(Hybrid) Founding Director for Practice, Research, and Community Integration - Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry

The Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry Department at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a (Hybrid) Founding Director for Practice, Research, and Community Integration.

About the Opportunity

The Founding Director for Practice, Research, and Community Integration serves as a senior leadership position within the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) Center for Practice, Research, and Integration of Spirituality in Medicine (PRISM). Working in close partnership with the Chair of Behavioral Medicine, the Director is responsible for the development, implementation, and operational leadership of the Center's clinical, educational, research, wellbeing, and community engagement initiatives.

The Director will play a central role in translating the PRISM Center's vision into sustainable programs and measurable outcomes through collaboration with healthcare professionals, researchers, patients, faith communities, spiritual care providers, and community organizations. The position will provide leadership across the Center's five foundational pillars: integration of spirituality into patient-centered care; education and training for healthcare professionals; capacity-building and mental health training for faith and community partners; promotion of wellbeing; and research, evaluation, and evidence development.

The Director will oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs that advance evidence-informed approaches to spirituality and health while fostering mutually beneficial partnerships between healthcare systems and community-based organizations. The Director will work closely with clinical and academic leaders to develop innovative models of whole-person care, strengthen community engagement, support research initiatives, and promote continuous quality improvement.

Working collaboratively with the Chair of Behavioral Medicine, the Director will contribute to strategic planning, funding development, and program growth while ensuring excellence in operations, stakeholder engagement, program evaluation, and resource stewardship. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative leadership, the Director will help establish the PRISM Center as a nationally recognized leader in spiritually informed, evidence-based healthcare.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Program Development and Operational Leadership
  • Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and initiatives that advance the mission and strategic objectives of the PRISM Center.
  • Operationalize the Center's strategic priorities in partnership with the Chair of Behavioral Medicine
  • Establish measurable goals, implementation plans, performance metrics, and operational processes to ensure program effectiveness and sustainability.
  • Identify opportunities for innovation, growth, and continuous improvement across Center activities.
• Clinical Practice and Community Integration
  • Collaborate with clinicians and healthcare leaders to develop evidence-informed approaches for integrating spirituality into patient-centered care.
  • Develop referral pathways, workflows, and best-practice guidelines that connect interested patients with appropriate spiritual care and community resources.
  • Maintain clear standards regarding patient autonomy, confidentiality, cultural responsiveness, and professional boundaries.
  • Build and sustain a network of faith-based, community, and spiritual care partners to support patient wellbeing and whole-person care.
  • Develop partner onboarding, training, and engagement processes that promote quality, accountability, and shared understanding.
• Education and Training
  • Lead educational programming for clinicians, trainees, faculty, staff, faith leaders, and community organizations.
  • Develop curricula, workshops, and training materials related to spiritual care, mental health awareness, community referral practices, and whole-person wellbeing.
  • Facilitate reciprocal learning opportunities between healthcare professionals and faith-based partners.
  • Evaluate educational initiatives and continuously improve training programs based on outcomes and participant feedback.
• Research and Program Evaluation
  • Collaborate with investigators, faculty, and external partners to develop and implement research and evaluation initiatives.
  • Support grant development, proposal preparation, and programmatic components of external funding applications.
  • Establish and monitor performance indicators and outcome measures across Center programs.
  • Utilize data and evidence to guide programmatic decision-making and continuous improvement.
  • Contribute to dissemination efforts including publications, presentations, reports, and educational resources.
• Wellbeing Initiatives
  • Develop and oversee programs supporting patient, caregiver, and clinician wellbeing through spiritually informed and whole-person approaches.
  • Collaborate with institutional leadership and community partners to identify opportunities that enhance resilience, meaning, purpose, and social connection.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of wellbeing initiatives and recommend improvements.
• Financial and Administrative Management
  • Assist in annual budget planning, financial forecasting, resource allocation, and expenditure monitoring.
  • Prepare analyses and reports related to program performance, operational effectiveness, and resource utilization.
  • Support development of budgets for grants, philanthropic initiatives, and new program opportunities.
  • Collaborate with the Chair of Behavioral Medicine on long-range planning and sustainability efforts.
  • Ensure accurate documentation, reporting, and administrative compliance across Center activities.
• Personnel and Team Leadership
  • Supervise assigned personnel and support recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, and professional development activities.
  • Establish performance expectations and accountability measures for staff and collaborators.
  • Foster a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and mission-driven culture.
  • Coordinate staff, faculty, trainees, and community partners in support of program objectives.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Representation
  • Serve as a key liaison between the PRISM Center, clinical departments, faculty, researchers, community organizations, and faith-based partners.
  • Build productive relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
  • Facilitate meetings, collaborative initiatives, and community engagement activities.
  • Represent the Center in institutional, professional, and community settings as delegated by the Chair of Behavioral Medicine.

• Master's degree in healthcare administration, public health, business administration, health services administration, public administration, social work, counseling, psychology, divinity, theology, education, behavioral sciences, or a related field.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in the following:
  • Progressively responsible experience in healthcare, behavioral health, academic medicine, research administration, community health, spirituality and health, education, nonprofit leadership, or related fields.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in the following:
  • Leadership experience involving program oversight, personnel supervision, budget management, or strategic initiative development.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the intersection of spirituality, health, wellbeing, and patient-centered care.
• Understanding of ethical, professional, and cultural considerations related to spiritual care and community engagement.
• Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate complex programs and partnerships.
• Strong organizational leadership, project management, and operational planning skills.
• Experience building productive relationships across healthcare, academic, community, and faith-based settings.
• Ability to facilitate collaboration among diverse stakeholders and perspectives.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Knowledge of research, quality improvement, and program evaluation methodologies.
• Ability to interpret data and use evidence to inform strategic and operational decisions.
• Experience managing budgets, monitoring expenditures, and supporting financial planning.
• Knowledge of healthcare regulations, privacy requirements, and institutional compliance standards.
• Demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, professionalism, and accountability.

• Commitment to respectful, inclusive, evidence-informed approaches to spirituality, wellbeing, and whole-person care.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree or terminal professional degree (e.g., PhD, PsyD, MD, DO, DMin, DrPH, EdD, JD, or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
• Preferred experience includes:
  • Development of multidisciplinary healthcare or community-based programs.
  • Collaboration with faith communities, spiritual care providers, chaplaincy programs, or community organizations.
  • Research coordination, program evaluation, and outcomes assessment.
  • Grant development, philanthropic initiatives, or externally funded projects.
  • Whole-person care, wellbeing, behavioral health, or healthcare innovation initiatives.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.