Nutrition Educator, Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition (CHCC)

About the role

The Nutrition Educator, Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition (CHCC) position is funded through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a five-year initiative supported by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to advance rural population health through innovation, expanded access points, and strategies that promote preventive health and address the root causes of disease. In Maine, the Nutrition Education Program (NEP) component of the RHTP supports population health by delivering evidence-based nutrition education and public health interventions that benefit Mainers and the health care organizations that serve them.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based nutrition education curricula aligned with RHTP NEP goals related to chronic disease prevention and management.
• Implement evidence-based Food Is Medicine (FIM) public health approaches aligned with RHTP NEP goals, including but not limited to:
  • Medically tailored groceries,
  • Food pharmacies and pantries,
  • Fruit and vegetable prescription (FVRx) programs,
  • Farmers' market vouchers,
  • Gleaning initiatives,
  • Clinical referral pathways,
  • School-based health strategies.
• Engage with new and existing community and clinical partners to support the implementation of sustainable Food Is Medicine strategies.
• Conduct outreach to increase awareness of and participation in RHTP nutrition education services across the service area.
• Coordinate with healthcare organization partners (e.g., hospitals, primary care practices, and federally qualified health centers) to support referral and enrollment into nutrition education programs.
• Ensure program delivery maintains fidelity to evidence-based models while adapting appropriately to local community needs.
• Complete all reporting and evaluation processes as required by CMS, Maine DHHS, and the University of New England.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nutrition, public health, exercise science, health education, behavioral sciences, or a related field highly preferred or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.
• Minimum of one year of professional experience developing and maintaining partnerships with community-based and/or clinical organizations.
• Demonstrated experience implementing nutrition education and/or obesity prevention programming or policies in school, healthcare, or community settings.
• Demonstrated proficiency using Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel, for Documentation, reporting, and communication.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in remote, community-based role, including organizing work activities, managing priorities, and meeting deadlines with limited direct supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams, community partners, and healthcare organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt program delivery and outreach strategies in response to changing grant requirements, community needs, or organizational priorities.
• Valid Maine driver's license with the ability to travel regularly throughout the assigned service area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current credential as a Registered Dietitian (RD) or documented professional experience in nutrition or public health practice.
• Two or more years of experience delivering evidence-based nutrition education programs to diverse populations, including experience working with adults and/or children.
• Documented experience implementing or supporting community-centered public health interventions, including Food Is Medicine-related strategies (e.g., food pharmacies, medically tailored food programs, produce prescription programs, or clinical referral models).

Benefits

Multiple health and dental plan options, plus vision coverage. Up to 8% retirement plan match. Generous leave time, including vacation, sick, and personal time, and 12+ holidays per year. Educational benefits: UNE tuition waiver for employees, spouses, and domestic partners. UNE tuition waiver for dependents of employees with 1 year of full-time service.50% tuition reduction if less than 1 year of full-time service. For more information about our outstanding benefits, please visit: UNE Benefits Overview.