Health Coach

ChristianaCare•Wilmington, DE

6d•$54,142 - $81,224

About The Position

The Health Coach supports patients participating in chronic disease prevention and self-management programs. Applying specialized knowledge of health behavior change and chronic disease self-management, the Health Coach partners with patients to identify meaningful health and wellness goals, strengthen readiness and confidence for behavior change, and develop practical strategies for sustainable lifestyle change. Using person-centered, strengths-based coaching approaches and professional judgment, the Health Coach helps patients explore lifestyle factors that influence health, including nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, and positive social connection. As part of an interdisciplinary team, the Health Coach reinforces established care plans and health education, promotes engagement in recommended programs and services, connects patients with appropriate clinical and community resources, and contributes to program implementation and continuous improvement. The role includes individual and group coaching, participant outreach and follow-up, independent management of an assigned caseload, documentation of encounters and outcomes, collection of biometric data, and communication of findings requiring clinical review. The Health Coach also contributes to training, curriculum and resource development, interdisciplinary case review, quality improvement, and workflow development. The position requires regular travel to patients’ homes and program and community locations throughout New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties. It is full-time, with a flexible schedule that may include occasional evenings and weekends.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in health promotion, public health, health education, psychology, social work, nutrition, exercise science, nursing, community health, or a related field.
At least two years of experience in health coaching, chronic disease self-management, or behavior change support.
Access to a personal vehicle and a valid driver’s license.
Ability to travel regularly throughout New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends.
Ability to complete required organizational and program-specific training.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with individuals with chronic health conditions.
Current National Board Certification in Health & Wellness Coaching (NBC-HWC) and/or Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential.
Experience working in healthcare, community-based, rural, or medically underserved settings.
Familiarity with Epic, REDCap, and data-driven outcome tracking.
Bilingual in Spanish.

Responsibilities

Apply specialized knowledge of health behavior change, chronic disease prevention and self-management, health education, and lifestyle-related health factors to assess participant needs and select, adapt, and evaluate coaching approaches.
Exercise independent professional judgment within organizational policies, professional standards, and scope-of-practice requirements.
Provide individual and group health and wellness coaching using participant-centered, culturally responsive, and evidence-based approaches.
Use motivational interviewing, active listening, reflective questioning, goal setting, and action planning to support autonomy, self-efficacy, and sustainable behavior change.
Partner with participants to explore readiness, values, priorities, strengths, barriers, preferences, and social or environmental factors affecting health behaviors and program participation.
Identify barriers or concerns requiring additional support and determine appropriate coaching strategies, resources, referrals, or escalation to clinical, behavioral health, social care, or emergency resources.
Help participants establish realistic, measurable goals and practical action plans, supports, and accountability strategies aligned with their care plan and lived experience.
Design, adapt, and evaluate evidence-based coaching curricula, educational materials, coaching tools, and behavior-change resources based on evidence, program goals, health literacy, cultural context, and participant needs, as appropriate.
Develop and deliver training, technical guidance, and coaching resources for staff, students, interns, and community partners as a health coaching subject-matter resource.
Support participant engagement in chronic disease prevention and self-management programs, including health education, lifestyle interventions, and appropriate clinical or community-based supports.
Reinforce education and recommendations provided by licensed clinicians and registered dietitians while practicing within the Health Coach’s credentials and scope.
Conduct outreach, complete coaching sessions, follow up on participant goals, and independently manage an assigned participant caseload and related engagement activities.
Participate in interdisciplinary case reviews, team meetings, training, quality improvement, workflow development, and program implementation activities.
Share participant insights and emerging themes to improve program materials, engagement strategies, workflows, and participant experience.
Collect and document biometric data, including weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose, according to program protocols, and communicate findings requiring clinical review.
Accurately and promptly document coaching encounters, goals, progress, barriers, referrals, and follow-up activities in designated systems.
Maintain current knowledge of best practices in health coaching, Food Is Medicine, lifestyle medicine, chronic disease prevention and self-management, health equity, social determinants of health, and community resources.
Travel regularly to patients’ homes, program locations, and community locations throughout New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties.
Complete required organizational and program-specific training.

Benefits

Full medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
Two retirement planning offerings, including a 403(b) with company contributions.
Generous paid time off with annual roll-over and opportunities to cash out.
12-week paid parental leave.
Annual membership to care.com.
Access to backup care services for dependents through Care@Work.
Retirement planning services.
Financial coaching.
Fitness and wellness reimbursement.
Discounts through vendors for hotels, rental cars, theme parks, shows, sporting events, and movie tickets.
Employee assistance program.