Health Counselor

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks that include numerous retail and restaurant discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates for performing arts events.

The goal of the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention ( HPDP) is to prevent chronic disease and reduce health disparities. Investigators and staff at HPDP work with communities to conduct research, provide training and translate research findings into policy and practice. Research areas include nutrition and physical activity, cardiovascular health, diabetes, obesity, healthy food access, cancer prevention and control, children's health, rural health, and health equity. HPDP is part of a network of 20 CDC Prevention Research Centers across the United States.

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

The Health Counselor will report to the Principal Investigator and Project Manager of the FAMily WEL B-ing Study, a NIH funded grant. The position will be responsible for delivering lifestyle intervention, data collection, and additional research support duties.

The Health Counselor will implement and manage a group-based behavioral weight loss intervention program designed by the research team to ensure that protocols are followed at various study sites (e.g., Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill). The Health Counselor position will provide structured, group and dyad-based, in-person and virtual counseling for participants regarding diet and physical activity, and family interaction skills. The person in this position will also collect baseline measurements (i.e., height, weight, blood pressure, A1c, and skin carotenoid measurements), coordinate participant measurement and study visits, maintain documentation on each participant through REDCap, scheduling calendar, and study database, and manage and track participant monetary incentives for study participation. The Health Counselor will also be responsible for additional duties supporting recruitment, enrollment, and follow-up of study participants. Additional duties include drafting study protocols, organization of study materials, updates to intervention materials and data collection instruments, attend team meetings, reconcile of participant incentives, and other on-campus and off campus site study-related tasks.

Bachelor's degree; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

- Experience with group-based health and/or dietary coaching/counseling
- Able to travel on a regular basis to research sites
- Able to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends
- Strong computer skills (MS Office, Excel) and comfortable with e-mail as a primary mode of communication with the research office
- Able to work effectively with a team of researchers as well as independently
- Strong organizational skills and effective time management skills

- Experience in nutrition, health behavior, exercise physiology, public health, social work, or related field strongly preferred.
- Experience using motivational interviewing principles
- Experience working on a research project
- Experience with REDCap preferred.
- Experience as a health counselor or delivering behavioral interventions (preferably dietary, physical activity, and/or weight loss counseling/interventions)
- Excellent communication skills and public interaction.
- Experience working with underserved, and racially/ethnically diverse adult populations
- Registered Dietitian (RD)

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu

Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.