Job Description
If you are an experienced researcher, writer, scholar, policy advocate, government official, or political staffer who wants to help write the next chapter in the history of American political economy, there is no better place to be than the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator. At VPA, we work to rapidly bring new ideas in political economy and regulation into academia, government, and the public conversation, with attention to issues of market structure, corporate power, and the capacity of public institutions to address today’s most pressing challenges.
As Director of AI & Technology Policy, you would be responsible for leading and expanding our efforts to shape AI and tech policy. Your primary responsibility will be launching, leading, and overseeing our Tech Policy Blueprints Initiative, which will involve developing a suite of detailed, actionable policy recommendations that includes draft state and federal legislation, guidance documents for executive branch actions, and public writings on how to regulate AI and tech platforms, in addition to identifying and coordinating DARPA-style teams of independent policy experts. In this role you will liaise with high profile scholars and experts in tech and AI policy and political economy and will coordinate an ambitious agenda of policy blueprints and technical guidance for policymakers. This role is perfect for someone who wants to play a leading role in shaping the tech and AI policy debate, particularly around issues of corporate power market concentration, and service provision, across a range of tech platforms including operating systems, online marketplaces, internet search, social media, cloud computing, AI models, and drone delivery.
This position reports to the Executive Director and Faculty Director of VPA.
About VPA
We are currently in the midst of a political economy revolution. From the resurgence of antitrust enforcement to the return of industrial policy, swift changes are reshaping how policymakers and the general public think about economic policy. At VPA, we act on these opportunities by bringing new ideas into academia, government, and the public conversation, paying close attention to issues of market structure, corporate power, and the capacity of public institutions to address today’s most pressing challenges. Since our founding in 2023, we have published academic articles, white papers, and op-eds on a variety of topics, from modernizing American banking regulation to reforming the airline industry to addressing food deserts via public grocery stores. Our efforts have inspired federal investigations and legislative efforts and been featured in national publications and broadcast media.
Organizationally, VPA combines the deep research capacities of a traditional university center with the most effective tactics of a think tank or political campaign. We conduct foundational legal research, publish academic papers and textbooks, and host academic conferences. To accelerate change, we bring academic research and fresh ideas to policymakers and the public by developing detailed, actionable blueprints and off-the-shelf policy proposals for executive and legislative authorities. To engage and educate the broader public, we write magazine articles and opinion pieces, and work with the media and press.
Application Requirement
To be considered for this position, candidates must submit a cover letter explaining their background and interest, a CV or resume, and a list of references. Candidates of interest will be contacted for interviews, and may also be asked to complete an exercise to demonstrate their research and writing skills.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Evaluate pressing challenges in technology policy, working closely with the faculty director and executive director to develop and implement a comprehensive tech policy agenda.
- Oversee the Tech Policy Blueprints Initiative
- Lead research on the regulation of tech across all platforms (social, marketplaces, cloud, search, operating systems, satellite, drones, streaming services) with a focus on structural, market shaping governance, including break ups, utility regulation, nondiscrimination rules, and interoperability issues.
- Develop policy proposals to improve tech governance from regulation of targeted advertising and algorithmic pricing to consumer and worker protections.
- Supervise, train, coordinate workflow, and administer policies for VPA staff, fellows, and contracted experts as relevant to tech policy and the Blueprint Initiative.
- Brief policymakers on topics related to VPA’s research.
Organize private and public convenings, conferences, and events with a variety of stakeholders on topics related to VPA’s research. - Manage relevant public relations, media, press, and internal and external communications in consultation with the faculty director and executive director.
- Expand outreach on key issue areas, overseeing the development of effective relationships and partnerships with local, regional, and national partners, stakeholders, and funders.
- Manage outward-facing representation of VPA as a formal representative.
Qualifications
- A master’s degree in public policy, legal studies, or the equivalent, and/or a minimum of 5 years of experience is required.
- Demonstrated high levels of integrity, honesty, and openness to create strong and enduring collaboration with key leaders across the institution and community is required.
- Executive level interpersonal and communication skills with ability to effectively relate to and promote diversity and inclusion is required.
- Ability to demonstrate maturity, creativity and initiative in expanding the University’s presence locally and nationally is required.
- Ability to make sound administrative/procedural decisions using a high level of discernment is required.
- Ability to perform complex tasks and to prioritize multiple projects is required.
- Ability to provide technical advice and information to staff in area of expertise is required.
- Experience in a higher education setting is preferred.
- Candidates should have an interest in economic policy, political economy, regulation, and/or law.
Interested?
An official application is forthcoming. Prospective applicants should express their interest in the position by emailing Grace May (Executive Director, grace.m.may@vanderbilt.edu) with a CV and cover letter.