HudsonAlpha - Translational Health Coach

INSTITUTE OVERVIEW

The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology (www.hudsonalpha.org) is a non-profit organization with the mission to use biotechnology and basic biological research to make important discoveries, improve human health, stimulate economic development, inspire young people to seek careers in science, and teach members of the public the importance of science in their everyday lives. Located in Cummings Research Park in Huntsville, Alabama, one of the world's leading science and technology parks, HudsonAlpha's campus contains state-of-the-art laboratories for biological research and development, as well as education, in the areas of genomics, genetics and personalized medicine.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Translational Health at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology combines genomic and biomarker research with state-of-the-art behavioral science to drive personalized prevention. Our current focus is Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevention through the HOPE-AD program, which offers early AD risk screening to older adults and a personalized, multi-domain lifestyle program for individuals with elevated biomarker-related risk. Using multiomic data, we are developing cutting-edge, data-driven health coaching with a particular commitment to rural and underserved communities, where access to advanced preventive care is often limited. As HOPE-AD grows, we are working to make proactive brain health support available to people across Alabama and to extend these approaches to new communities and to other AD-related chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Translational Health Coach at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with instructional design experience who will develop a scalable training program for HOPE-AD, a data-driven health coaching program initially focused on Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevention. The specialist designs and delivers training curriculum for RDN health coaches and establishes quality assurance systems that ensure consistent, high-quality implementation of research protocols. As the program expands, the specialist will help deliver a cutting-edge, lifestyle-focused intervention informed by multiomic data, with a particular commitment to rural and underserved communities.

JOB SPECIFIC TASKS

• Design and implement a scalable, competency-based training program aligned with HudsonAlpha's established research intervention protocols.
• Conduct learning needs assessments and develop initial and continuing education curricula for Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) health coaches.
• Create training materials, including e-learning modules, case-based activities, and workshops, using evidence-based instructional design and adult learning principles.
• Facilitate training and assess coach readiness through practical skills demonstrations and competency evaluations.
• Evaluate training effectiveness using learner feedback, competency assessments, and coaching performance data to continuously improve the curriculum.
• Develop and implement a scalable quality-assurance framework to evaluate protocol fidelity and coaching effectiveness.
• Establish standards and processes for coaching observation, documentation review, competency assessment, and structured feedback.
• Identify performance gaps and implement targeted training and improvement strategies.
• Provide ongoing mentorship and professional development for coaches.
• Collaborate with clinical and research teams to ensure coaching quality, clinical accuracy, and consistent intervention delivery.
• Apply expertise in cognitive and cardiometabolic health, precision nutrition, and evidence-based behavior change to coach education and quality oversight.

Required Qualifications:

• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in outpatient clinical nutrition, lifestyle interventions, and health coaching
• At least 2 years of experience designing, delivering, and evaluating professional or employee training programs, including competency-based curriculum development
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead training development projects from needs assessment through implementation
• Experience developing digital learning content and using e-learning platforms
• Strong facilitation, communication, organizational, and project execution skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in nutrition, public health, health education, or a related field
• Experience in clinical research or research-based lifestyle intervention programs
• Experience developing coaching quality assurance systems
• Expertise in cognitive and cardiometabolic lifestyle interventions
• Experience in precision nutrition, including applying clinical laboratory findings and/or lifestyle- or nutrition-related genetic information to personalized interventions

Physical Demands/Environmental Factors/Mental Functions

ADA Requirements – The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer - All job requirements are subject to possible revision to reflect changes in the position requirements or to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a threat or risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties which will be required in this position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor/manager (within guidelines and compliance with Federal and State Laws). Continued employment remains on an "at-will" basis.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position (sit or stand) for prolonged periods (50% of the time).
• Frequently moving between work areas.
• Frequently moving, transporting, and positioning materials up to 30 pounds.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.
• Frequent operation of common office equipment (e.g. computers, mobile devices, calculators, copiers, scanners) and laboratory equipment.
• Frequently position self (e.g. stoop, crouch, crawl, bend) and pull/push, grasp/squeeze, wrist flexion/extension, reach to operate and maintain laboratory equipment.

Environmental Factors

• Exposure to chemical, mechanical and electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes, and airborne particles.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Mental Functions

• Continuous mental and visual attention, requiring sustained attention and observation.
• Excellent fine motor skills and hand control in order to pipette accurately.
• Ability to sustain focus during research procedures (to maintain protocol such as order of operations).
• Ability to visually observe results and record outcomes on lab logs and/or PC.
• Basic computer skills are required.
• Extensive documentation skills, good attention to detail, and exceptional organizational skills are required.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in the English language.
• Requires the ability to adapt to change efficiently.
• Ability to independently lead and conduct research, and to evaluate, interpret and present complex scientific data.
• Capacity to work productively within functionally diverse teams as well as collaborate with external investigators and partners in academic and industrial settings.
• Ability to prioritize issues and use sound judgment to recognize when additional consultation and/or help is needed.
• Comfortable working on multiple projects at one time.
• Strong logical thinking and deduction skills.
• Ability to effectively present ideas and information in a variety of formats to a wide range of audiences.
• Positive, flexible, and professional attitude.

It is the policy of HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, in accordance with all applicable laws, to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.