Director, PhD Program in Health Services Research Open Rank- Associate Professor- Professor

Job Summary

The Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy (HSMP) in the Colorado School of Public Health invites applications for the position of Director, PhD Program in Health Services. This position leads a successful PhD training program that prepares students for research careers in conducting scientific studies that evaluate innovations in health services, systems, and policies. This position is responsible for overseeing and improving the PhD educational curriculum, recruiting and retaining talented PhD students, advising and mentoring students in collaboration with other faculty, identifying and securing resources for PhD student support through faculty extramural grants and other sources, and assisting graduates with career placement and advancement.

The Director position will be 0.2 FTE to 0.25 FTE as salary support of a full-time 12-month faculty appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor within the Colorado School of Public Health.

The successful candidate will secure coverage for the remainder of their university faculty salary by leading extramurally funded research activities, teaching graduate classes, and engaging in relevant professional service activities. Candidates should have academic and professional qualifications suitable for appointment as a tenured or tenure-track associate professor or full professor in the HSMP department.

We seek candidates with deep expertise in health services research and/or health economics along with a strong record of training and mentoring graduate students for successful research careers. This position will develop and maintain productive partnerships with relevant clinical, scientific, educational, and policy organizations on campus, in the region, nationally and/or internationally. The candidate will leverage these relationships to create educational opportunities, research experiences, and career opportunities for PhD students. Applicants should have exceptional methodological skills relevant to health policy and health services research, a strong record of scholarly publications, success in obtaining extramural research funding, and deep experience in graduate-level teaching and student advising, with an ability to foster supportive and inclusive learning environments for students.

Key Responsibilities:

• Recruit talented students into the PhD program.
• Advise and mentor PhD students throughout their research training experiences.
• Develop and improve the PhD educational curriculum in collaboration with other program faculty.
• Identify and secure resources for PhD student support through faculty extramural grants and other sources.
• Assist PhD candidates and graduates with career placement and advancement.
• Develop productive partnerships with relevant clinical, scientific, educational and policy organizations on campus and in the region to create opportunities for PhD student learning, research and career development, including the Graduate School, CU School of Medicine, UCHealth, Children's Hospital Colorado, and the Adult and Child Consortium for Outcomes Research and Delivery System Science (ACCORDS).
• Submit research proposals and obtain extramural funding for PhD student training and research.
• Develop and teach classes in the PhD and/or MPH programs.
• Publish research manuscripts in leading peer-reviewed journals, including PhD students and alumni as co-authors.

Work Location:

Hybrid - this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of three days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Associate Professor:

• A doctoral degree in health services research, public policy, health policy, health economics, or a related discipline.
• Candidates with a clinical doctoral degree (e.g. M.D., D.N.P., D.P.T., Pharm.D.) should have substantial additional training in health services research or a related scientific discipline.
• Academic and scholarly accomplishments commensurate with the criteria for appointment at the academic rank of Associate Professor at the University of Colorado, Colorado School of Public Health, including:
  • Exceptional record of peer-reviewed research publications.
  • Strong teaching evaluations and experience mentoring students.
  • An established program of extramurally funded research as Principal Investigator.
  • An established record of leadership & service in the fields of health policy, healthcare delivery, health services research, and/or public health practice related to children's health and wellbeing.

Professor: requires all the elements required for Associate Professor plus academic and scholarly accomplishments commensurate with the criteria for appointment at the academic rank of Professor at the University of Colorado, Colorado School of Public Health, including:

• A strong record of developing, growing and sustaining a program of research over an extended period of time, comprising multiple extramurally funded studies with multiple collaborating institutions, co-investigators and trainees.
• A strong record of success in using evidence from the candidate's research program to influence healthcare delivery, health policy, and/or public health practice in ways that improve child health and wellbeing.
• A record of national and/or international leadership, service and recognition in the fields of health policy, healthcare delivery, health services research, and/or public health practice.
• Experience in mentoring early-career scientists for career advancement.

Preferred Qualifications:

Candidates are preferred with a demonstrated record of success in predoctoral training and student mentoring, including successful placement of graduates in competitive faculty positions at universities and research centers.

Other preferred qualifications include:

• Experience in developing and improving graduate training programs and educational curricula.
• A record of success in helping PhD students to secure competitive grant funding for dissertation research.
• Experience developing and leading multi-disciplinary research teams, large-scale research projects and center grant proposals.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Successful candidates will have the ability to design and conduct rigorous, quantitative health services and health policy research. Candidates will have extensive knowledge of the health services research job market, including both academic and non-academic settings for PhD graduates. Candidates will have expertise that enables them to teach doctoral level classes on topics that include health services research methods, health policy development and analysis, health management strategies, health economics, healthcare systems, health econometrics, and/or economic evaluation methods.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest including:
   • Statement of professional goals and interests
   • Summary of research accomplishments
   • Summary of teaching, student mentoring and educational program development and leadership experience
2. Curriculum vitae / Resume
3. A draft of a current research paper as first author
4. Three to Five professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Questions should be directed to: Glen Mays, PhD, Chair, Department of Health Systems, Management, and Policy, Colorado School of Public Health

Email: glen.mays@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins: A review of the application material will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to submit completed applications by May 1, 2026, to ensure full consideration.

Applicants must apply online at http://www.cu.edu/cu-careers.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range for this position has been established at

$140,000 to $185,000 for the position of Associate Professor.

$160,000 to $300,000 for the position of full Professor.