Assistant/Associate Research Professor

About the role

The Department of Health Policy and Administration 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.

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.
• Prominent 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.

Application Instructions

To apply, please upload a resume/curriculum vitae, a cover letter outlining your interest in the position, and contact information for three professional references. Review of applications will begin on May 1, 2026 and will continue until a suitable candidate is identified. Questions related to the position can be addressed to Ronald McConnell at rjm824@psu.edu.

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. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

Background Checks/Clearances

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

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.

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Background Checks/Clearances

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Background Checks/Clearances

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