Posted: Nov 12, 2025

Director of Community Health and Well-Being

Application Deadline: N/A

Director of Community Health and Well-Being

Kansas State University

About This Role

Kansas State University seeks a dynamic and collaborative leader to serve as the Director of Community Health and Well-Being. This position will play a pivotal role in advancing interdisciplinary research, education, and engagement efforts aimed at improving health and well-being across Kansas communities. The Director will spearhead initiatives under K-State's Next-Gen Strategic Plan, bringing together faculty, students, and external partners to develop innovative solutions to pressing community health and well-being challenges.

The Director will provide vision and leadership to develop and scale interdisciplinary initiatives that address community health and well-being priorities, including rural healthcare, housing, childcare, aging, broadband access, food security, water sustainability, and economic vitality. This is a high-visibility leadership role with the opportunity to represent Kansas State University at the state and national levels in community health and well-being initiatives. The Director will have a rare opportunity to shape a new interdisciplinary institute from the ground up, establishing Kansas State University as a national leader in community-based health innovation and engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Interdisciplinary Team Building: Facilitate collaboration across colleges and departments to address complex community wellness challenges. Establish and support interdisciplinary teams that integrate expertise in health sciences, social sciences, environmental sciences, education, agriculture, architecture, business, and other relevant fields.

• Strategic Leadership: Provide vision and direction for the university's efforts in community health and well-being. Develop and implement strategies to align research, education, and outreach efforts with state and national priorities, including K-State's Next-Gen Strategic Plan Imperatives and the Kansas Board of Regents' Strategic Plan (Economic Prosperity Pillar 3).

• Project Development and Management: Lead and coordinate interdisciplinary priority projects that respond to community needs, advancing public health, rural prosperity, and community resilience.

• Partnership Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with local, state, and national stakeholders, including government agencies, non-profits, healthcare providers, and industry partners. Key collaborators include the Kansas Health Foundation, Kansas Rural Center, Kansas Department of Commerce Office of Rural Prosperity, and community-based organizations across all 105 Kansas counties.

• Student Engagement: Engage students in applied learning experiences, preparing the next generation of leaders in public health, rural education, and community development.

• Grant Writing and Fundraising: Identify funding opportunities and lead grant proposal development to support community health and well-being initiatives. Cultivate philanthropic and corporate support for strategic initiatives.

• Evaluation and Impact Assessment: Work with faculty and external partners to design and implement assessment frameworks to measure the impact of programs and initiatives on community health and well-being outcomes, as well as progress towards the K-State Next-Gen Strategic Plan Imperatives.

• Communication and Advocacy: Serve as a key spokesperson for Kansas State University's interdisciplinary community health and well-being initiatives.

About Us

This position reports to the Director of Strategic Interdisciplinary Program Development in the Office of External Engagement. Under the leadership of the Executive Vice President, the Office of External Engagement connects K-State's research excellence and academic innovation directly to Kansas communities. At Kansas State University, we know that complex issues take the collective thinking of well-rounded experts across disciplines who are dedicated to shared values. Pursuant to our mission and bold vision to serve as a standard-setting next-generation land-grant university, Kansas State University is fostering new interdisciplinary approaches to teaching, research and outreach by launching new interdisciplinary institutes. Institutes such as Community Health and Well-Being serve students, community members and industry alike through innovative collaborations and bold new ideas.

Worksite Description

This position is On-site.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree

• 5 to 10 years of relevant experience

• Valid Drivers License

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in public health, community health, social sciences, healthcare administration, or a related field.

• At least five years of experience in program development, research, or administration related to community health or public health initiatives.

• Demonstrated ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and foster cross-sector collaboration.

• Experience with grant writing and external funding acquisition.

• Strong communication and public engagement skills.

• Terminal degree in a relevant field.

• Experience working with rural populations.

• Knowledge of health equity frameworks and community-based participatory research methods.

• Established track record of securing funding and managing large-scale projects.

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents:

• Cover Letter

• Curriculum Vitae

• Statement of Research and Outreach Philosophy

• Three Professional References

Application Window

Applications close on: December 10, 2025

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

$80,000 - $120,000 Annually

To apply, please visit: https://apptrkr.com/6716775

https://www.jobelephant.com/

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