Job Details

Assistant Director of National Security & Foreign Affairs, Baker School - UTK

Position Number: 6315318
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Position Type: Liberal Arts - Political Science

Assistant Director of National Security & Foreign Affairs, Baker School - UTK
Knoxville, TN, United States

Job Identification: 3454
Job Category: Administrative
Posting Date: 06/20/2025
Job Schedule: Full Time
Locations: 1640 Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, TN, 37996, US (On-site)

Job Description
The Howard H. Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs (Baker School) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, seeks applications for a full-time Assistant Director at the Center for National Security & Foreign Affairs (NSFA) at the Baker School. We seek candidates with national security and/or foreign affairs expertise who can help lead the Center's efforts to deliver high quality student experience through undergraduate, graduate, and executive education, both in person and online. The successful candidate will also contribute to the Center's policy engagement work through research and public engagement activities.

The Baker School offers a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) with concentrations in national security and nuclear policy, among other focus areas.

This position will play a central role in shaping and expanding the Center for National Security and Foreign Affairs' (NSFA) impact on national security, foreign policy, and public engagement. Working closely with the Director, the Assistant Director will help build a nationally recognized hub for scholarship, student development, and public policy engagement in national security and foreign affairs. This position is responsible for advancing the Center's vision to become a dynamic platform for connecting students, faculty, policymakers, and the public through rigorous research, strategic partnerships, and experiential learning. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of the Center's policy engagement through the execution of research projects, conferences, policy dialogues, and public events that reflect the Center's commitment to addressing today's most pressing national security and foreign policy challenges. The candidate will work with NSFA-affiliated faculty and student research assistants on research projects, policy briefs, and reports related to national security and foreign affairs. The candidate will also help build the Center's presence as a trusted, nonpartisan contributor to state, national, and international policy conversations. This position will work closely with the NSFA Director and the Baker School's Student Success team to engage and mentor students interested in careers in state and federal government, the private sector, thinktanks, and other organizations in the fields of national security, foreign policy, nuclear policy, and related fields. This includes developing and delivering training, supporting professional development experiences such as internships, fellowships, study abroad opportunities (including the Baker School's program in Japan), Washington, D.C. trips, guest speaker events, and wargaming simulations. The position will help expand and deepen these opportunities to build a robust professional pathway for students entering the field. This is a forward-facing role for a strategic builder, ideally suited for someone

committed to educating future public servants, producing policy-relevant research, and strengthening the bridge between academia and the national policymaking community.

Responsibilities
POLICY ENGAGEMENT (50%)

Assists in developing and implementing strategic planning objectives, initiatives, and activities for the center.
Identifies opportunities for externally funded research from foundations, government agencies, and/or corporate entities.
Participates in the development and submission of proposals.
Proposes and produces research-based policy briefs and reports about topics relevant to NSFA expertise.
Participates in the planning and execution of funded and unfunded research projects.
Supervises student research assistants while providing direction and mentorship.
Participates in periodic meetings with university partners, external partners, and other stakeholders to discuss joint issues and initiatives.
Participates in periodic management meetings to relay information about center updates and issues.
Clearly and effectively communicates research findings through presentations to funders, professional audiences, and/or policymakers and other audiences.
Interacts and networks within the Baker School, with NSFA affiliates and fellows, and across campus to seek potential collaborators and develop potential research projects.

STUDENT MENTORSHIP & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (50%)

Develops and delivers presentations at high schools and regional colleges about national security, foreign affairs, and/or nuclear policy to grow interest in the undergraduate and graduate programs at the Baker School.
Develop and deliver training for students and outside stakeholders for policy education and professional development.
Collaborates with the NSFA Director and the school's office of Student Success to develop and implement national security and foreign affairs-related experiences for students, both within and outside the classroom, including student travel.
Identify, plan, and organize support for professional development experiences such as internships, fellowships, study abroad opportunities (including the Baker School's program in Japan), Washington, D.C. trips, guest speaker events, and crisis or wargaming simulations.
Advises students on academic and career matters.
Maintains regular office hours for student interaction.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications

Education:

Candidates must hold a master's degree in political science, public policy, international relations, defense or security studies, or a related field.

Experience:

Experience in government, public policy, national security, international security, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, teaching or research in public policy / foreign policy schools, or related career areas.
Experience in working on research related to national security, foreign affairs, and related topics.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Knowledge of applicable policy processes and actors in national security and foreign affairs.
Ability to work independently and in collaborative multidisciplinary teams.
Ability to develop, plan, and implement short- and long-range goals.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
Commitment to teaching excellence and student success.
Strong knowledge of field concepts, practices, procedures, and professional standards in national security and foreign affairs.
Strong research design and analytical skills.
Commitment to continuous professional development.
- A PhD in political science, public policy, international relations, defense/security studies, or a related field

Preferred Qualifications

Education: A PhD in political science, public policy, international relations, defense/security studies, or a related field
Experience: Experience in higher education teaching. Strong publication record in relevant field

Work Location

Knoxville, TN
On-site
Remote work may be available on either Thursday or Friday with the permission of the position supervisor and consistent with the institution's regulations. This may be impacted by in-person responsibilities and events that conflict with this schedule.

UT market range:

MR 11

Applicants should submit the materials below:

Cover letter explaining research experience, any teaching experience, any policy experience, any relevant qualifications, and interest in the position
CV
Graduate transcripts
Writing samples of policy related research
Teaching evaluations (if available)
List of three (3) references

About the Howard H. Baker Jr. School for Public Policy and Public Affairs (Baker School)

The Howard H. Baker Jr. School for Public Policy and Public Affairs (Baker School) was established in 2023 to honor the distinguished life and legacy of Howard H. Baker Jr., a former US Senator, Senate Majority Leader, White House Chief of Staff, and Ambassador to Japan. Located in a 51,000-sq. In a purpose-built facility, the Baker School evolved from the Baker Center, which operated as a think tank producing research, public engagement programming, and an active set of student programs for twenty years. The Baker School now offers degree programs and developed its research initiatives into independent research centers - NSFA and the Center for Transportation, Energy, and Environmental Policy (CETEP). In addition, the Baker School houses the Institute of American Civics, which encourages civic knowledge and participation among UT students and the state at large.

Who We Are

We are a dynamic and close-knit team of dedicated and hardworking individuals devoted to research, education, and public service initiatives that address real-world problems in local, state, national, and global communities. Each team member is a valuable contributor to achieving our mission, and we work together to find innovative approaches to moving the Baker School forward. We are fast-moving and growing. Our work continually evolves to meet changing needs.

About Us
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees-the Volunteers-who uphold the university's tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee's flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy's largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as "Best Employer for New Graduates," "One of America's Best Large Employers," and "Best Workplace for Women," and has been designated as "Best Place for Working Parents" by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!

To apply, visit https://fa-ewlq-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/3454/?mode=location