Director of Food Systems and Agriculture Policy, VPA

The Director of Food Systems and Agriculture Policy is part of the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator (VPA) in the Law School at Vanderbilt University and is the leader responsible for the development and implementation of the food systems and agriculture policy agenda and research portfolio. The Director will spend a significant amount of time providing strategic policy guidance and programmatic oversight of key VPA priorities in the areas of food production, distribution, agricultural regulation, rural economic development, and related governance challenges. This position reports to the Executive Director and Faculty Director of VPA. To be considered for this position, candidates must submit a cover letter, CV, and list of references. The Director of Food Systems and Agriculture Policy is part of the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator (VPA) in the Law School at Vanderbilt University and is the leader responsible for the development and implementation of the food systems and agriculture policy agenda and research portfolio. The Director will spend a significant amount of time providing strategic policy guidance and programmatic oversight of key VPA priorities in the areas of food production, distribution, agricultural regulation, rural economic development, and related governance challenges. This position reports to the Executive Director and Faculty Director of VPA. To be considered for this position, candidates must submit a cover letter, CV, and list of references. The Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator (VPA) focuses on a small number of cutting-edge topics in political economy and regulation. We bring research, education, and policy proposals in these areas from infancy to maturity and periphery to centrality. We cultivate, grow, and spread research, education, and policy ideas—and at a pace that aligns with the urgency of today’s challenges. We are currently in the midst of a political economy revolution. From antitrust to trade, swift changes are taking place that are reshaping how policymakers and the general public think about economic policy. These changes create an opportunity to advance new paradigms, research, and policy ideas. We are action focused. Each project we undertake seeks to accelerate developments in education, research, policy, and public debate. **Key Functions and Expected Performance:** **Lead the development and implementation of the food systems and agriculture policy agenda and research portfolio.** • Evaluate pressing challenges in food systems and agriculture policy, working closely with the faculty director and executive director to develop and implement a comprehensive policy agenda. • Develop a suite of new papers and policy proposals on topics of agriculture, food systems regulation, and rural economic development with an emphasis on building regional food economies. • Manage relevant public relations, media, press, and internal and external communications in consultation with the faculty director and executive director. • Responsible for project management of key initiatives in consultation with the executive director,ensuring administrative accuracy and integrity of VPA. • Advise on key components of the VPA budget in consultation with the executive director. • Expand outreach on key issue areas, overseeing the development of effective relationships and partnerships with local, regional, and national partners, stakeholders, and funders—including farm advocacy groups, food policy councils, rural development organizations, and relevant federal and state agencies. Manage outward-facing representation of VPA as a formal representative. **Produce research, white papers, policy briefs, and other policy communications like op-eds on key VPA priorities.** • Research, draft, and oversee the rollout of white papers, including academic publications and other policy products to be released by VPA. • Draft and oversee the development of policy briefs and other policy communications on key VPA priorities—including p…