Director of Tennessee Center for Local Governance Baker School UTK

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 Centers 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.

Academic Programs and Outreach

• Works with Baker School faculty leaders from nonprofits and local and state government officials to identify design and sustain long-term applied research partnerships and projects.

• Coordinates strategic research initiatives drawing on faculty expertise across the Baker School.

• Translates faculty research into public goods for use by leaders in public and nonprofit organizations including policy briefs toolkits frameworks and implementation resources.

• Oversees the development of data products and research dissemination tools (e.g. dashboards reports web-based resources) that serve as ongoing assets for local state and nonprofit partners.

• Teaches and/or co-teaches courses seminars or workshops at the Baker School as appropriate.

• Mentors students in applied policy research professional communication and public-sector problem solving.

• Work in conjunction with program directors to design and oversee consulting and capstone projects for undergraduate and graduate students offered as coursework and/or extracurricular programming.

• Oversees professionally focused programming including internships public-sector consulting clubs speaker series and practitioner panels.

Program and Operations Management

• Provides overall leadership and strategic direction for the Center.

• Directs the day-to-day operations of the Center ensuring alignment with the Baker Schools academic mission and strategic priorities.

• Supervises professional staff and student employees; provides training mentoring and performance feedback.

• Plans prioritizes and manages programmatic activities to ensure goals are met and projects are successfully executed.

• Develops and implements unit policies procedures and workflows that support applied research teaching and engagement activities.

• Evaluates program effectiveness and implements improvements to research initiatives academic programming and external partnerships.

• Builds and sustains strong relationships with local and state policy leaders serving as the primary liaison between the Center faculty students and external partners.

• Ensures compliance with applicable university state and federal rules and regulations.

Business and Financial Management

• Oversees the Centers budget including planning allocation and monitoring of resources to support academic programs and strategic initiatives.

• Supports the development and management of external funding including grants contracts and sponsored research agreements.

• Provides oversight of fiscal policies transactions and reporting in collaboration with Baker School administration.

• Allocates resources strategically to support faculty research partnerships data product development and student consulting initiatives.

• Ensures responsible stewardship of financial resources and compliance with university policies and applicable legal requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Masters 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 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 skills

  • Ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines

  • Demonstrated ability to teach mentor or coach students

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Ph.D. in Public Policy Public Administration or a related field

• Experience:

  • Experience working with Tennessee local governments

  • Demonstrated success in grant writing fundraising or contract management

  • Experience leading cross-sector or multi-jurisdictional collaborations

  • Experience leading student consulting teams or client-based learning environments

  • Teaching experience at the undergraduate or graduate level

• Knowledge Skills Abilities:

  • Knowledge of government operations policy processes and administrative decision-making

  • Experience developing academic or externally funded research agendas

  • Advanced skills in research design data analysis or policy evaluation

  • Familiarity with research-practice partnerships

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville TN

• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR14

• Anticipated hiring range: $00

• Find more information on the UT Market Range structurehere

• Find more information on UT Benefitshere

Application Instructions

To express interest please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration applications must contain all requested materials.

• Resume

• Cover Letter

About The College/Department/Division

The University of Tennessee Knoxville is the states flagship research institution a campus of choice for outstanding undergraduates and a premier graduate institution. As a land-grant university it is committed to excellence in learning scholarship and engagement with society.

The Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs was established in 2023 to honor the distinguished life and legacy of Howard H. Baker Jr. a former U.S. Senator Senate Majority Leader White House Chief of Staff and Ambassador to Japan. Located in a 51000-square-foot purpose-built facility the Baker School evolved from the Baker Center which for over twenty years has operated as a leading think tank producing research public engagement programming and student-focused initiatives.

Today the Baker School is expanding its impact through new academic degree programs and the development of independent research centers including the Tennessee Center for Local Governance. The School also houses the Institute of American Civics which promotes civic knowledge and engagement among University of Tennessee students and communities across the state.

We are a dynamic collaborative and mission-driven team dedicated to advancing research education and public service that addresses real-world challenges at the local state national and global levels. As a fast-growing and evolving organization we value innovation teamwork and the contributions of each team member in moving the Baker School forward.