Department Head, Health Policy and Administration

Penn State University•University Park, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Pennsylvania State University’s College of Health and Human Development invites applications for the Department Head of Health Policy and Administration (HPA). The Department Head is the chief academic and administrative officer for a nationally recognized, multidisciplinary department with more than 400 undergraduate and graduate students, 13 tenured and tenure-track faculty members, 18 teaching and research faculty members, staff, and a broad network of adjunct faculty, preceptors, alumni, and health system partners. The department offers residential and online undergraduate and graduate programs in health policy and administration, health administration, and public health, as well as M.S. and Ph.D. programs. Its work spans teaching, research, outreach, and service, with collaborations across the University and with health care organizations, government agencies, and community partners. The Head provides strategic leadership across the department’s academic, research, operational, and outreach missions. The role includes oversight of academic and research programs, departmental operations and finances, faculty and staff affairs, fundraising and development, and external partnerships. The Head supports research productivity, teaching excellence, interdisciplinary scholarship, and meaningful engagement with health systems, communities, and policymakers. The position also oversees the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, whose director reports to the Head, and Penn State’s emerging undergraduate public health initiative. The successful candidate will build a cohesive, multidisciplinary department; promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; foster collaboration and innovation; and support faculty and staff recruitment, development, and retention. The Head will advocate for the department, enhance its visibility and reputation, and foster a positive culture that values well-being and work-life balance. The Head is encouraged to maintain an active program of scholarship and mentor graduate student research. The position reports to the Dean of the College of Health and Human Development and serves on the College’s leadership team.

Requirements

Earned doctorate.
Evidence of an active and focused research program in health services research, health administration/management, population health, or a related field.
Previous teaching experience.
Scholarly credentials sufficient for appointment with tenure at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor in the College of Health and Human Development.
Experience with undergraduate and graduate education programs, including significant exposure to degree programs in health policy and administration and public health.
Experience and aptitude for building relationships and partnerships within and beyond the University, including with faculty colleagues, Penn State Health, other health systems, public health practice organizations, community partners, and alumni.
Commitment to an organizational culture emphasizing inclusivity, transparency, collaboration, and engagement.
Recognition of the importance of undergraduate and graduate education and willingness to support innovation and continuous improvement across educational programs and delivery modalities.
Established record of scholarly excellence and success developing, sustaining, and managing a robust, externally visible research program.
Demonstrated administrative and leadership experience in an academic, research, outreach, or similarly complex organizational setting, including strategic planning, personnel management, budgeting, program development, and resource stewardship.
Ability to articulate and advance a compelling vision for the department’s future.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and consensus-building skills, with the ability to build support among diverse stakeholders and strengthen the department’s visibility, reputation, and external partnerships.
Collaborative, transparent, and inclusive leadership approach, with strong strategic thinking skills and an innovative spirit.

Nice To Haves

Experience working effectively within a large, complex university environment is desirable.
Experience with performance-based budgeting or similar resource-allocation models is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and vision for the department’s academic, research, operational, and outreach missions.
Lead departmental strategic planning and advance the department’s goals in alignment with College and University priorities.
Oversee academic programs, research initiatives, online education, outreach activities, and service.
Manage departmental operations, finances, fiscal and procedural matters, faculty affairs, and staff affairs.
Oversee fundraising and development activities and cultivate external partnerships.
Encourage faculty to secure external funding, expand collaborative research, and translate scholarship into impact for health systems, communities, and policymakers.
Recruit, develop, and retain outstanding faculty and staff.
Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and a positive and inclusive organizational culture.
Advocate for the department and enhance its visibility and reputation.
Oversee the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health and the emerging undergraduate public health initiative.
Identify and advance opportunities in undergraduate, graduate, and online education.
Maintain an active program of scholarship and mentor graduate student research, as encouraged.
Build trust and consensus among students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders while supporting well-being and work-life balance.