Health Coach

Christiana Care Health Services • Wilmington, DE

4d

About The Position

The Health Coach supports patients participating in chronic disease prevention and self-management programs. Using specialized knowledge of health behavior change and chronic disease self-management, the coach partners with patients to set meaningful health and wellness goals, build readiness and confidence for change, and develop practical strategies for sustainable lifestyle changes. Coaching addresses factors such as 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, supports 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, curriculum and resource development, staff and partner training, caseload management, participant outreach and follow-up, biometric data collection, and accurate documentation. The position requires regular travel to patients’ homes and program and community locations throughout New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties, as well as 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 to patients’ homes and program and community locations 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

• Assess participant needs and use professional judgment to select, adapt, and evaluate coaching approaches 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.
• Explore participants’ 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 develop practical action plans, supports, and accountability strategies aligned with their care plans and lived experience.
• Design, adapt, and evaluate evidence-based coaching curricula, educational materials, tools, and behavior-change resources based on evidence, program goals, health literacy, cultural context, and participant needs.
• Develop and deliver training, technical guidance, and coaching resources for staff, students, interns, and community partners.
• Support participant engagement in chronic disease prevention and self-management programs, health education, lifestyle interventions, and appropriate clinical or community-based supports.
• Reinforce education and recommendations from 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.
• Contribute 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 health coaching, Food Is Medicine, lifestyle medicine, chronic disease prevention and self-management, health equity, social determinants of health, and community resources.

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 rollover and opportunities to cash out.
• 12-week paid parental leave.
• Annual membership to care.com and access to backup care services for dependents through Care@Work.
• Retirement planning services and financial coaching.
• Fitness and wellness reimbursement.
• Discounts through vendors for hotels, rental cars, theme parks, shows, sporting events, and movie tickets.
• Employee assistance program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level