Senior Specialist Outreach-Continuing

Michigan State University seeks an accomplished visionary leader to serve as the Director of the Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED). This role offers a unique opportunity to lead a long-standing mission-driven center at a pivotal moment for both CCED and Michigan State University. Reporting directly to the Vice Provost for University Outreach and Engagement the Director provides leadership strategic direction administrative oversight and external engagement for the Centers full portfolio of research outreach partnerships and community-based initiatives.

The Director is responsible for advancing CCEDs mission in alignment with Michigan State Universitys land-grant values by fostering responsive engagement strategic partnerships collaborative learning and applied scholarship that address the needs of distressed communities across Michigan and beyond. The position carries broad responsibility for organizational leadership fiscal stewardship personnel management external relations grant and contract administration and institutional representation.

The ideal candidate for this position is a collaborative and visionary leader with a strong record of community-engaged scholarship partnership development and organizational leadership. They will bring experience advancing community and economic development initiatives securing external funding and leading multidisciplinary teams along with a commitment to Michigan State Universitys land-grant mission and the ability to translate research into meaningful community impact. Tenured faculty at MSU are strongly encouraged to apply.

About the Center

As part of Michigan State Universitys premier land-grant tradition the Center for Community and Economic Development is committed to engaging with communities to develop and apply knowledge to meet societys evolving needs. Since its founding in downtown Lansing in 1969 CCED has partnered with public and private organizations to design and implement innovative programs that respond to local and regional concerns while building the capacity of students faculty scholars and communities to address future challenges.

CCED advances MSUs mission by:

• Creating and supporting innovative environments for collaborative learning for faculty academic staff and students in community and economic development
• Providing training and direct assistance to community-based organizations private enterprises and public institutions
• Conducting applied research to support effective problem-solving strategies
• Bringing multidisciplinary expertise to advance local and regional community and economic development
• Expanding the Universitys capacity to respond to the needs of distressed communities through research outreach and engagement.

Leadership Scope

The Director is accountable for the Centers overall leadership and performance. This includes oversight of faculty academic specialists students staff and volunteers; stewardship of the Centers financial and operational resources; and leadership of multidisciplinary applied research training technical assistance and outreach efforts.

The Director also leads the development and implementation of University-community partnerships across a broad range of community and economic development issues while supporting public policy analysis and adult non-formal education initiatives. As a key representative of both CCED and Michigan State University the Director plays an important role in shaping the Universitys visibility reputation and impact both on campus and in communities throughout the state.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Community Engagement. Provide leadership in establishing strengthening and expanding University-community partnerships focused on community and economic development. Guide initiatives that support public policy analysis adult non-formal education and collaborative approaches to addressing the needs of distressed communities.

Financial Leadership and Resource Development. Direct the Centers financial strategy and fiscal administration. Oversee budget planning expenditure management financial reporting grant and fund administration account reconciliation procurement payroll and other fiscal operations. Secure and manage external support through grants contracts and collaborative agreements to sustain and grow the Centers training applied research technical assistance and community development activities.

Institutional Leadership and Program Advancement. Provide leadership to advance research scholarship outreach and instruction that creates applies and disseminates valued knowledge through responsive engagement and strategic partnerships. Promote CCEDs role within the University and strengthen its contribution to Michigan State Universitys land-grant mission.

Administrative and Personnel Oversight. Provide administrative leadership and operational guidance to faculty students and staff in accordance with university policies and practices. Oversee hiring supervision performance management and annual reviews for faculty academic specialists support staff temporary employees and other personnel associated with the Center. Ensure sound personnel management and a strong organizational culture that supports accountability collaboration and mission alignment.

Management and Decision-Making Authority

This role should be clearly understood as aleadership position within Michigan State University. The position requires sound judgment strategic thinking discretion and independent decision-making. The Director is expected to lead an off-campus University unit with substantial autonomy while operating within university policy compliance requirements and institutional priorities.

Grants Contracts and Compliance

The Director serves as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on grants contracts and collaborative agreements and is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable sponsor requirements contractual obligations University policies and implementation timelines. The position requires strong oversight of complex external partnerships and funded projects including both programmatic execution and fiscal accountability.

Collaboration and Institutional Service

The Director participates in university Outreach and Engagement Directors meetings and other institutional forums and serves as a liaison for MSU across academic governmental nonprofit and community sectors. The Director is expected to maintain a strong network of faculty and institutional partners and represent the Center in federal state local and nonprofit activities relevant to CCEDs mission.

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.

Terminal -An academic field related to community development community sustainability promoting community well-being and addressing significant social issues at the community-level.

Doctorate -An academic field related to community development community sustainability promoting community well-being and addressing significant social issues at the community level.

• An earned terminal degree (MA or PhD) from an accredited university in an academic field related to community development community sustainability promoting community well-being and addressing significant social issues at the community-level.
• A record of effective outreach scholarship and interdisciplinary team leadership that warrants a minimum appointment at the rank of senior academic specialist within UOE or an academic unit in Michigan State University.
• 3 years of experience in academic leadership and administration.
• Demonstrated success in supporting faculty development and success in mentoring students interdisciplinary university/community research partnerships scholarship and creative activities.
• Demonstrated success in supporting staff well-being and professional growth.
• Demonstrated success in working in a multicultural environment.

• An engaged scholar with a PhD in an academic field related to community development community sustainability promoting community well-being and addressing significant social issues at the community level.
• Demonstrated success in developing innovative scholarly outreach programs that proactively address interdisciplinary trends and emerging challenges in Michigans communities or communities in other states or municipalities.
• Demonstrated success in communicating the impact of scholarship via peer-reviewed academic publications technical reports policy briefs academic and community presentations op-ed essays or other popular media outlets.
• A demonstrated record of transparent decision-making in policy strategies and experience managing large budgets in a complex organization.
• Experience in promoting entrepreneurial efforts by developing programs that serve the community faculty and students.
• A clear understanding of leading-edge methods and instructional technologies that support outreach to diverse on and off-campus populations.
• Articulates a clear understanding of and vision for the future direction of community and economic development.
• Demonstrated success in cultivating philanthropic external funding and development opportunities to advance the mission of CCED UOE and the University.
• Superior written and oral communication to advance the mission and vision of the center and UOE.

• Cover letter
• Current curriculum vitae
• Names and email addresses of 3 professional references

Applications must be submitted electronically through Careers at MSU at the following link: . Screening of applicants will continue until the position is filled.

For more information contact Miles McNall chair of the search committee at

10/19/2026

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.