Assistant Director of Student Wellness and Health Promotion Job at Montana State

Assistant Director of Student Wellness and Health Promotion

Montana State University – Office of Student Engagement

Position Overview

The Assistant Director plays a key role in fostering a campus culture that prioritizes holistic student health and wellbeing. This position is responsible for the strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of inclusive, evidence‑informed health promotion initiatives that support students’ physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing. It also advances a broader vision of wellness that is integrated across multiple aspects of campus life.

Position Details

Position Number 4M0467
Department: Student Wellness
Division: Student Success (SWC AVP) – Office of Student Wellness
Reporting to: Associate Vice President for Student Wellness
Appointment Type: Classified Contract – Term (Fiscal Year Semester)
Hours: 27.00 per hour (commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications)

Program Development & Implementation

• Design and implement comprehensive health education and prevention programs grounded in behavior change theory, health equity, and inclusive practices.
• Lead campus‑wide initiatives that promote student wellbeing, including mental health, sexual health, physical health, substance use prevention, and basic needs.
• Deliver programming through workshops, presentations, digital campaigns, and peer education.
• Apply principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and trauma‑informed practices.
• Serve as the university lead for prevention education required by the Drug‑Free Schools and Communities Act.
• Expand and manage campus‑wide Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) education and harm reduction strategies.
• Develop and oversee a peer education program that empowers students to support and educate their peers across all wellness domains.

Supervision & Leadership

• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate professional staff and student employees.
• Mentor student leaders and peer educators, fostering inclusive leadership and professional development.
• Oversee training and performance review processes for student staff involved in peer health education and AOD programming.
• Oversee health educator responsible for coordinating basic needs and campus food pantry.

Assessment & Strategic Planning

• Partner with campus colleagues to conduct needs assessments (e.g., ACHA‑NCHA) to inform strategic priorities and co‑lead Student Wellness planning efforts.
• Define learning outcomes and utilize assessment tools to evaluate program impact.
• Analyze and share data to guide continuous improvement and strategic decision‑making.

Collaboration & Campus Engagement

• Co‑lead an internal Student Wellness programming and prevention team focused on coordinated health education and wellness programming.
• Build and maintain partnerships with campus departments, student organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Represent Student Wellness on university‑wide committees and initiatives as directed by the AVP.
• Support the integration of wellness into institutional policies, practices, and campus life.

Direct Student Support Programming

• Provide consultation and referrals to appropriate campus and community resources.
• Coordinate and facilitate alcohol and other drug education classes for students seeking to increase awareness or as part of a conduct process.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Promotion, Health Education, Social Work, Counseling, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of professional experience in health promotion or a related area.
• Experience supervising professional and student staff.
• Demonstrated ability to develop inclusive, evidence‑based health education programs.
• Strong understanding of current issues and best practices in college student health and wellness.

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Experience in higher education health promotion.
• Proficiency in specific health promotion strategies such as motivational interviewing or harm reduction.
• Knowledge of behavior change models, health equity frameworks, and wellness trends in higher education.
• Experience with health communication, social media, and graphic design tools.
• Experience with data collection, analysis, and program evaluation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, social media platforms, and systems such as Fusion, Canvas, or similar.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Successful Candidate Profile

• Excitement to work on a multi‑disciplinary team in effort to support whole person wellbeing.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• Willingness to work with students and/or co‑workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds, and experiences.
• Understanding of and/or proficiency with motivational interviewing skills and techniques.
• Experience with Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) or other brief intervention methods with young adult populations.
• Knowledge of issues and dynamics related to substance misuse, health risks from cannabis and alcohol use, and harm‑reduction education.
• Commitment to Student Wellness values including growth mindset, whole person wellbeing, fostering student development, and passion for working with student employees.

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.

Contact

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Betsy Asserson, Ph.D
(406) 994-4531
basserson@montana.edu

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies: 1
Desired Start Date: Upon Completion of a Successful Search.
Position End Date (if Temporary): Open
Closing Date: Applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Screening of applications will begin on October 9th, 2025.

Special Instructions - 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 are required and indicated with an asterisk (*)

Senior Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Health Care Provider

Industries

Events Services