Temporary Health and Wellness Coordinator (5 openings)

Title: Temporary Health and Wellness Coordinator

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

Extension Area: Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing

Salary Range: $27.00 - $36.00 an hour; depending on education, qualifications, experience

Office Location: Moorhead, Mankato, Rochester, St Cloud, Duluth or Twin Cities area

Apply By: November 14, 2025

Temporary Health and Wellness Coordinators work with communities to design and implement solutions to improve individual and community health by promoting healthy eating behaviors and physical activity in low-income communities. 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. Temporary position to end no later than September 30, 2026.

The person in this temporary position is responsible for exploring critical needs of partners in their regions and help Extension understand ways we can continue to support the partners to promote health and wellbeing of SNAP eligible families. They will be exploring partnerships in the SNAP-ED Evaluation Database System (SEEDS) and re-building relationships, supporting networking across partner organizations, and identifying local champions and supporting their role in systems-level change efforts. They will facilitate partnership conversations, reflection sessions or action building, and facilitate opportunities to align actions across the partnerships. The Health and Wellness Coordinator will work with other FHW colleagues to offer hands-on support to partnerships applying system-thinking approaches to promote health and well-being in local communities.

The person in this temporary position is responsible for assessing local community health needs; building cross sector partnerships and relationships with agencies, community leaders, and potential funders. The person in this position will co-learn with community members around critical issues affecting individual and community health and well-being and develop strategies with community members to address the issues. The Health and Wellness coordinator will facilitate place-based initiatives, a key component of systems-based approaches, in their region in order to increase program sustainability. In order to facilitate learning and emerging practices across communities, local and regional travel will be required.

Responsibilities

Partnership development and training facilitation (50%)

• Through community convenings, explore critical health and wellbeing needs of historically disenfranchised communities (American Indian, African American) as well immigrant and refugee populations (Karen, Somali, Hmong) in the micropolitan areas of Rochester, Duluth/Twin Cities Metro, Mankato, St. Cloud, and Moorhead.
• Facilitate community-driven changes in policies, systems, and environments through implementing public health initiatives by supporting coalitions and networks working to improve healthy eating, physical activity, and food access. .
• Assess and adapt existing programs and educational materials to ensure relevance and accessibility for audience needs, including language, culture, disability status, educational levels, and other characteristics.
• Embed systems thinking approaches with community partnerships and provide train-the-trainer opportunities in order to sustain the work past September 30th, 2026.
• Facilitate train-the-trainer opportunities for storytelling in order to strengthen learning across communities.
• 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.
• Build cross-center partnerships within Extension
• Foster cross-sector collaborations working on similar goals to ensure collective impact.
• Work independently and as part of a team.

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

• Use existing community health assessments in the designated regions 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.
• Conduct evaluations and report program outcomes in database and sharing with other audiences as requested
• Support implementation of program and initiative opportunities determined by community engagement processes and their readiness for change/action.
• Highlight the importance of storytelling as part of the evaluation process, as well as helping communities use this data to tell their own stories of change.

Procedures and Protocols (10%)

• 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 programming experience or a combination of relevant education and experience to total 6 years
• Current or former Extension SNAP-ED Health and Wellness coordinator who have taught within the Extension SNAP Education program after October 2024.
• Demonstrated experience implementing programs in Extension approved by USDA for fiscal years FY24-26
• Understands SNAP Ed's plan for FY25 fiscal year with a place based approach, community-led, community-engaged projects.
• Have implemented community-led, community based SNAP-ED projects in the metropolitan areas such as Moorhead, Rochester, Mankato, St. Cloud and also Twin Cities metro.
• Demonstrated strong relationships with community partners & members in one or more of the designated regions
• Experience working with culturally diverse, economically under-resourced, and underserved people
• 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.
• Experience conducting needs assessment and program evaluation.
• Experience implementing and adapting, and teaching evidence-based education programs.
• 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
• 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 hours 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.
• 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 building networks and coalitions for shared action, including local community relationships and networks in surrounding communities.
• Experience with grant reporting and financial policies.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed principles and practices.

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 - $36.00 an hour; depending on education, qualifications, experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment (40 hours/week), Temporary position that will end no later than September 30, 2026.

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:

• 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

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).

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.