Executive Director, Ryan Institute for Interdisciplinary Health Solutions

Executive Director, Ryan Institute for Interdisciplinary Health Solutions

Washington University in St. Louis, Bursky School of Public Health | St. Louis, Missouri

The Bursky School of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis seeks a dynamic, entrepreneurial leader to serve as the Executive Director of the Ryan Institute for Interdisciplinary Health Solutions. This is an opportunity to build and lead a truly transformative, multidisciplinary program, established on the belief that the most complex global health challenges require integrated, cross-sector solutions.

The Ryan Institute is dedicated to advancing solutions to the world’s most pressing public health challenges. Guided by a vision of a world where public health solutions are scaled globally to improve the health of all people, the Institute unites faculty, policymakers, industry partners, and thought leaders around a shared purpose. Its mission is to develop actionable, scalable solutions through interdisciplinary research, high-level engagement, and cross-sector collaboration.

What distinguishes the Ryan Institute is its commitment to translation, with funding, mentorship, postdoctoral support, and global convenings designed to move promising ideas into practice. By connecting scholarship with implementation, the Institute is positioned to drive lasting public health improvements.

Partnered with Dean Sandro Galea and backed by strong institutional commitment and significant philanthropic investment, this Executive Director is positioned at the forefront of a bold idea: to move beyond traditional academic silos and create a collaborative operating environment that unites expertise across the university and with global partners in government, NGOs, and the private sector.

The successful candidate is both strategic and creative, translating an ambitious, startup-like institute into a sustainable, high‑impact engine for change over time.

Key Responsibilities

• Shape the institute’s trajectory, establishing conditions for long‑term success and guiding focus toward the most pressing global health challenges.
• Foster collaboration, build credibility across diverse stakeholders, and create a culture that empowers others to lead and innovate.
• Translate an ambitious, startup‑like institute into a sustainable, high‑impact engine for change over time.

Application Process

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website:

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Washington University encourages and gives full consideration to all applicants for admission, financial aid, and employment. The university does not discriminate in access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, disability or genetic information.

It is the policy of the university to: (1) provide equal employment opportunity to all job applicants and employees; (2) administer recruiting, hiring, compensation and benefit practices, training, upgrading and promotion procedures, transfers and terminations of employment without discrimination because of race, color, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, veteran status, disability or genetic information; (3) provide a workplace free from harassment based on any of the foregoing factors; and (4) encourage the hiring of minorities, women, disabled individuals, Vietnam era veterans and disabled veterans.