Health Promotion Specialist, Coaching & Programs

Health Promotion Specialist, Coaching & Programs

Unit: Student Affairs (Vice Provost)

Department: Student Health

Rec Well provides a broad range of programs and services that support the well‑being of our VCU community, including group exercise, outdoor adventure, intramural sports, personal training, aquatics, employment opportunities, and much more. Rec Well educates and provides outreach on health topics that impact student well‑being, including publication of the popular Stall Seat Journal.

The VCU Recreation and Well‑Being (Rec Well) Health Promotion Specialist, Coaching and Programs is responsible for the health promotion program areas that align with the mission of Rec Well. The role collaborates with the Health Promotion team, DSA’s Health Communications Specialist and other Rec Well team members to develop, implement, and evaluate health promotion programs, events, and services for a diverse student body of 30,000 across two main campuses.

The specialist leads programmatic initiatives on topics such as sexual and mental health, nutrition, alcohol and other drugs, and other health and well‑being topics most impacting students’ success.

• Facilitate the hiring, supervision, and mentorship to develop undergraduate and graduate students into more effective, healthful leaders and team members in all aspects of their lives.
• Facilitate ongoing training with student supervises to remain at the forefront of university initiatives and emerging health trends.
• Effectively prepare university students and Rec Well student employees to identify risks and make critically sound decisions that uphold the department’s shared values.
• Provide ongoing professional development opportunities for students to increase levels of responsibility, develop new skills, and advance as professionals.
• Provide consistent training to the well‑being coaching program’s student staff using a motivational interviewing theoretical model, and evidence‑based health promotion research.
• Attend all meetings, coursework, membership, and recruitment, ensuring the group complies with departmental and university policies, and goals.
• Create employee training materials and operating manuals, and revise them annually.
• Effectively communicate department, division, and university mission, vision, values and goals to staff, with special attention to areas regarding health promotion and well‑being.
• Ensure consistent and quality service standards are met.
• Ensure compliance with all departmental and university guidelines and procedures.
• Regularly monitor staff time and verify payroll.

• Lead ongoing planning, implementation, and evaluation of inclusive, accessible, and welcoming health promotion and coaching programs, minimizing risk while focusing on fun, educational and positive experiences for participants.
• Participate in the development of department and program area‑specific strategic plans, goals, and measurable outcomes to guide and evaluate all programming activities.
• Work with Health Promotion and other Rec Well staff to assess and report strategic outcomes.
• Facilitate collaboration with key stakeholders on‑and off‑campus to develop a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to well‑being that addresses key issues, such as belonging and connectedness.
• Work with key stakeholders to integrate health promotion into academic and other learning environments, potentially instructing courses in partnership with academic departments.
• Work through the established channels to engage in dynamic and purposeful marketing and promotion of emergent health issues through the collaborative development of digital, print, social, and other media.
• Plan and attend university and health promotion events, conferences, and professional networks to develop relationships with campus and community partners that inform collaborative programming for the university.
• Work with others to develop innovative models that remove barriers to student engagement while ensuring the long‑term sustainability, and scalability of the health promotion and the well‑being coaching program.
• Advocate for the most effective…