Global Initiatives Director, Global Food Institute

• Education: developing and empowering the next generation of food leaders
• Research: leading practice-informed, solutions-oriented research developed in direct collaboration with practitioners and community partners
• Exchange: building platforms to generate, elevate, and share insights
• Community & Partnerships: cultivating partnerships to drive shared solutions

• Under the direction of the Executive Director, develop and advance a research and programmatic agenda in collaboration with team members, GW faculty and institutes, and other policy experts that advances the GFI’s mission to ensure a global food system that supports everyone — especially historically marginalized groups.
• Develop 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. This includes translating research and evidence for non-academic audiences through published policy briefs, op-eds, commentaries, and other public-facing products on a regular basis.
• Participate 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.
• Advancement to ensure this work translates into continued financial support.
• Design and lead GFI events, such as conferences, convenings, webinars – including building and stewarding external research and policy communities of practice – designed to engage and inform the GW, stakeholder, policy maker and media communities.
• Develop and foster strategic relationships across government, multilateral institutions, universities, and the private sector, recruiting diverse partners who can expand GFI’s reach, inform policy, and support shared research efforts.
• Support the GFI and broader GW student community, including by providing support to the Food Leadership Minor, working on shared programming with GW Departments and Schools, connecting students to research and internships, and other student engagement activities.
• Lead and contribute to grant proposals and funding applications, and manage relationships with co-principal investigators. 

• Demonstrated writing and analytical skills with particular experience in research translation and policy communication, including a range of public facing products, including: policy reports, white papers, op eds, blogs and proposals. 
• Experience in one or more aspects of the global food system, with a priority in humanitarian aid and emergency response, food security policy, or international development – with a record of publications and presentations in the applicant’s field of expertise.
• A deep commitment to GW’s values; honesty, with the highest ethical standards.
• A naturally collaborative mindset that readily engages with others, encourages others to share the spotlight and celebrates and supports the success of colleagues and partners.
• Demonstrated experience managing research projects and teams – including across teams – bringing projects to fruition, successfully managing projects and budgets.
• Experience establishing networks and partnerships and ability to demonstrate a strong portfolio of contacts in the non-profit, private, and government sectors is desired.
• Experience securing and providing appropriate stewardship of philanthropic gifts and research or project grants from foundations and the government is desired. Experience writing proposals, including multi-institution collaborative proposals, is strongly preferred.
• Entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit; enthusiastic about building and launching a new enterprise.
• Open and direct communicator.
• Willingness to travel for meetings and engagement with key partners.
• Experience with higher education institutions is a plus.
• Fluency in English. Good communications skills in an additional language is a plus.

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

• Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status.
• This position is grant-funded and is contingent upon funding.
• Please submit three writing samples from the last five years as a single
  PDF. Samples should demonstrate experience in research translation and policy
  communication, including a range of public-facing products such as policy
  reports, white papers, op-eds, blogs, and proposals.