Career Center

Working/Functional Title

Executive Director Health Promotion and Engagement

Position Summary

Under general supervision of the Assistant Provost/Executive Director of Health and Wellbeing, serves as administrator and provides strategic, programmatic and operational oversight to the department responsible for health promotion, education and prevention services to the MSU community (students, faculty, staff, and community partners). In partnership with university colleges and campus departments, establishes integrated wellbeing programs to foster a health-promoting university and an environment supportive of wellbeing essential for student, faculty and staff success. Leads needs assessments to understand and better address wellbeing disparities with emphasis on accessibility to services. Mobilizes stakeholders to take action, mitigating physical health, social and environmental health risks and promoting holistic wellbeing and accessibility.  Ensures that activities are well-documented, evaluated, maximize effective use of staff time, expertise and budgetary resources and meet national AAAHC and ACHA Standards of Practice for Health Promotion in Higher Education (SPHPHE). Manages a multi-million-dollar annual budget.

The goal is to empower and engage with students, faculty and staff to make lifestyle choices which: 1) increase the potential for academic/professional/social success and maximize quality of life 2) decrease incidence of morbidity and mortality for individuals and the collective MSU community, and 3) improve the overall health of the campus community environment.  Achievement of the job purpose it to be accomplished collaboratively with other UHW departments in a manner congruent with University Health and Wellbeing mission, vision, and values.

Job Functions:

Program Leadership:

• • Provides leadership and directs administrative, budget, logistical and other related functions for Health Promotion and Outreach.
  • Allocates personnel and fiscal resources to maximize program accomplishments.
  • Establishes strategic partnerships to align and accomplish mutual program goals.
  • Directs program and integrates campus health promotion and outreach efforts.
  • Strategizes and implements efforts to achieve integrated outreach education.
  • Identifies and maintains knowledge of evidence-informed and theory-based initiatives; responds to emerging national wellness trends to promote student success.
  • Identifies industry “best practices” and develops programs that meet or exceed industry standards.
  • Manages baseline budget; identifies and pursues opportunities for funding, such as development and grants.
  • Works with campus partners to ensure MSU is setting and meeting wellbeing standards.
  • Researches and evaluates national initiatives to assess applicability to MSU.
  • Provides direction, supervision and training. Responsible for recruitment, hiring and corrective/disciplinary action. Set performance standards, evaluate performance and provide staff opportunity for growth.
  • Participates in coordination and publication of federal and state mandated health risk management reports as assigned to ensure campus compliance.

Strategic Planning and Program Implementation: 

• • Partners with Office of Student Support & Accountability (OSSA), Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education and Vice Provost of the Graduate School, Human Resources, Faculty and Administrative Staff Affairs, and other stakeholders across campus and the East Lansing community to support community wellness initiatives such as implementation of the Okanagan Charter.
  • Collaborates with Campus Health Services, Mental Health and Trauma Services to develop holistic approaches to health and mental health initiatives.
  • Plans and facilitates departmental strategic planning process including extensive literature reviews.
  • Works closely with Student Life and Engagement and University Communications staff to promote program accomplishments, respond to emerging or sensitive issues and interact effectively with local & national media outlets.
  • Coordinates a comprehensive and integrated health and wellness program, ensuring that all students and employees have access including Flint, Detroit, Grand Rapids, East Lansing and Online communities.
  • Provides consultation to the UHW Executive Leadership Committee regarding division & department wellness goals.
  • Makes decisions regarding continuation, re-design &/or elimination of activities.
  • Maintains current knowledge of effective public health strategies relevant to campus environment & college population.
  • Develops and implements programmatic and service enhancements as required by changing environments, including regulatory changes, technological advances, and effective service and delivery strategies.

Coordination of health equity initiatives and policies:

• • Develops policies and practices that promote the elimination of health disparities between student and employee populations and the achievement of optimal wellness of historically underserved and marginalized communities and those that have experienced historical and contemporary injustices.
  • Proactively recommends changes to established procedures and practices, programs, services or communication strategies based on trends and observation to mitigate health and healthcare access disparities.
  • Provides consultation, guidance, and direction about policies and best practices for effective and inclusive communications to students, faculty, staff and constituents.
  • Establishes dashboards to monitor student, faculty, and staff health outcomes and satisfaction within UHW, responding to disparities between student, faculty and staff populations.
  • Supports innovative health promotion and outreach efforts using individual, group and population-level/environmental management strategies to reduce health disparities of MSU students.
  • Collaborates with Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, other Student Life and Engagement Division, and other community partners to support shared goals.
  • Acts as Chair of the Celebrations Committee and member of the DEI Committee and other related campus committees.
  • Develops programs and cultivates an environment that supports the mission of the university, the sustainable health plan and UHW strategic plans.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters -Public Health, Community Health or Health Promotion Health Education

Desired Degree

Doctorate -Public Health, Community Health or Health Promotion Health Education

Minimum Requirements

• At least 6 years’ experience leading Health Promotion and Wellbeing Programs and Initiatives. Or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing resources within defined budgetary guidelines.
• Experience conceptualizing, planning, implementing and evaluating public health promotion efforts that are responsive to the needs and interests of diverse populations, including students, faculty and staff and peer programs. Experience working with concepts and theories of multicultural education, student development, socio-ecological model-based approaches and health behavior change.
• Leadership experience and problem-solving skills in analyzing health promotion and wellbeing needs of emerging adults, especially college students. Experience conducting needs assessments and using results to guide programmatic decisions and budget allocations that require analytical skills. Experience planning and implementing effective policy/environmental change strategies.
• Experience as a supervisor recruiting, selecting, training, coaching, evaluating, retaining and mentoring a diverse population of professional and student employees.  Specific experience and knowledge of work-life issues and best practices for work-life support and services are necessary.
• Experience with large complex organizations, such as universities, and demonstrated ability to work across unit lines, including experience with developing and facilitating the work of collaborative teams.
• Experience leading and facilitating group discussions and small group training sessions. Able to lead engaging and inclusive conversations and presentations that require advanced communication skills.
• Experience working collaboratively across a broad range of stakeholders, partners and peers within the university. Must be able to use collaboration to achieve shared goals and objectives while building relationships and trust within one’s department.  
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical leadership and evidence-based best practices in management.
• Demonstrated success with using collective impact to the benefit of population health.

Desired Qualifications

• Member of CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) or ability to obtain CHES certification within one year.
• At least ten years of experience serving at least one of the three service populations – students, faculty and staff.

Required Application Materials

Cover Letter, CV and statement of leadership philosophy. 

Special Instructions

Hybrid position, East Lansing/ Remote. Three (3) days per week in office, with remote option up to two (2) days per week. 

Review of Applications Begins On

09/12/2023

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Website

uhw.msu.edu

Department Statement

The University Health and Wellbeing (UHW) Division at Michigan State University (MSU) was established in 2022, bringing together 11 health and wellbeing promoting units together from across the university.  UHW works to support all elements of physical, mental, and social health and wellbeing for students, faculty, and staff.  The goal is to create a culture and environment which is supportive of all aspects of health and wellbeing. UHW, working with internal and external multi-disciplinary partners, will address the needs of the whole person through education, high quality programs, and services.  In doing so, we will make the healthy choice the easy choice for all Spartans and provide access to needed resources to increase safety and stability, and prevent disease, injury, and mental health crises. The knowledge, skills, and behaviors learned and supported through MSU will improve health, well-being, and Spartan success across the lifespan.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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