education series.

To learn more about the Spark Innovation Center, visit https://www.tnresearchpark.org/spark/.

About UT Research Park & The Peninsula Innovation District

Cherokee Farm Development Corporation serves as the master developer of the University of Tennessee Research Park and is leading the development of The Peninsula Innovation District, one of the most ambitious innovation district expansions in the Southeast.

What began as a 60-acre research park is growing into a 300 acre innovation district that brings together the University of Tennessee, UT Medical Center, UT Institute of Agriculture, UT Research Foundation (UTRF), researchers, entrepreneurs, startups, and industry partners around a shared vision for innovation, discovery, and economic growth. The district represents more than $750 million in planned investment, including major infrastructure improvements, new research facilities, startup support programs, and future mixed-use development.

This is an opportunity to join a small, highly collaborative team helping shape the future of research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development in East Tennessee. Team members work directly with organizational leadership, support high-impact initiatives, and gain exposure to executive decision-making while contributing to an organization experiencing significant growth and momentum.

How to Apply

• In your cover letter, please tell us three things: a time you were up against multiple deadlines at once, and specifically how you prioritized and kept all projects on track and on time; what your experience is with budgets, invoicing, grant reporting, and/or financial records; why a small, fast moving entrepreneurial program a great fit for you.
• We encourage candidates to share anything else that would help us understand how they would contribute to our team.
• Submit your cover letter and resume to spark@tnresearchpark.org, with subject line: Program and Grants Coordinator Application.

Position Summary

The Program and Grants Coordinator supports Spark’s grant administration, program coordination, reporting, and outreach efforts while maintaining organized records, metrics, and budgets. Success in this role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Budget, Grants, and Invoice Support

• Track Spark grant budgets and allocations using the grant tracking tool.
• Code invoices, secure approvals, forward invoices to UTRF for payment, confirm expenses post to the correct accounts, and reconcile the grant tracker to the general ledger.
• Maintain the grant reporting calendar, coordinate submissions with leadership, provide financial and metric data, and organize source materials, submission records, and reporting instructions.
• Support micro-grant administration by maintaining applications, organizing reviews, preparing approval and rejection letters, matching required documentation, submitting payment requests, and providing data for grant reporting.

Program Administration and Reporting

• Manage Spark’s Trello boards to keep tasks, deadlines, status updates, and follow-up items current.
• Coordinate sessions, including speaker scheduling, recording logistics, materials, Trello updates, and promotion when appropriate.
• Manage company metrics tracking with the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) and Oak Ridge Innovation Crossroads, including data collection, verification, founder follow-up, and response tracking.
• Manage he SparkScholar program, including company and student recruitment, project intake, role postings, candidate tracking, selection logistics, and on-boarding.
• Maintain the SparkScholar operating calendar for applications, interviews, on-boarding, project milestones, reporting deadlines, and payment dates.
• Maintain Spark intern billing records, including approved hours, project coding, grant allocation, payment backup, and invoice support.
• Assist the Director of SparkShop with the Resource Map by tracking updates, keeping information current, and monitoring usage activity.

Events and Communications

• Help develop and track SparkSphere educational programming, including topics, speakers, schedules, and follow-up items.
• Manage applications, promotion, and interview logistics for the Advanced Energy Accelerator.
• Coordinate scheduling, content, room reservations, refreshments, guest speaker logistics, and day-of preparation for the Advanced Energy Accelerator.
• Coordinate event promotion and logistics, including event listings, invitations, registration, reminders, materials, day-of support, and post-event updates.
• Maintain Spark social media pages and website content with current program information, events, deadlines, cohort updates, and approved updates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent experience in program administration, operations, grant administration, university programs, entrepreneurship support, nonprofit work, or economic development.
• Two to four years of relevant experience preferred. Strong early career candidates with clear organizational ability will be considered.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple deadlines, records, work streams, and follow-up items.
• Experience with spreadsheets, shared drives, calendars, forms, project management tools, and reporting trackers.
• Basic financial administration experience, including invoice tracking, account coding, budget tracking, or grant expense documentation.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to prepare clear emails, summaries, notes, and status updates.
• Ability to work professionally with founders, students, advisors, speakers, university staff, funders, and partner organizations.
• Careful attention to data accuracy, documentation, budget tracking, and reporting details.

Additional Information:

• Full-time, Exempt, on-site at the Spark Innovation Center at UT Research Park, Knoxville, TN (employed through Cherokee Farm Development Corporation).
• Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• This position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Responsibilities may evolve as organizational needs change.