Director, Tennessee Center for Local Governance

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 School’s 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 Center’s 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: Master’s 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