About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

The School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS) has six vibrant departments: Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Environmental Health Sciences, Health Promotion & Policy, Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences.

Job Description

The School of Public Health and Health Sciences at UMass Amherst is seeking a highly qualified and experienced individual to join our faculty as a Professor of Practice. This position offers an exciting opportunity for an individual with professional expertise in public health practice or advocacy to build and extend relationships between the dynamic UMass SPHHS community and public health organizations at the local, state, and national levels. The Professor of Practice will play a pivotal role in advancing the SPHHS' mission of promoting health equity and improving population health outcomes through education, scholarship, and community engagement.

Essential Functions

Teaching: Develop and deliver innovative and engaging courses related to public health or health sciences advocacy and practice at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Courses may include but are not limited to public health leadership, strategic goal setting and organizational structures, health policy and advocacy, and community health promotion. Anticipated course load of five 3-credit courses across the academic year (e.g, three in fall semester, two in spring semester).

Curriculum Development: Collaborate with colleagues to enhance existing curriculum and develop new programs that align with emerging trends and best practices in public health or health sciences practice and/or advocacy.

Mentorship: Provide mentorship and guidance to students pursuing careers in public health or health sciences practice and advocacy, including advising on academic and professional development opportunities, internships, and career pathways.

Scholarship: Promote the integration of academic scholarship with practical experience, especially as it contributes to SPHHS’s mission of advancing knowledge in public health or health sciences practice and advocacy. Contributes to evidence-based solutions for addressing health challenges at the local, national, and/or global levels.

Service and Outreach: Support ongoing community outreach and engagement efforts within SPHHS and contribute to development of new partnerships. Contribute to service to the discipline or profession, service within SPHHS and the University, and public service at the local, state, national, and/or international level. Advocate on behalf of School’s mission, vision, and values to local and state government agencies.

Other Functions

The candidate will join as a non-tenure track member of the faculty in one of six departments within the School of Public Health & Health Sciences (Department will be dependent on the candidate’s academic and professional background). Additional position responsibilities will include membership on departmental committees and school-wide service.

Requirements

• Terminal degree (e.g., DrPH, PhD, ScD, MD, JD or equivalent) within public health, public policy, global health, health sciences or a related field.
• At least seven (7) years of experience working in or with public health/health sciences practice settings, with a demonstrated track record of leadership and achievement at the local, national, and/or international realm in areas such as public health program leadership, public health law, health policy development, community health promotion, health advocacy or in managing research portfolios at state or federal health agencies.
• A demonstrated ability to effectively train and mentor individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Evidence of significant contributions to the field, including, but not limited to, publications, presentations, or applied research projects.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, students, and external partners.

• Potential for fostering equity and inclusion 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in interdisciplinary or interprofessional team environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence.
• Experience securing funding for research or programmatic initiatives at the local, national and/or international setting.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing health equity and addressing social determinants of health at the local, national and/or international level. Record of leadership in professional organizations, and/or awards or honors for professional achievement.

Additional Information

Because broad diversity is essential to an inclusive climate and critical to the University's goals of achieving excellence in all areas, we will holistically assess the many qualifications of each applicant and favorably consider an individual's record working with students and colleagues with broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities. We will also favorably consider experience overcoming or helping others overcome barriers to an academic degree and career. 

Salary Information

• Salary is commensurate with experience.

• The University offers a competitive salary with an attractive benefits package. Details on benefits can be found at https://www.umass.edu/humres/benefits-0. This position is in the MSP/MTA bargaining unit.  

Work Schedule

• Typical Office Environment 
• M-F 40 hours a week; Academic-year appointment with teaching responsibilities for 9 months of the year.

Application Instructions

Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and statement that 1) describes experience within public health or health sciences practice and/or advocacy, and 2) provides a vision for contributions to the School of Public Health and Health Science’s mission, especially relating to the essential functions of this position (i.e., teaching, curriculum development, mentorship, scholarship, service and outreach).

References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

The University is committed to active recruitment of a diverse faculty and student body. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities and encourages applications from these and other protected group members. Because broad diversity is essential to an inclusive climate and critical to the University’s goals of achieving excellence in all areas, we will holistically assess the many qualifications of each applicant and favorably consider an individual’s record working with students and colleagues with broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities. We will also favorably consider experience overcoming or helping others overcome barriers to an academic career and degree.