Bilingual Traveling Community Health Worker - Research Position

University of Wisconsin; Madison (WI); Remote; USD 45,000 - 52,000; Part time

Job summary

An established institution is seeking a Bilingual Community Health professional to assist with a vital research project aimed at enhancing nutrition education among migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. This role involves traveling to various farm locations across Wisconsin, collecting data, and providing health recommendations under the guidance of a Registered Dietitian. The position offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact in the community by addressing food accessibility and health education. Ideal candidates will possess strong bilingual skills and a passion for community health, making this a rewarding role for those looking to contribute to meaningful research and outreach efforts.

Benefits

Mileage reimbursement

Flexible hours

Health benefits

Paid time off

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Spanish and English for effective communication.
• Experience in health education and outreach, especially in community settings.

Responsibilities

• Designs and conducts data collection for research projects.
• Provides health education and outreach to migrant workers.

Skills

Spanish/English proficiency

Basic computer skills (MS Word, Excel)

Health education and outreach

Research data collection and analysis

Education

Associate's Degree in Community Health or Nutrition Science

Tools

Google Maps

Job description

Job Summary:

This Bilingual Community Health professional will assist with a research project to investigate the effectiveness of embedding someone who can provide nutrition-focused education and information within a mobile health unit designed to deliver primary healthcare to migrant and seasonal agricultural workers across 22-26 farms/food processing plants including worker housing common areas, cafeterias, and kitchens during the 2025 growing season (June through October). This position will assist with collecting research data to assess nutrition knowledge and food environment of workers while living and working at one of the work sites served by the mobile clinic in Wisconsin. Access to affordable, culturally appropriate nutritious food is a social determinant of health. Each worksite offers workers a different food environment (e.g., cafeteria, vending, kitchen access) and many are in rural areas of Wisconsin with limited access to grocery stores that offer culturally appropriate, healthy foods at affordable prices. This position will be a liaison between the mobile clinic and farmworkers, especially those with diagnosed chronic health conditions with strong connections to nutrition (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity) to collect data on how the worker's food environment may help or prevent healthy eating habits. In addition, the position will be a vital resource for workers providing general health and nutrition recommendations and resources under the guidance of a Registered Dietitian involved with the research, answering questions that connect food choices to chronic health conditions.

This position will require travel to farm/food processing locations across the state of Wisconsin using a personal vehicle and may include overnight stays. Mileage reimbursements as well as any lodging/meal expense reimbursements will follow the UW-Madison policy and procedures. Details at: https://businessservices.wisc.edu/travel-reimbursement/getting-reimbursed/

Visits occur at the end of first and beginning of second shift (mid-afternoon to early evening) to accommodate farm/food processing workers and maximize touchpoints with workers across both shift times. This position will require some work to be completed outside at various farm/food processing locations during the summer months, weather may vary.

Responsibilities:

Designs methodology, conducts data collection and analysis, and prepares reports for client-based research.

• 5% Assists with the development of research methodologies and procedures according to client-based objectives and specifications
• 5% Identifies concerns and recommends solutions to leadership
• 50% Collects and analyzes basic research data, conducts experiments and interviews, and documents results according to established policies and procedures
• 10% Prepares reports and materials and disseminates information to appropriate entities
• 5% Reviews and edits research protocols under general supervision
• 5% Trains individuals and groups on equipment operations, research protocols, and techniques within a specialized laboratory or research area
• 5% Translates research protocols data collection instruments and translates collected data between Spanish and English
• 10% Provide culturally responsive and appropriate health education, information, and outreach in community-based settings (separate table/tent outside of the mobile clinic unit).
• 5% Assist with interpretation and recommendations relevant to understanding nutrition choices related to health outcomes for chronic disease conditions.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Education:

Preferred
Associate's Degree
Preferred focus in Community Health, Nutrition Science, or a related field

Qualifications:

Required:
- Spanish/English proficiency (both written and spoken language skills)
- Must maintain a valid Driver's License, and have access to reliable transportation that will enable you to travel to mobile sites across Wisconsin
- Must be able to lift 25 pounds (set up travel tent/table) for community health table/research privacy screen
- Basic computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Search Engines like Google, Google Maps)

Preferred:
- Experience working with farmworkers or similar population, preferred.
- Knowledge of the culture and values of Spanish-speaking communities, especially Migrant/Seasonal Worker communities
- Experience with nutrition/health knowledge
- CPR/BLS certification

Work Type:

Part Time: 50% - 62.5%

Remote from within the state of Wisconsin.
Madison, WI, will be considered the Headquarters Location. The position will be required to travel to mobile clinic visit sites 2-3 days per week including some overnight travel across Wisconsin.

Appointment Type, Duration:

Terminal, 5 month appointment.
This position has the possibility to be extended or converted to an ongoing appointment based on need and/or funding

Salary:

Minimum $45,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits.

Additional Information:

SCHOOL OF HUMAN ECOLOGY: The mission of the School of Human Ecology is to understand the complex relationships and interdependence among individuals, groups and families, and to focus on quality-of-life issues through research, creative innovation, education, and outreach. The School has four academic departments (Civil Society and Community Studies, Consumer Science, Design Studies, and Human Development & Family Studies) with a collective undergraduate enrollment of 2,100 students, and 100 graduate students. See https://humanecology.wisc.edu/

UW-MADISON: The University of Wisconsin-Madison has a strong reputation as a research university and for producing research that improves people's lives. The University consistently ranks among the top 6 institutions in national research expenditures. In 2015, the University received a community engagement award from the Carnegie Foundation for its commitment to deeply engaging with local, regional, national, and global communities. It is a land-grant institution with an enrollment of about 43,000 students. Madison (pop. 243,000) is the state capital and combines the culture of a large urban area with the comfort of a small city. See http://wisc.edu

Noble Community Clinics: Noble Community Clinics (NCC) is our community partner in this research. Their Mobile Medical Services are designed to reach underserved communities, schools, and remote locations, providing convenient access to essential healthcare services. The mobile unit is staffed with experienced medical professionals ready to deliver a wide range of services, from preventive care to acute care, tailored to meet the needs of each individual and community. We will visit the different farm locations served by NCC across the state of Wisconsin from the South (e.g., Janesville), to Central (e.g., Wausau) to the East (e.g., Manitowoc) and the Northwest (e.g., New Richmond). https://nobleclinics.org/services/mobile-health-services/

How to Apply:

Please click on the "Apply Now" button to start the application process.

We are eager to learn more about how your experience may align with this position. Please submit a cover letter referring to your related work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews. You will also be asked to provide contact information for three references within the application.

References may be contacted for all finalists and will not be contacted without prior notification to the candidate.

Contact:

Kyle Brown
[e-mail]
608-263-2383
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Official Title:

Client-Based Researcher I(RE001)

Department(s):

A27-SCHOOL OF HUMAN ECOLOGY/CONSUMER SCIENCE

Employment Class:

Academic Staff-Terminal

Job Number:

315071-AS

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Division Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.