Director, Government and External Affairs

DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER•Olivette, MO

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting directly to the President, the Director of Government and External Affairs leads the Danforth Center’s engagement with government at the local, regional, and national levels. The Director ensures this engagement is strategic, coordinated, and aligned with the Center’s mission, values, and strategic plan. Because the Center’s science is largely grant funded, the role focuses on how public policy, appropriations, and agency priorities shape the Center’s funding environment, and on positioning the Center to anticipate change, compete effectively, and leverage public-sector partnerships. The Director is a core member of the Office of the President. In partnership with the Executive Assistant, the Director helps the President focus time on the highest-value priorities, manages key projects and strategic initiatives on the President’s behalf, and ensures commitments and action items are carried through to completion. The role also represents the President and the Center in external engagements, develops strategic relationships, supports executive thought leadership, and performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Leadership experience in nonprofit, public-sector, or mission-driven organizations.
Demonstrated success engaging with government officials and senior external stakeholders.
Familiarity with public policy and government processes relevant to the Center’s work.
Strong strategic judgment and ability to represent executive leadership with credibility and discretion.
Experience working closely with boards and executive leadership.
Experience in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, business, or a related field, or relevant professional experience.
Typically, 4 or more years of progressively responsible experience in external affairs, public-sector engagement, government relations, or similar fields.
Live the Danforth Center values: Collaboration, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Integrity & Respect, Environmental Sustainability, and Stewardship.
Submit a cover letter clearly describing interest and career goals, a resume, and contact information for three professional references.

Responsibilities

Lead the Center’s relationships with elected officials, staff, and agencies at local, state, and federal levels.
Build the Center’s visibility with federal agencies, congressional liaisons, and appointed officials.
Engage regional government and economic development partners to position the Center in the St. Louis innovation and agtech ecosystem.
Monitor legislative, regulatory, budget, and appropriations developments and assess their impact on the Center’s research, funding, workforce, and operations.
Coordinate institutional responses to government inquiries, requests, site visits, and collaboration opportunities.
Ensure government relations activity complies with federal and state lobbying, disclosure, and nonprofit requirements, including restrictions on using grant funds for lobbying.
Track federal and state research funding trends, agency priorities, and emerging programs, and translate them into actionable intelligence for the President and scientific leadership.
Partner with Sponsored Research and Finance to identify how policy and appropriations changes affect current awards, pipeline proposals, and the Center’s budget.
Identify and help pursue public funding opportunities, including large-scale, multi-institution, and economic development initiatives.
Advocate, directly and through coalitions and peer institutions, for sustained public investment in plant science and agricultural research.
Brief leadership on policy shifts that may affect their programs.
Serve as a senior representative of the President in meetings with public-sector leaders and strategic partners.
Develop and sustain relationships with peer institutions, universities, coalitions, industry, and cross-sector collaborators.
Represent the Center in coalitions, advisory bodies, and external forums.
Partner with the Communications team to ensure consistent, accurate, and mission-aligned messaging to government and external audiences.
Support executive thought leadership, testimony, public statements, and external presentations.
Partner with the Executive Assistant to manage the President’s priorities, calendar strategy, and time allocation.
Lead or coordinate special projects and strategic initiatives on the President’s behalf, ensuring clear ownership, timelines, and completion.
Track decisions, commitments, and action items from the President’s meetings and follow through with internal and external stakeholders.
Prepare or coordinate briefing materials for the President’s meetings, events, and travel, including government- and board-facing engagements.
Synthesize and brief the President on emerging trends, opportunities, and sensitive or high-profile external matters.
Coordinate cross-functional input for engagements led by the President.
Support the President in board-facing external matters, including preparation for meetings with board members and external stakeholders.
Perform other duties as assigned.