Health Promotion Specialist

Office on Aging and Disability Services

Salary: $55,000-$72,000/year

Position Summary

The Health Promotion Specialist initiates, designs, implements and oversees programs which promote a holistic approach to wellness for Somerset County’s age 60 population. Wellness programs incorporate the following dimensions: 1) fitness; 2) personal wellbeing; 3) nutrition and diet; and 4) health information and education. The incumbent ensures that program offerings are available and suitable for various segments of the aging population. The Health Promotion Specialist is responsible for identifying creative, cost-effective ways to implement programs in view of limited county resources (i.e., grants, peer – led programs, etc.). The incumbent monitors physical wellness classes (i.e., dance/exercise), especially those implemented by volunteers. The incumbent supervises the Nutrition/Wellness Program Assistant. Additionally, the position serves as the co-chair of the Employee Wellness Committee implementing the goals established under the direction of the Wellness Committee Advisors (approximately 12.5%).

Essential Functions

Under the direction of the Health/Nutrition Administrator, the incumbent is accountable for the following activities:

• Identifies, designs, and implements timely and diverse range of wellness activities that are consistent with the Office on Aging & Disability Services wellness philosophy and Area Plan goals
• Identifies grant opportunities to fund new and on-going programs
• Coordinates and oversees grant application and management including writing grants, developing budgets, collaborating with community organizations and monitoring grant programming
• Schedules programs, selects leaders and, when appropriate, negotiates rates, sets fees, arranges for space and determines class size
• Makes recommendations regarding need for program modifications, termination of professional service contracts, fee schedules, and other issues within scope of practice
• Recruits professionals and volunteers to implement programs
• Negotiates with various community agencies to provide space for wellness programs, which are geographically accessible to older adults throughout the county
• Assists Senior Center Managers coordinating health screenings/educational programs
• Develops, implements Quality Assurance mechanisms and makes appropriate program adjustments
• Encourages attendance and awareness of Health Promotion issues and programs through public education
• Prepares and authors newsletters, news articles and/or press releases by due dates
• Plans, coordinates/collaborates and participates in health promotion seminars, fairs, etc. which showcase health promoting information
• Leads/demonstrates exercises for classes and training sessions
• Recruit, train and support volunteers for evidence-based programs
• Attends training seminars to stay abreast of current information
• Actively participates in community and division meetings as assigned
• Networks and advises other State and National aging health professionals who seek information and guidance in developing holistic health promotion programs
• Evaluates diet adequacy and factors contributing to nutritional problems of high-risk elders identified via the Nutrition Screening process; uses effective counseling/education strategies appropriate for geriatric population that motivate behavior change necessary to reduce nutritional risk/improve nutritional status
• Documents each nutritional consultation in client record to include subjective and objective information, description of assessment and client plan (including plan for follow-up review of client’s progress)
• Respond to public requests for information by mail, telephone, email or in-person
• Responsible for analyzing paid senior center programming requests
• Performs other duties as assigned

Under the direction of the Wellness Committee Advisors, the incumbent is accountable for the following activities:

• Identifies, designs, and implements timely and diverse range of wellness activities that are consistent with the Somerset County Employee Wellness Committee mission and goals
• Designs, promotes, implements and measures targeted wellness programs for multi-site locations
• Schedules programs, selects leaders and when appropriate, negotiates rates, sets fees, arranges for space and determines class size
• Coordinates with county contracted health providers (i.e. Aetna, EAP) to further integrate health and wellness throughout the organization
• Develops and maintains relationships with members of community organizations and various stakeholders to improve overall health
• Prepares a variety of materials (email notifications, letters, marketing pieces, etc.) for the purpose of documenting activities and/or conveying information
• Implements wellness related activities. Examples include health fairs, health screenings, lunch and learns, massage events, fitness classes, etc.
• Manages and tracks wellness programming participation

Marginal Functions

• Assists in miscellaneous Office on Aging & Disability Services projects/activities as directed (i.e., Performing Arts Festival, 4 H Fair, etc.)
• Performs other duties as assigned by management.

Essential Qualifications

• MS degree in Exercise Physiology with minor in Nutrition or Public Health Education; BS degree in nursing, public health nurse practitioner, or other health related field
• Two years’ experience developing, organizing, implementing, promoting and evaluating programs in the area of exercise, health education and nutrition for people age 60 and above
• Two years’ experience researching and writing grants to support new initiatives
• A minimum of one (1) year of supervisory experience
• Ability to read, write, understand and communicate clearly in English
• Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse clientele
• Excellent time management/organizational/problem solving and interpersonal skills; must be self-directed
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with older adults, team members, volunteers and community agencies
• Computer proficient (i.e., MS Office Suite)
• Experience planning and executing events/activities
• Ability to produce accurate work in a fast-paced work environment
• Creative, detail oriented and flexible
• Ability to stand/walk/reach/bend/twist (at times bearing weight) to complete tasks
• Valid NJ driver's license with the ability to independently travel to various work locations as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Cognizant of adult learning methodologies

Benefits include health coverage (medical, prescription, and dental), paid time off (vacation, holidays, and sick), a deferred compensation plan, and enrollment in the NJ State Pension System.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $55,000.00 - $72,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person

Salary : $55,000 - $72,000