Director of Tennessee Center for Local Governance at the Baker School, UTK
Virginia Commonwealth University, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Knoxville, TN, United States
The Director will build a new Tennessee Center for Local Governance at the Baker School. With support from the Dean and Baker School faculty, the Director will set vision, strategic direction, and administrative and thought leadership to support the Center's mission: strengthening subnational government capacity by applying Baker School expertise to the needs of local and state governments and mission‑aligned non‑profits. The Director will work closely with Baker School faculty and public‑sector leaders to design research partnerships, translate Baker faculty scholarship into practical tools, and create high‑impact experiential learning opportunities for students. The position emphasizes relationship‑building, research translation, evidence‑based policy making, and teaching and mentoring. The Director will both lead independent research and help structure research projects and relationships led by affiliated Baker faculty.
Responsibilities
- Academic Programs and Outreach
- Program and Operations Management
- Business and Financial Management
Required Qualifications
Education: Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, or a related field
Experience
- Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in local or state government, public administration, or a related field
- Demonstrated success managing complex stakeholder environments and advancing strategic initiatives
- Experience developing partnerships with public and nonprofit sector stakeholders
- Experience managing budgets, projects, or externally funded initiatives
- Experience teaching, facilitating executive education, or mentoring early‑career professionals
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong knowledge of state and local governance structures
- Proven ability to build and sustain relationships with public‑sector and community partners
- Ability to translate research and data into actionable tools and recommendations
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to convey complex ideas clearly
- Experience designing and executing applied research projects
- Strong organizational and project management skillsi>
- Ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines
- Demonstrated ability to teach, mentor, or coach students