Assistant Director, Global Agriculture & Food, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, founded in 1922, is a leading independent, nonpartisan organization committed to influencing the discourse on global issues through contributions to opinion and policy formation, leadership dialogue, and public learning. As neither an advocacy organization nor a sector‐specific actor, it is able to bring together stakeholders from different sectors and serve as an honest broker able to sort through and synthesize diverse viewpoints. Its analyses and policy recommendations have had direct impact on federal policymaking and in shaping public opinion.

The Chicago Council’s portfolio on Global Agriculture and Food includes a suite of projects focusing on the U.S. government role in global agricultural development in Africa and South Asia; U.S. domestic agriculture policy; the role of girls in rural development; and the nexus between agriculture and health. Please see below for a list of current projects.

The Chicago Council is seeking an Assistant Director to support its Global Agriculture and Food portfolio. The primarily responsibilities of the Assistant Director are to manage the production and dissemination of the portfolio’s intellectual products, including reports, white papers, and commentaries. As part of this responsibility, the Assistant Director will also work closely with the Executive Director, Global Agriculture and Food to engage the Global Agricultural Development Initiative Advisory Group and manage other operational components of the Initiative.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Work closely with the Executive Director in providing operational management to the Global Agricultural Development Initiative including, but not limited to, budget management, creating and overseeing work plans, and representing the Initiative to external funders and stakeholders
• Design and manage the study, publication, and dissemination processes for Global Agricultural Development Initiative policy papers, issue briefs, and other studies
• Assist with Global Agricultural Development Initiative events including meetings of the Initiative’s advisory group, consultations with senior policymakers and experts, working group sessions, etc.
• Draft correspondences, project marketing materials, and opeds/articles as needed or upon request
• Supervise support staff and interns as assigned
• Provide support at Council events approximately 3 - 4 times monthly (registration, ushering, etc.), requiring some evening and early morning hours;
• Perform other projects as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• A master’s degree with a focus on international affairs or related field of study and at least five years of experience in the policy arena, preferably experience working in the foreign, development, and/or agriculture policy realms
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with others to effectively manage and carry out various portions of complex projects with multiple activity streams being realized under tight timelines with minimal supervision
• Excellent management and organizational skills, strong attention to detail, desire and ability to take initiative and work independently, and professional maturity
• Demonstrated experience in event planning for delegation trips, meetings, and conferences involving senior individuals (domestic and foreign dignitaries, CEOs, senior policymakers, Member of Congress, etc.)
• Superior verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex concepts and topics clearly, thoroughly, and succinctly, and support decision making in consensus-based processes
• Strong writing and editorial skills, preferably experience with policy-relevant writing
• Desire and ability to work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced, dynamic, and demanding environment; flexible schedule in working late evenings/early mornings on occasion
• Innovative problem-solver and a proactive spirit.

TO APPLY

Please e-mail a cover letter and résumé as Word documents to hr@thechicagocouncil.org. 

EOE