UConn Careers

JOB SUMMARY

Make the next step in your career one where you have a positive impact at every level of an institution, from the students with whom you work to the systems that shape their lives. Our Health Promotion team is looking for an innovative prevention professional who can create compassionate and inclusive initiatives for the full spectrum of support related to alcohol and other substances, from intervention to recovery support. Join us in creating a campus environment that promotes students’ ability to Be Well, Feel Well, and Do Well at UConn!

Student Health and Wellness (SHaW) supports the optimal well-being of all UConn students by providing the highest quality compassionate care and exceptional health and wellness programs. SHaW’s Health Promotion (HP) team contributes to this mission by cultivating conditions that foster wellbeing, empower students, and dismantle systems of oppression that impact health.

The Health Educator will contribute to the efforts of the HP team by collaboratively developing, advancing, and overseeing evidence-based communications, programs, and services that mobilize systemic and whole campus action while also directly engaging the student community. The Health Educator will be the primary point person for promoting student wellbeing through initiatives related to student use of alcohol and other substances, including but not limited to awareness campaigns, prevention efforts, campus-wide interventions, and support of recovery community programming.

SHaW is committed to diversity and inclusion, competence in working with culturally and ethnically diverse populations, and awareness of how issues of difference, power, and privilege manifest in higher education environments. The ideal candidate promotes health equity and reduces health disparities by demonstrating and supporting an understanding, sensitivity, and appreciation for health equity, social justice, cultural humility, and inclusiveness. 

• Contributes to the overall development and implementation of UConn’s community wellness education program and our emerging student well-being framework.
• Researches and implements best practices and evidence-based strategies that prevent high-risk use of alcohol and other substances.
• Prioritizes equity-minded strategies that promote well-being in collaboration with marginalized student populations and campus partners engaged with these communities.
• Coordinates the creation and distribution of marketing and promotional materials for all assigned programs and initiatives.
• Processes and maintains necessary paperwork and records, including financial records and files required to support program initiatives.
• Supports planning of outreach programs, conferences, meetings, and seminars; creates and presents training and outreach materials.
• Develops engaging communications across a range of media (e.g. social, print, online) that enhance student capacities for reflection, intentional action, and individual development.
• Evaluates health promotion initiatives, compiles program data, and prepares reports that assess initiative and program effectiveness.
• Responds to inquiries from program participants, students, faculty, and others and explains program policies, procedures, and requirements, making referrals as appropriate.
• Serves as an expert resource to the community on topics related to health promotion.
• Recruits, trains, and supervises staff, including student staff, in support of related programs, potentially including graduate assistants, student workers, temporary employees, volunteers, and/or peer educators.
• Serves on campus-wide committees related to community health and wellness, as well as other work groups as assigned.
• Assists in identifying resources and funding sources and may assist in drafting applications to those sources, as needed.
• Performs related work as required, including some evening and weekend activities to reach desired audiences and program objectives.
• Facilitates orientation programs and engages in other division and campus wide events as a representative of SHaW.
• Performs related duties.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Five years of related work experience. One year of experience must be serving as an advanced team member.
• Demonstrated experience with health promotion programs and campaigns related to the prevention of high-risk alcohol and substance use.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills necessary for effective work relationships.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills necessary for effective work relationships.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in public health, health education, health promotion, or a related field.
• Certification or eligibility to be certified with related credentials (e.g. Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), College Health and Wellness Professional (CHWP)).
• Demonstrated experience delivering health promotion and education programs in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated experience integrating principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of program management.
• Demonstrated understanding of public health approaches to creating and sustaining healthy communities.
• Articulated knowledge of current trends and issues in collegiate health and wellness.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Demonstrated ability to communicate information effectively, including presentation and public speaking skills.
• Previous experience supervising professional, student, and/or volunteer staff.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

UConn offers competitive salaries, outstanding benefits, and a highly desirable work environment. For additional information regarding benefits visit: https://hr.uconn.edu/benefits-beyond-pay. Other rights, terms, and conditions of employment are contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut and the University of Connecticut Professional Employees Association (UCPEA).  

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs, Staff Positions, Search #497271 to upload four required documents: 1) a resume, 2) cover letter, 3) contact information for three (3) professional references, and 4) a diversity statement that explains your experience with and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Review of applications will be ongoing and continue until the position is filled. 

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.