Director, Center for Rural Health at University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota

Job Description:

Salary/Position Classification

• 150,000+ Annual, Dependent on Experience, Exempt


• 40 hours per week


• 100% Remote Work Availability: No


• Hybrid Work Availability: No

The Center for Rural Health (CRH) at the University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS) seeks a distinguished mission driven leader to serve as its next Director, Center for Rural Health. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for a results-focused leader with a desire to drive transformative projects and make a lasting impact on rural communities.

• Provide strategic and administrative leadership and responsive management to the CRH and its employees.


• Provide mentorship to the CRH faculty and staff.


• Identify funding sources, research and programmatic initiatives/priorities, and remain familiar with current goals of funding agencies.


• Coordinate the continued enhancement of the CRH as a state and national leader in health policy analysis and development.


• Further develop and stimulate the submission of health-related research and community program proposals to external granting agencies, both governmental and private, in addition to partnering with other universities, agencies, tribal entities, and communities to submit proposals.


• Expand mechanisms to advance research, scholarly activity, and program activities that will further enhance the CRH's reputation as a national leader in rural health.


• Promote collaboration and partnership with tribes, tribal colleges, and tribal organizations for research and program activities focused on Indigenous health.


• Act as liaison and resource for fostering growth of cooperative efforts between the CRH, the state of North Dakota, rural health care organizations and tribal entities to better understand the delivery of health care to the citizens of the area and to inform the continued development of state health care policy.


• Serve as the contact person between the CRH and various other health care agencies as a vehicle of communication and partnership between these agencies.


• Promote the development of projects in education and health care reform in collaboration with health care entities, communities, research and educational institutions.


• Optimize the relationship of the regional Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) with the AHEC regional office in the CRH. Serve as principal investigator upon HRSA approval.

• Advanced degree in health sciences, rural health policy, or related field.


• Five or more years' experience in rural health leadership or comparable experience.


• Management (director/assistant director or comparable title) experience within a health services research center, state office of rural health, or other health-related organization.


• Four or more years' experience managing budgets and personnel.


• Record of peer reviewed publications within the past five years.


• Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position supports visa sponsorship for continued employment.

• Terminal degree in health sciences, rural health policy, or related field.


• Demonstrated success in grant writing, management, and implementation.


• Demonstrated experience in rural health policy development and legislative initiatives.


• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of health policy.


• Knowledge and experience with university and higher education policies and procedures.


• Understanding of issues affecting rural health care and population health.


• Experience in community engagement including rural health care delivery systems with an understanding of the role of health education and information dissemination.


• Strong track record as a Principal Investigator (PI) of federal grants.


• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to develop strong partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders and partners.


• Knowledge of rural health policy, issues related to social determinants of health, health disparities, and access to care in the upper Midwest region.


• Demonstrated experience in developing funding and research priorities.


• Experience conducting health services research in the areas of rural health and/or Indigenous health, including strong publication record in peer reviewed journals.


• Knowledge of Indigenous health issues.


• Experience with aging populations, demographic change, and health professional shortages.


• Experience with a variety of funding agencies including federal, state, and private foundations.

To Apply

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV/resume and a letter of interest. Review of applications has begun and will continue until the position is filled. Please direct all applications, nominations, and inquiries to the Witt Kieffer consultants Kerry Quealy and Megan Welch, via e-mail, to UNDRuralHealthDirector@wittkieffer.com.