What are the responsibilities and job description for the AHEC Scholars Program Lead position at Montana State University - Office of Student Engagement?
Position Details
Position Information
Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26345 For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Rachel Norris
rachel.norris@montana.edu
406-994-6495
Classification Title Program/Project Lead Working Title AHEC Scholars Program Lead Brief Position Overview
This is an on-campus, in-office position based at Montana State University that offers the opportunity to support a statewide health workforce development program.
The AHEC Scholars Program Manager oversees a statewide workforce development certificate program for health professional students across Montana. Supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), AHEC Scholars is a two-year interprofessional certificate program designed to supplement traditional health education with specialized training in rural health and underserved settings. Each year, Scholars complete 40 hours of community-based experiential training alongside 40 hours of didactic learning focused on HRSA’s eight core topic areas; Interprofessional Education, Behavioral Health Integration, Social Determinants of Health, Virtual Learning & Telehealth, Connecting Communities & Supporting Health Professionals, Cultural Competency, Practice Transformation, and Current and Emerging Health Issues.
Position Number 4C2013 Department Montana AHEC/Rural Health Division College of Nursing Appointment Type Professional Contract Term Fiscal Year Semester If other, specify From date If other, specify End date FLSA Exempt Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining FTE 1.0 Benefits Eligible Eligible Salary $60,000 - $70,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications Contract Type LOA If other, please specify Recruitment Type Open
Position Details
General Statement
The Montana AHEC Scholars Program currently supports a statewide cohort of over 400 students across both public and private academic institutions, including Montana State University, University of Montana, Carroll College, and Rocky Mountain College. These Scholars represent a broad spectrum of health disciplines, including Nursing, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Community/Public Health, Physician, Physician Assistant, Social Work, and others. By managing this interdisciplinary cohort of Scholars, this role helps to prepare a future health workforce that is ready to meet the unique challenges of Montana’s communities.
Duties and Responsibilities
This position is contingent upon continued grant funding.
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties? Yes
Posting Detail Information
Number Of Vacancies 1 Desired Start Date Upon Completion Of a Successful Search Position End Date (if Temporary) Open Date Close Date Applications Will Be
Screening of applications will begin on April 14, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Position Information
Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26345 For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Rachel Norris
rachel.norris@montana.edu
406-994-6495
Classification Title Program/Project Lead Working Title AHEC Scholars Program Lead Brief Position Overview
This is an on-campus, in-office position based at Montana State University that offers the opportunity to support a statewide health workforce development program.
The AHEC Scholars Program Manager oversees a statewide workforce development certificate program for health professional students across Montana. Supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), AHEC Scholars is a two-year interprofessional certificate program designed to supplement traditional health education with specialized training in rural health and underserved settings. Each year, Scholars complete 40 hours of community-based experiential training alongside 40 hours of didactic learning focused on HRSA’s eight core topic areas; Interprofessional Education, Behavioral Health Integration, Social Determinants of Health, Virtual Learning & Telehealth, Connecting Communities & Supporting Health Professionals, Cultural Competency, Practice Transformation, and Current and Emerging Health Issues.
Position Number 4C2013 Department Montana AHEC/Rural Health Division College of Nursing Appointment Type Professional Contract Term Fiscal Year Semester If other, specify From date If other, specify End date FLSA Exempt Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining FTE 1.0 Benefits Eligible Eligible Salary $60,000 - $70,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications Contract Type LOA If other, please specify Recruitment Type Open
Position Details
General Statement
The Montana AHEC Scholars Program currently supports a statewide cohort of over 400 students across both public and private academic institutions, including Montana State University, University of Montana, Carroll College, and Rocky Mountain College. These Scholars represent a broad spectrum of health disciplines, including Nursing, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Community/Public Health, Physician, Physician Assistant, Social Work, and others. By managing this interdisciplinary cohort of Scholars, this role helps to prepare a future health workforce that is ready to meet the unique challenges of Montana’s communities.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Oversee the strategic implementation and daily operations of the statewide AHEC Scholars Program.
- Design and execute annual recruitment and retention plan of a diverse cohort of Montana AHEC Scholars.
- Conduct in-person and virtual recruitment visits to promote the program across Montana colleges and universities.
- Travel across Montana to cultivate new partnerships, maintain existing institutional relationships, and increase program visibility.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for Montana’s educational institutions and health profession programs to foster deep-rooted collaborations and drive enrollment.
- Create and distribute a weekly newsletter highlighting upcoming events and professional development opportunities.
- Curate and organize monthly professional development seminars, ensuring content aligns with HRSA’s core topic areas.
- Maintain a comprehensive calendar of program activities and seminars to ensure Scholars have a variety of educational content.
- Assist in the development of program content aimed at ensuring AHEC Scholars are prepared to work with rural and frontier communities upon program completion.
- Maintain frequent, ongoing communication with AHEC Scholars to ensure program completion.
- Utilize Salesforce to track Scholar progression, document participation hours, and manage student contact information, ensuring all records are updated in real-time for federal reporting.
- Manage and update program content and online learning modules within the Canvas online learning management system, ensuring a seamless virtual learning experience for Scholars.
- Design and execute evaluations to measure program success and ensure grant compliance.
- Lead the collection of program metrics and the preparation of federal report components, under the direction of the Assistant Director.
- Bachelor’s degree in public health, health administration, education, communications, a health field or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- 3 years of experience in program management, student recruitment, higher education, or healthcare workforce development.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present professionally to various audiences.
- Demonstrated excellence in record-keeping and data entry.
- Ability to travel across Montana and maintain a valid driver’s license.
- Master’s degree in public health, health administration, education, communications or a related field.
- Familiarity with the Montana University System or other higher education institutions, and their health professions programs.
- Experience working with academic institutions, government agencies, public health systems, and/or rural communities.
- Familiarity with federal grant requirements or experience working within highly regulated reporting frameworks.
- High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, CRM software (e.g. Salesforce), and virtual meeting platforms (Zoom/Teams).
- A proven track record of building and maintaining professional relationships with statewide stakeholders and educational partners.
- Familiarity with Canvas or other online learning management systems (LMS).
- Build strong relationships with Montana’s educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and community stakeholders to maintain program success.
- Professionally represent MORH/AHEC, serving as the primary face of the AHEC Scholars program.
- Deliver clear, professional, and proactive communication to students and partners, ensuring everyone is informed and engaged throughout the program’s lifecycle.
- Take the lead on independent projects, while remaining a highly communicative, supportive, and integrated member of the MORH/AHEC team.
- Navigate challenges with a positive, solution-oriented approach, ensuring students feel supported as they balance their studies with AHEC Scholars requirements.
- Leverage student feedback and program metrics to evaluate recruitment strategies and continuously elevate the Scholar experience.
- Exercise diligent oversight of program documentation and record-keeping, ensuring the program remains compliant with federal standards.
- Basic understanding of public health and/or healthcare and the ability to facilitate learning in HRSA core topic areas.
- Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment while representing the organization.
- Ability to manage multiple workstreams, meet tight deadlines, and pivot effectively in a fast-paced environment..
- Ability to manage complex datasets with high levels of accuracy.
This position is contingent upon continued grant funding.
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties? Yes
Posting Detail Information
Number Of Vacancies 1 Desired Start Date Upon Completion Of a Successful Search Position End Date (if Temporary) Open Date Close Date Applications Will Be
Screening of applications will begin on April 14, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Salary : $60,000 - $70,000