Job detail for Global Initiatives Director

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. GFI works across four core ambitions:

• 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

GW’s unique strengths at the intersection of education, business, technology, healthcare, and international affairs – combined with its location at the center of U.S. policymaking – create the ideal environment for private- and public-sector leaders to develop lasting solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

GFI is seeking a Global Initiatives Director to develop and oversee GFI’s global portfolio. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Global Initiatives Director, GFI is recognized as a subject matter expert on international and/or global food policy issues, with special expertise in the humanitarian space, and either leads or directly contributes to GFI research, policy, and engagement work in the global arena. Working collaboratively with the team and other GW partners, they 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 with a major focus on conceptualizing, writing and managing driving policy briefs and translational research.  Writing for a public audience is a critical component of this job.

The role is entrepreneurial in nature: the Global Initiatives Director will inherit a foundation of relationships, projects, and institutional presence, and is expected to shape the portfolio's direction, particularly published products, going forward. As GFI grows, the Director may hire and supervise a team to support this work contingent on securing funding for additional staff positions. The incumbent will partner closely with GFI's other Directors – Curriculum, Policy, and Research – to build out a shared portfolio of ideas, communications, and engagement strategies. Together, this work will shape debates, guide policy, and inform the implementation of programs and practices.

Include:

• 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.

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.