Job Details

Job: Global Initiatives Director, Global Food Institute, Washington, D.C., USA

Date

23 Jan 2025

Advertiser's description (via the George Washington University):

About the Global Food Institute

Founded by The George Washington University (GW) and renowned chef, humanitarian and long-time GW instructor José Andrés, the Global Food Institute at GW ( GFI ) seeks to advance global food policy and address the world's most urgent problems by leveraging the power of food. The GFI works across three main pillars: Policy, Innovation and Humanity. The GFI is positioned to produce cutting-edge research to create and improve domestic and global food policies, incubate and engineer innovative new technologies with an entrepreneurial spirit, and lead critical conversations about the impact of food on humans and our planet.

The GFI enables GW faculty and students from each of its 10 schools and colleges, as well as food industry leaders, policymakers, and renowned experts to work and teach across its three pillars by:

• Educating the next generation through the lens of food;
• Becoming a hub of cross-disciplinary research, translation and innovation; and
• Convening leading experts in local, state, federal, and global food policy.

The GFI will convert actionable research and discoveries into real-world impact through cross disciplinary research and teaching. GW's unique location and strengths at the intersection of education, business, technology, healthcare, and international affairs create the ideal environment for private- and public-sector global leaders to develop innovative solutions to our most pressing challenges.

About the role

GFI is seeking an inaugural Global Initiatives Director to develop and oversee GFI's global portfolio. The Global Initiatives Director reports to the Executive Director, is recognized as a subject matter expert on international and/or global food policy issues and is a key strategic leader within the University and will directly oversee GFI research, policy and engagement work in the global arena. The GFI Global Director working collaboratively with the team and other GW partners will develop and execute a global program designed to advance the food needs of marginalized and disadvantaged people and to advance equity and justice in the global food system. The Director will hire and supervise a team to support this work and work to build an organization that will combine rigorous research and analysis, strategic communications, and effective engagement to shape debates, affect policy, and inform effective implementation of policy, programs and practices.

Responsibilities Include:

• Develop and advance a research and programmatic agenda in collaboration with team members and other policy experts that promotes equity and justice, addresses historic and systemic inequities, and advances the GFI's mission to ensure a global food system that supports everyone — especially people with low incomes and historically marginalized groups.
• Plan, develop and implement, in partnership with the Executive Director, GFI's global strategy and initiatives and build the operational infrastructure to support such activities, including hiring GFI's global team staff
• Play an integral role in GFI's leadership team, helping to set the strategic vision and values for the organization as well as promoting a culture and environment that reflects those values
• Coordinates across disciplines and departments at the University to advance and leverage research, teaching, convening, and the University's mission to address the world's most complex food related problems
• Lead project management and operations of the GFI international work, programs team and projects, including the prioritization and assignment of internal projects. Manage them from end to end, ensuring that projects remain on schedule and lead successful outcomes. Ensure that grant deliverables are met.
• Lead the development of our learning and knowledge into opinions, organizational positions and best practices which can be used to create policies that drive the food system forward in the optimal direction.
• Designs and executes GFI events, such as conferences, convenings, webinars designed to engage and inform the GW, stakeholder, policy maker and media communities,
• Develop strong relationships with funding entities that support or are interested in GFI's work and collaborate with GW's Department of Develop and Alumni Relations team to ensure continued financial support for this work from philanthropy, government, and individual donors
• Develops and fosters strategic relationships, including recruiting public and private sector partners from diverse communities as well as supporting shared research efforts
• Supports the GFI student community, including by providing support to the Food Leadership Minor, working on shared programming with GW Departments and Schools and other student engagement activities,
• Serve as a spokesperson for GFI issues for the media, at conferences, with funders and other stakeholders, and other speaking engagements.

This is an in-person position at GW's Foggy Bottom campus in Washington, D.C., with flexibility for remote-work opportunities at the Executive Director's discretion. Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.