APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
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.
POSITION SPECIFICS
Introduction
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 that 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
Primary job responsibilities of this position include:
- 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
Qualifications for this position include:
• 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.
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 [email protected].
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.
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.
For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)
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. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
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