Assistant/Associate Research Professor

The Pennsylvania State University; Ferguson Township (PA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% tuition discount

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Retirement plans

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University seeks a Director for the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH) within HPA, with a faculty role as Assistant or Associate Research Professor. The Director provides leadership, oversight, and strategic direction to advance rural health across Pennsylvania, collaborating with multiple university units and state and national partners.

The role emphasizes building partnerships, securing funding, budget management, and mentorship of students and staff while

Qualifications

• Master’s or doctoral degree in a health or business-related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressive management experience.
• Experience in health policy, rural health systems, and reimbursement structures.
• Experience in developing and submitting grants and fulfilling grant requirements.
• Experience in budget development and management.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including public speaking.

Responsibilities

• Direct and coordinate statewide rural health initiatives, including technical assistance and research.
• Serve as Principal Investigator/Director of grants and contracts.
• Identify and pursue external funding; prepare grant proposals.
• Provide supervision and leadership for PORH staff.
• Manage the PORH budget, including contracts and long-term financial planning.
• Represent PORH on university, state, and federal committees and work groups.
• Collaborate with university departments and external partners.
• Mentor students and guest lecture on rural health topics.
• Lead designated projects and ensure alignment with objectives.

Skills

Health policy

Grant writing

Public health leadership

Budget management

Education

Master's degree or Doctoral degree in health or business

Job description

Position Specifics

This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

The Department of Health Policy and Administration (HPA) in the College of Health and Human Development, at the Pennsylvania State University is seeking candidates for Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH). This role also comes with a faculty position as Assistant or Associate Research Professor. The Director provides leadership and administrative oversight for all PORH activities to ensure fulfillment of federal and state mandates and to advance the mission of improving health and access to care for rural Pennsylvanians. This position reports to the Department Head in the Department of Health Policy and Administration and collaborates with external agencies; additional university units; and other local, state, and national partners.

About the College

The College of Health and Human Development offers a robust program of eight interdisciplinary programs that share one common goal: enriching the lives of others. We continually examine contemporary issues facing people in today’s changing times, and we develop cutting‑edge solutions for addressing them. Our impact extends from our classrooms, across communities and industries, and around the globe.

About the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health

The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH) is one of the leading state offices of rural health in the US and is recognized in the state and nation for rural health leadership and innovation. PORH was formed in 1991 as a partnership between the federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and The Pennsylvania State University. The office is one of 50 state offices of rural health (SORH). Funded through the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the office is one of 10 SORHs that is university‑based. The SORHs are charged with being a source of coordination, technical assistance, networking, partnership development, and assisting in the recruitment and retention of health care providers. PORH’s mission is to enhance the health status of rural Pennsylvanians and ensure rural residents have access to high‑quality, affordable health care. PORH’s vision is to be recognized as the premier rural leadership and information organization in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to be one of the most effective state offices of rural health in the nation. PORH provides expertise in rural health, health policy, agricultural health and safety, oral health, and community and economic development. At Penn State, PORH is administratively located in the Department of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development.

Primary Job Responsibilities

• Direct and coordinate statewide rural health initiatives, including technical assistance, community needs assessments, information dissemination, and applied research.
• Serve as the Principal Investigator/Director of national, state, local, and other grants and contracts.
• Identify and pursue external funding opportunities; prepare grant proposals to support program operations and special initiatives.
• Provide supervision and leadership for PORH staff, including project management oversight and support for staff development.
• Manage the PORH budget, including contract negotiation, project approval, expenditure oversight, and long‑term financial planning to ensure program viability.
• Represent PORH on university, state, and federal committees, boards, task forces, commissions, and work groups related to rural health.
• Collaborate with university departments, other institutions of higher education, state and federal agencies, and state and national partners to support rural health priorities.
• Mentor students and interns interested in public health and health care administration; serve as a guest lecturer on topics related to rural health.
• Serve as lead on designated projects and ensure compliance with program objectives and reporting requirements.
• Support statewide efforts related to primary care practitioner recruitment and retention, rural health partnerships, and information clearinghouse functions.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a master’s degree or doctoral degree in a health or business‑related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressive management experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of health policy issues, legislative and congressional processes, rural health systems, health care delivery, and reimbursement structures.
• Experience in developing and submitting national, state, and other grant applications and fulfilling grant requirements.
• Experience in budget development and management.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including public speaking.
• Proven organizational, leadership, and consensus building abilities.
• Ability to facilitate group processes and work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Willingness and ability to travel within Pennsylvania and nationally.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position assumes overall responsibility for the supervision of all full‑time PORH staff positions, and, by extension, all part‑time staff, including select undergraduate and graduate students.

Background Checks/Clearances

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full‑time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing.
• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

Campus Security Crime Statistics

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging.

We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive.

Our values are as follows; Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community.

Contact

Questions related to the position can be addressed to Ronald McConnell at [e-mail].

Our campuses are located on the original homelands of the Erie, Haudenosaunee (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora), Lenape (Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe, Stockbridge‑Munsee), Monongahela, Shawnee (Absentee, Eastern, and Oklahoma), Susquehannock, and Wahzhazhe (Osage) Nations. As a land grant institution, we acknowledge and honor the traditional caretakers of these lands and strive to understand and model their responsible stewardship. We also acknowledge the longer history of these lands and our place in that history.

Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information Hotlines There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our 100,000 students and 40,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom – it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. Our ideals stem from our origins as Pennsylvania’s sole land‑grant institution, which allow us to continue to bring positive impact to humanity through our teaching, research, and engagement mission. And across the world is a community of Penn Staters – more than half a million strong – driven by that same spirit to serve our local and global communities. At Penn State, passion is met with collaboration in an environment that is rooted in shared pride for the accomplishments of our fellow students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Penn Staters cheer each other on to build a culture committed to service and engagement. Our University values represent our core ethical aspirations for all our daily activities and actions as students, faculty, staff, and volunteers at Penn State. Our values are as follows; Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community. We Are Penn State. One Community. Impacting Many.