The University of Tennessee, Knoxville - HUMAN RESOURCES

What The University of Tennessee, Knoxville - HUMAN RESOURCES does

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Human Resources is an internal administrative department of the public flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System, founded in 1794 and located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The department serves the campus's 9,000+ faculty, staff, graduate student employees, temporary staff, and prospective job applicants. Its operating model is a cost center: services are funded through the university's operating budget and generate no external revenue, with no commercial pricing model. Operations are structured around distinct functional programs rather than a unified platform, including Staff and Faculty Positions recruitment (delivered through the UT Jobs Board on Oracle Cloud HCM), Executive Search for leadership roles, Temporary Employment staffing, New Vol Onboarding (a guided 30-day process), the 946-CARE 24/7 distressed employee hotline, the Dual Career Program for relocating families, and the HR Employee Hub on SharePoint for internal communications.

The department's technology stack consists of standard HRIS platforms and an Oracle Cloud-based application tracking system, with no proprietary technology assets or AI capabilities. Its go-to-market is effectively sales-led direct service: in-person support at the new Cherokee Mills office suite (2220 Sutherland Ave, Ste 220, relocated January 12, 2026), online job application management, executive search services, and multi-channel communications through the hr.utk.edu website, SharePoint hub, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The department is led by Associate Vice Chancellor & CHRO Tarah Keeler and includes approximately 40 named staff across recruitment, compensation and classification, employee relations, HRIS, employee experience, career development, executive search, and HR operations functions.

As a state government entity, UTK HR operates under the governance of the Tennessee General Assembly and UT Board of Trustees, with the UT System HR providing centralized policies, benefits administration, and payroll. External recognitions in 2025-2026 include Forbes 'Dream Employer' and 'Best Employer for New Graduates,' Great Place to Work Certification, Best Place for Working Parents, and the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services Veteran Ready Business Bronze Badge. The department's partnership network spans internal university functions (UT Police Department, Title IX, Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, Ombuds Services) and external community resources (Helen Ross McNabb Center, Family Justice Center) supporting the 946-CARE employee wellness program.

Name

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville - HUMAN RESOURCES

Legal name

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Website

https://hr.utk.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1794

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Human Resources is an internal administrative department of the public flagship campus serving 9,000+ faculty, staff, and job seekers through recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, executive search, compensation, wellness, and career development programs, funded by the university's operating budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University Human Resources Services

NAICS

Human Resources Consulting Services (541612), Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Temporary Help Services (561320), Administration of Human Resource Programs (except Education, Public Health, and Veterans' Affairs Programs) (923130)

SIC

Services-Help Supply Services (7363), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADAKAG

Human Resources & Faculty/Staff Administration

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Institutional Governance & Administration (School/College/University Admin)

SECONDARYBPACAKAI

HR Service Delivery & Employee Contact Centers (HR Helpdesk)

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/HR Outsourcing (HRO) & Shared Services

SECONDARYBPAEAGAF

HRIS/HCM Managed Services & Support

Business & Public Services/IT & Digital Services (Managed Services, Systems Integration)/Enterprise Applications Services (ERP/CRM/HRIS)

SECONDARYBPACAFAA

General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry)

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Permanent Placement & Direct Hire

Keywords

• University human resources
• Employee recruitment services
• Faculty and staff hiring
• Employee onboarding programs
• Workforce wellness support

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. University HR Administrative Services: The Human Resources department operates as an administrative unit of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, providing HR services to university employees. Services are funded through the university's operating budget and do not generate external revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The UT Knoxville Human Resources department provides internal HR services to the university's 9,000+ faculty, staff, graduate student employees, temporary staff, and potential employees. Core offerings include recruitment and hiring for staff and faculty positions, executive search for leadership roles, temporary employment placement, new employee onboarding, employee relations and compensation consulting, a 24/7 wellness hotline (946-CARE), a dual career relocation program, and an internal communications hub. Services are delivered as administrative support of the university and are funded through the university's operating budget.

Product overview

The UT Knoxville Human Resources department provides a comprehensive suite of HR services organized as distinct operational programs rather than a unified software platform. Core offerings include Staff Positions and Faculty Positions recruitment services (powered by Oracle Cloud HCM), Executive Search for leadership recruitment, Temporary Employment for flexible staffing, New Vol Onboarding for new employee orientation, the 946-CARE Program for employee wellness and crisis support, the Dual Career Program for relocating families, and the HR Employee Hub for internal communications. These services function as distinct programs serving faculty, staff, graduate student employees, temporary staff, and job seekers, with shared infrastructure for employee records and recruitment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Staff Positions Recruitment Recruitment and staffing services connecting job seekers with staff positions at UT Knoxville, offering online application management and position tracking through Oracle Cloud-based systems.
• Faculty Positions Recruitment Recruitment services for faculty roles at UT Knoxville, coordinated through the Office of the Provost to maintain a supportive academic environment.
• Executive Search Executive recruitment and selection services for top-tier leadership positions at UTK, partnering with stakeholders to identify talent aligned with university vision.
• Temporary Employment Temporary employment opportunities ranging from weeks to months, potentially leading to permanent roles, covering administrative, skilled, and general labor positions across campus.
• New Vol Onboarding Guided onboarding process directing new employees from pre-start date through the first 30 days, covering tasks such as I-9 scheduling, NetID setup, parking permits, insurance, and campus tours.
• 946-CARE Program 24/7 hotline (865-946-2273) providing confidential support to distressed faculty and staff, with trained HR professionals assessing situations and coordinating appropriate action including referrals to campus and community resources.
• Dual Career Program Support program helping spouses and partners of newly hired UTK employees find employment in the Knoxville area through consultations, resume review, interview coaching, and networking assistance for up to two years.

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supportive.

• UT Police DepartmentcoreOthersCampus safety partner providing 24/7 police services and emergency response. HR collaborates with UTPD on the 946-CARE Response Team for threat assessment and employee safety.
• Helen Ross McNabb CentersupportiveOthersCommunity mental health resource available to faculty and staff through the 946-CARE program for employee wellness support.
• Family Justice CentersupportiveOthers24/7 help line resource for distressed faculty and staff referrals through the 946-CARE program.
• Office of Ombuds ServicessupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerConfidential, informal, and independent resource for faculty and staff to discuss workplace concerns.
• Office of Title IXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for handling discrimination, harassment, and Title IX-related concerns affecting employees.
• Equal Opportunity and AccessibilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHR partner for ensuring workplace accessibility accommodations and equal opportunity compliance.
• The University of Tennessee System HRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent system HR providing policies, benefits administration, and payroll services while UTK HR manages local campus operations.
• Dual Career Recruitment CollaboratorssupportiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCompanies and recruitment teams that partner with UT's Dual Career Program to access qualified candidates transitioning to Knoxville. Recruiters connect qualified candidates from Dual Career Program participants with employment opportunities.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• University of Alabama - Human Resources: Alabama HR serves a similarly sized SEC public flagship university workforce with parallel recruitment, onboarding, classification, and employee wellness programs, making it a strong functional peer to UTK HR.
• University of Texas at Austin - Human Resources: UT Austin HR is a large public-flagship HR function with directly comparable scope in faculty/staff recruiting, employee relations, compensation, and HRIS across a Big-12 public research university campus.
• Vanderbilt University - Human Resources: Vanderbilt HR is the closest Tennessee-based peer institutional HR function, operating a similar suite of recruitment, employee relations, and HRIS services for a large research university workforce in the same regional labor market.
• Ohio State University - Human Resources: Ohio State HR is a top-tier public-flagship HR function with analogous scale (~30,000+ employees served) and similar operating model spanning recruitment, talent management, compensation, and HRIS.
• University of Georgia - Human Resources: UGA HR is a closely matched SEC peer institutional HR function with comparable scope in faculty/staff recruitment, employee relations, compensation, and HRIS across a large public research university campus.
• University of Florida - Human Resources: UF HR is the most direct comparable: a SEC peer and large public flagship university HR department serving a similar multi-thousand faculty/staff population, providing recruitment, employee relations, benefits, and HRIS services for the University of Florida campus.
• Penn State University - Human Resources: Penn State HR is a large public research-university HR department with a comparable multi-thousand-employee service scope and similar mix of recruitment, benefits, learning, and workforce programs.
• Auburn University - Human Resources: Auburn HR is a SEC public-flagship peer providing the same internal HR service suite — recruitment, onboarding, classification, employee relations, and HRIS — for a comparable faculty/staff population.
• University of Kentucky - Human Resources: UK HR is a regional/SEC peer operating the same kind of campus HR function for a public flagship research university, with overlapping services in faculty/staff hiring, employee relations, and HRIS administration.

Others

• University of Tennessee System Human Resources: The UT System HR office is the parent-organization counterpart that sets system-wide policies, benefits, and payroll while UTK HR manages local campus operations — a governance peer rather than a competing peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hrutk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/utknoxville-hr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The University of Tennessee, Knoxville - HUMAN RESOURCES