Senior Specialist - Outreach-Continuing

Position Summary

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 Center’s full portfolio of research, outreach, partnerships, and community-based initiatives.

The Director is responsible for advancing CCED’s mission in alignment with Michigan State University’s 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 University's 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 University’s premier land-grant tradition, the Center for Community and Economic Development is committed to engaging with communities to develop and apply knowledge to meet society's 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 MSU’s 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 University’s capacity to respond to the needs of distressed communities through research, outreach, and engagement.

Leadership Scope

The Director is accountable for the Center's overall leadership and performance. This includes oversight of faculty, academic specialists, students, staff, and volunteers; stewardship of the Center’s 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 University’s 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 Center's 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 Center’s 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 CCED’s role within the University and strengthen its contribution to Michigan State University’s 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 a leadership 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 CCED’s mission.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

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.

Required Degree

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

Desired Degree

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

Minimum Requirements

• 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.

Desired Qualifications

• 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 Michigan’s 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.

Required Application Materials

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

Special Instructions

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

For more information, contact Miles McNall, chair of the search committee, at mcnall@msu.edu.

Review of Applications Begins On

10/19/2026

Website

https://engage.msu.edu/about/departments/cced

MSU 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.