Health and Wellness Coordinator - Karen community focused

Title: Health and Wellness Coordinator - Karen community focused

Appointment: Temporary, Full-time; job code 8312CB, Ed Pro 2-Cmty-Bsd Ed & Outrch

Salary Range: $27.00 - $33.00 an hour; depending on education, qualifications, experience

Extension Area: Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing

Office Location: Ramsey County Extension Office

Apply By: November 6, 2025

Temporary position with funding secured through June 30, 2027. Continuation of position will be based on funding and performance. Health and Wellness Coordinators lead communities to design and implement solutions to improve individual and community health by promoting healthy eating behaviors and physical activity in low-income communities in the Twin Cities Metro.

Seeking applicants committed to trauma-informed, culturally grounded, community-centered, relationship-driven work carried out in a manner that promotes strategies and approaches using a public health lens.

The person in this position is responsible for assessing local community health needs; building cross sector partnerships and relationships with agencies, community leaders, and potential funders. As well as implementing evidence-based programs and teaching SNAP eligible individuals and families; and working with community partners to evaluate educational programming and systems change efforts. Additionally, the person in this position will be co-learning with community members around critical issues affecting individual and community health and well-being and developing strategies with community members to address the issues. Of particular focus for this position is to teach family-based diabetes prevention curriculum to Karen community members in their language.

Responsibilities

Deliver evidence-based education, programs, and initiatives (45%)

• Facilitate community-driven changes in policies, systems, and environments through implementing public health initiatives to improve healthy eating, physical activity, and food access.
• Teach, in Karen and English languages, nutrition education using evidence-based educational resources and curriculum to participants living on a limited income from youth to older adults.
• Teach Smart Moves curriculum, with a particular focus on the Karen community and document adaptations needing to be made for that community.
• Assess and adapt the program and educational materials to enhance relevance and accessibility for audience needs, including language, culture, disability status, educational levels, and other characteristics.
• Recruit and provide train-the-trainer opportunities on evidence-based programs for community professionals and local agencies. Provide technical assistance to community professionals on implementation and evaluation.
• Work with partners to ensure audience eligibility and establish terms of programming.
• Conduct evaluations and report program outcomes with program participants, partners, and stakeholders such as County Extension Committees.
• Work independently and as part of a team.

Provide leadership to design, develop and implement community-based health promotion programs and initiatives (40%)

• Use existing community health assessments in the metro region to determine potential needs for health and nutrition programming. Use data tools to understand culture, diversity, ethnic composition, religious composition, health or dietary characteristics, poverty, historical trauma, etc.
• Collaborate with community members and partners to determine programming opportunities and community-level initiatives around promoting healthy eating and physical activity while applying our foundational principles of equity, holistic health, community centered, and relationship driven.
• Support implementation of program and initiative opportunities determined by community engagement processes and their readiness for change/action.
• Collaborate with the community to build mutually respectful relationships to design, develop, deliver and evaluate culturally grounded, impactful programming.
• Market health and nutrition education programs and initiatives to potential and existing partners and participants.
• Foster and strengthen local and/or regional partnerships across organizations to support community health and wellbeing
• Build cross-center partnerships within Extension.
• Participate in internal statewide project teams to expand and deepen impact. Professionally represent Extension in providing support and expertise when serving on agency or community boards, coalitions, or advisory committees related to health and nutrition.

Procedures and Protocols (15%)

• Comply with University of Minnesota, Extension, grant funding agency (Department of Children, Youth, and Families), and community partners' policies, procedures, and requirements.
• Enter course/programming, participant, and partner information into the program database.
• Secure program participant information related to demographics, eligibility, attendance, assessment, and program evaluation using established privacy and data security procedures.
• Complete administrative tasks accurately and on time, including updated calendar, time entry, expenses, and mileage reimbursement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Six years of relevant experience or the combination of a Bachelor's degree in community health promotion, nutrition, or a closely related discipline and two years of experience.
  • Experience noted above should include two (2) or more years of experience teaching, community health promotion, or engaging communities in improving health or food access
• Experience working with culturally diverse, economically under-resourced, and underserved people with focus on the Karen community specifically.
• Proficiency in speaking and writing in Karen and English.
• Six months' experience working in the SNAP-Education Program
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adapt communication styles to suit different audiences.
• Experience using computers and distance technology platforms for data entry, creating informational materials, emails, teaching, or training purposes.
• Valid driver's license and reliable vehicle with required liability insurance, to be utilized for frequent travel within the region and infrequent travel in greater Minnesota. Reimbursement for travel and subsistence is available in accordance with University policy.
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including some evening and weekend work to meet the program participant needs and availability.
• Must be able to work regularly at a dedicated/assigned Extension office and must have reliable internet if/when working outside of the office.
• When not in the assigned office location, employees must be reachable with a mobile number at the employee's own expense.
• Ability to lift, push, pull, carry a minimum weight of 30 lbs.
• Ability to work in various buildings, climates, and sometimes outdoors
• This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge and/or experience of public health approaches to promote policy, system, and environmental (PSE) changes and improve access to healthy food and physical activity opportunities.
• Experience using translators to deliver education in a language other than English.
• Experience conducting needs assessment and program evaluation.
• Experience implementing and adapting, and teaching evidence-based education programs.
• Experience building networks and coalitions for shared action, including local community relationships and networks.
• Experience with grant reporting and financial policies.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed principles and practices.
• Professional, volunteer, or direct life experience with cooking, teaching food skills, using safe food handling practices, and/or gardening.
• Professional, volunteer, or direct life experience with issues and challenges related to living on a limited income.

About Extension

University of Minnesota Extension is a major outreach arm of the University of Minnesota with a mission to serve the public through applied research and education. Our mission is to make a difference by connecting community needs and University resources to address critical issues in Minnesota. Extension strives to attract and retain high-quality, passionate employees, and weave diversity, equity and inclusion into all aspects of Extension's programming and employee engagement. Find further information on the Extension website. .

Pay Range: $27.00 - $33.00 an hour; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment (40 hours/week), Temporary through June 2027

Position Type: Civil-Service

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click on the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position. Please attach the following required application materials:

• Cover letter
• Resume - Your resume must include all your education and experience as it relates to the required qualifications. The initial HR screening process focuses primarily on the resume.

Names and contact information for three professional references will be required during the interview process.

Additional documents may be attached after the application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section. See full application instructions.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).

For questions about this position, contact:

Mary Marczak, Director of Programs and Systems, marcz001@umn.edu.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.