Cooperative Extension Specialist and Director Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI) at the University of California (24-13)

Cooperative Extension Specialist and Director Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI)
The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Specialist to become the next Director of the Nutrition Policy Institute. NPI engages in and incorporates others' rigorous research to strengthen public policy relating to food and nutrition, particularly state and federal policy that focuses on food disparities impacting low-income individuals, families, and communities.

The Director leads strategic food and nutrition policy research, cultivates partnerships, identifies and secures grant funding, and provides overall leadership and operational oversight of the Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI). NPI is a special statewide program within UC ANR, with the mission of conducting, translating, and bringing to decision makers and the community policy-relevant research to transform environments for healthy children, families, and communities. NPI's goal is to achieve optimal nutrition and health by improving federal, state and local nutrition programs and policies, food systems, and physical and social environments. NPI focuses on populations experiencing health disparities in California and nationally.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the vision and mission of the Institute remain innovative and relevant in a changing field and world.
• Inspire the team of NPI professionals to foster excellence in studying, evaluating, and addressing critical food and nutrition policy issues in the state of California and nationally.
• Identify and secure new funding opportunities to support applied research and extension activities benefiting the nutrition and health of people and communities in California and nationally, including idea generation, cultivation of strategic partnerships, preparation of grant applications, maintenance of existing and development of new state and federal agency contracts, and engagement with other funding organizations.
• Lead and oversee large contracts and grants supporting applied nutrition research including the scientific assessment of outcomes and impacts, budget management, communications with funding agencies on progress and deliverables, and translation and dissemination of results for academic, policy, practice, and lay audiences.
• Oversee a team of academics, staff, and students conducting research and managing operations, which includes hiring, supervision, annual performance evaluations, merits and promotions as well as overall budget and communications oversight.
• Generate and communicate scientific information through engagement and dissemination with partner organizations, impacted individuals and communities, policy makers, state and federal agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Lead the coordination and preparation of co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles, conference presentations, research briefs, policy papers, and funder reports adding substantively to the evidence-based for impactful public health nutrition.

Leadership and Administrative Elements: Provide vision, inspire, and motivate others with positive attitude and actions; set a high standard for excellence; innovate and foster improvements; model and support a healthy working environment; encourage and be open to exploring new ideas; cultivate the next generation of food and nutrition policy researchers and leaders; and provide active, ongoing advocacy and support for NPI and other related ANR programs.