Careers

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world. 

Job Summary

Under general direction from the Associate Director of RecWell for Wellbeing Education Services, the Health Promotion Specialist collaborates with a team of specialists and campus colleagues in developing, coordinating, providing and evaluating a broad range of health, wellbeing and education programs, services, training, prevention and intervention efforts.

Essential Functions

• Develops, organizes and manages various programmatic initiatives related to health, wellbeing and education.  Coordinates intervention and prevention efforts, and educational sessions. 
• Works towards strategic plans, goals and measurable objectives for health, wellbeing and education programs and services using theory-based and evidence-based strategies. Utilizes ecological approaches that address individual, interpersonal, community and environmental influences on health and wellbeing.
• Recruits, hires, trains, manages, supervises and evaluates paid and/or volunteer student staff, interns and/or peer educators.
• Collaborates with Student Affairs and Campus Life staff and key stakeholders, on and off campus, to develop a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to wellbeing and education services for students.  Participates in and serves on relevant committees. Initiates outreach and serves as a community resource for wellbeing concerns, develops referral linkages, community networks and provides resource and referral services.
• Develops, implements, analyzes and shares periodic student wellbeing surveys that 1) provides baseline and follow-up wellbeing data, 2) identifies program needs and priorities, 3) evaluates the effectiveness of programs and services, and 4) tracks trends in student wellbeing and behavior.  Contributes to regular reporting responsibilities for area of focus.
• Designs, implements and evaluates training of professional and para-professional staff. Provides consultation around salient wellbeing issues to university personnel, parents/caregivers and community agencies.
• In collaboration with SACL Communications, updates various forms of media content related to programming.
• Applies and conforms with established internal financial policies to ensure transactions are processed properly; contributes to the development and implementation of short-term/long-term funding options for strategic plans and ongoing operations.
• May engage in curricular approaches, related to wellbeing, including, but not limited to teaching classes for credit, or delivering other opportunities to students, staff, and faculty.

Other Functions

• Performs related duties as assigned or required. Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.  
• Demonstrates capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.  
• Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with law and with university policy.  
• Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace. Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.  

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Masters degree.
• Three (3) years of related experience in the field of health promotion, wellbeing education, or similar position.
• Evidence of ability to provide leadership and problem-solving skills in analyzing wellbeing needs of emerging adults, especially college students.
• Superior written and oral communications skills.  Demonstrated skills in a variety of educational methods including presentations, workshops, trainings, individual behavior change sessions, and small group discussion/facilitation.
• Proficient in various word processing, presentation, and statistical analysis applications such as Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite including Teams, Canvas, Zoom and other related platforms that announce/distribute information.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-based wellbeing education services, population-based theories and models, and strategies for promoting behavior change.
• Certification may vary depending on departmental or university needs such as Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).
• Extensive familiarity with social media and innovative technologies, especially those that are popular with the college population.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to lift, transport and deliver materials and equipment, up to 20 pounds.

Work Schedule

• Monday – Friday; 8:30am – 5:00pm.
• Required to work some nights and weekends.

Salary Information

Level 28

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.