Director of Federal Relations, Government Relations and Advocacy - UT System Administration

About the job

The Director of Federal Relations will serve as a key member of the Office of Federal Relations, advancing the university's federal priorities related to agriculture, natural resources, extension, rural development, and related research and workforce initiatives. Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice President of Federal Relations, the Director will lead the development and execution of the university's federal agriculture engagement strategy and serve as a key liaison to congressional offices, federal agencies, and national agriculture stakeholders on agriculture-related issues. The Director will work collaboratively with the Director of Federal Relations for Agency Engagement to coordinate engagement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other federal agencies with agriculture-related portfolios while supporting the Assistant Vice President's overall federal strategy.

The position will also support all functions of the Federal Relations office, including UT leadership engagement in Washington, federal stakeholder campus visits, federal relations event planning, special projects, federal reporting and compliance activity, and the development of strategies and materials to support UT priorities and partnership opportunities across all areas of public policy.

POSITION LOCATED IN WASHINGTON, DC

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive federal engagement strategy to advance UT’s agriculture priorities and position UT as a national leader on agriculture policy and research
• Build and maintain relationships with relevant congressional offices, congressional committees, USDA leadership, and national agriculture and commodity groups
• Identify emerging federal opportunities affecting agriculture, extension, rural communities, food systems, forestry, animal health, precision agriculture, and related fields
• Increase UT leadership engagement with federal agriculture stakeholders through Washington, DC meetings and VIP campus visits
• Serve as a key congressional liaison for agriculture-related issues, developing engagement strategies to increase visibility and support for UT agriculture priorities
• Monitor legislation and policy developments affecting agriculture and develop materials and recommendations to advise engagement
• Prepare and communicate briefing materials, talking points, and legislative recommendations to UT leadership
• Coordinate and lead annual visit by UT Cohort of APLU Council on Agriculture, Research, Education and Teaching (CARET)
• Support AVP of Federal Relations in agriculture-related federal priority development and strategy, including developing Community Project Funding requests and programmatic appropriations requests
• Draft and submit relevant appropriations requests, support letters, and congressional justification materials
• Support overall federal relations team annual appropriations priority development, submission, and advocacy
• In coordination with the Director of Federal Relations for Agency Engagement, support campus grant planning efforts by identifying and developing engagement strategy for largescale agriculture federal grant opportunities
• Coordinate closely with the Director of Federal Relations for Agency Engagement to ensure consistent engagement with USDA and other relevant federal agencies
• Support federal relations special projects and events
• Support compliance efforts with university policies, protocols, and various federal laws governing contact with federal officials

Qualifications

Successful candidate will hold a Bachelor’s degree and have a minimum of five (5) years of experience in public policy within a congressional office, federal agency, Executive branch office, industry group, or government relations firm.

Additional required qualifications include:

• Additional required qualifications include a strong understanding of agriculture policy and the federal role in agricultural research and Extension, and a comprehensive and demonstrated knowledge of Congress, the federal legislative process, and federal appropriations.
• Knowledge of USDA programs, agricultural research funding, Extension, and rural development programs
• Strong understanding of the federal appropriations process, and experience developing federal appropriations requests or Community Project Funding requests
• Experience working with Congress, congressional staff, or federal agencies, including with House or Senate Agriculture Committees and Appropriations Committees
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including through briefing materials, policy memoranda, and congressional correspondence
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with a wide array of stakeholders; • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Familiarity with federal research agencies supporting agriculture; • Experience producing materials for and briefing principal-level leaders
• Existing relationships with congressional offices, federal agencies, and national agriculture stakeholders; • Ability to identify legislative opportunities and develop effective advocacy strategies
• Strong relationship-building and coalition development skills; • Strong strategic planning and project management abilities
• Ability to synthesize complex policy issues into concise recommendations for leadership
• Strong organizational skills with careful attention to detail; • Strong commitment to excellence and integrity.

Preferred qualifications:

A Master’s degree, JD, or other advanced degree

Application Process For full consideration, applications should be accompanied by a letter of interest, a resume, and three professional references. Review of applications will begin immediately.

Benefits and Compensation Compensation for the position is budgeted for $150,000 to $175,000.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits and much more. Additionally, Tennessee residents do not pay a state income tax. For more information on the University of Tennessee’s benefits, visit https://hr.tennessee.edu/benefits/ 

About Us

The University of Tennessee System is the state’s oldest higher education institution and preeminent public university. The UT System is comprised of campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski and Martin; the Health Science Center at Memphis; and the statewide Institute of Agriculture and Institute for Public Service. With a presence in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties and through the combined force of education, research and outreach, the University serves students, business and industry, schools, governments, organizations and residents statewide.

Additional Information

• Job Identification: 10650
• Job Category: Government Relations
• Posting Date: 2026-11-04
• Job Schedule: Full time
• Locations: 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave, Nashville, TN, 37243, US ()