What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Director for Mail Services - University Printing and Mail - UTK position at University of Tennessee, Knoxville?
Job Description
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is seeking an Assistant Director to lead Mail Services operations within the Print & Mail department. This role is responsible for managing daily mail and package operations across a 900 acre campus, ensuring reliable, efficient, and customer-focused service for faculty, staff, and students.
Serving more than 250 buildings and supporting thousands of campus users, Mail Services plays a critical role in campus connectivity—processing over 40,000 packages per month during peak periods. The Assistant Director provides leadership, operational oversight, and strategic direction to maintain high service standards while continuously improving processes, systems, and team performance.
Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
Required Qualifications
Print & Mail supports essential communication and logistics across the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Mail Services operates at a high volume and plays a key role in connecting students, faculty, and staff across campus.
Application Instructions
To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is seeking an Assistant Director to lead Mail Services operations within the Print & Mail department. This role is responsible for managing daily mail and package operations across a 900 acre campus, ensuring reliable, efficient, and customer-focused service for faculty, staff, and students.
Serving more than 250 buildings and supporting thousands of campus users, Mail Services plays a critical role in campus connectivity—processing over 40,000 packages per month during peak periods. The Assistant Director provides leadership, operational oversight, and strategic direction to maintain high service standards while continuously improving processes, systems, and team performance.
Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead and supervise full-time staff and student employees, including scheduling, training, and performance management
- Establish daily priorities and staffing plans to meet service expectations and peak demand periods
- Foster a highly productive and engaged team environment through onboarding, training, and communication
- Maintain strong relationships with campus partners and external vendors (USPS, FedEx, UPS, Amazon)
- Develop and report on performance metrics and recommend service improvements
- Oversee the accurate and timely processing, sorting, and delivery of all incoming and outgoing mail and packages
- Ensure efficient operation of intelligent package locker systems and troubleshoot issues as needed
- Develop and implement surge staffing and operational plans during high-volume periods
- Maintain equipment performance through preventative maintenance programs
- Ensure timely handling of return-to-sender items and cross-training of staff across operational areas
- Manage postage accounts and meter balances
- Oversee billing, chargebacks, and financial transactions in coordination with the Print & Mail business office
- Track key performance indicators to ensure service standards are met
- Support budget planning, equipment evaluations, and business case development for upgrades
- Manage vendor contracts, service agreements, and inventory of operational supplies
- Serve as the subject matter expert for USPS rules, regulations, and mailing standards
- Ensure compliance with postal requirements, bulk mailing processes, and passport services (as applicable)
- Maintain strong customer service programs and resolve concerns effectively
- Ensure public-facing information and communication channels are accurate and up to date
Required Qualifications
- 5–7 years of management or supervisory experience in mail and/or package services
- Demonstrated knowledge of mail operations, postal regulations, and shipping processes
- Experience with postage systems, package processing software, and bulk mail operations
- Associates or Bachelors Degree
- Experience in a higher education mail services environment
- Experience managing teams of full-time staff and student employees
- Familiarity with USPS systems (PostalOne, Business Customer Gateway), DFWorks, and presort software
- Experience with intelligent package locker systems and tracking technology
- Passport Acceptance Agent certification or ability to obtain
- Knowledge of large-scale mail and package operations (inbound, outbound, delivery)
- Knowledge of USPS regulations and bulk mailing processes
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and high-volume operations
- Strong customer service and communication skills
- Ability to oversee budgeting, financial tracking, and operational reporting
- Familiarity with automated mail systems and emerging technology trends
- Classification: Operations Management 1
- UT market range: MR13
- Anticipated hiring range: Commensurate with qualifications.
- Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
- Find more information on UT Benefits here
Print & Mail supports essential communication and logistics across the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Mail Services operates at a high volume and plays a key role in connecting students, faculty, and staff across campus.
Application Instructions
To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- List of 3 Professional References
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!