Rural CHW Program Coach

UW School of Medicine and Public Health; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

The Rural Community Health Worker (CHW) Program Coach at UW School of Medicine and Public Health leads web-based and in-person training across rural Wisconsin, provides technical assistance, and coaches CHWs and organizations within the Wisconsin Rural Health Transformation Program.

The role balances CHW values with organizational requirements, and emphasizes capacity-building, mentorship, and sustainable program start-up and growth.

Qualifications

• Experience with CHW workforce development or training CHWs
• Experience mentoring or developing CHWs
• Understanding CHW values and practice including trust-based relationships
• Familiarity with rural health contexts and program implementation

Responsibilities

• Schedule resources and coordinate logistics for the outreach program
• Lead day-to-day activities for program staff and volunteers
• Develop and maintain partnerships to support the outreach program
• Deliver program content and materials to community members
• Develop and evaluate curriculum and programs for improvement
• Research, develop, and facilitate outreach content and materials

Skills

Facilitating communities of practice

Training delivery

Coaching & feedback

Needs assessment & TA reporting

Clear communication

Organization & multitasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree (preferred) in public health/related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Zoom

Job description

Current Employees

If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category

Academic Staff

Employment Type

Regular

Job Profile

Outreach Specialist

Job Summary

The Rural Community Health Worker (CHW) Program Coach is a CHW role responsible for providing web-based and in-person training throughout rural Wisconsin, technical assistance, and coaching to rural organizations employing CHWs under the Wisconsin Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).

This role is designed for an experienced Community Health Worker, Community Health Representative or Promotor(a) who is passionate about supporting other CHWs, sharing lessons learned, building relationships, and helping organizations create environments where CHWs can thrive.

This position works with grantee organizations to strengthen CHW program start-up, implementation, and sustainability through training, coaching, technical assistance, and peer learning opportunities.

Drawing on their experience as a CHW, CHR or Promotor(a), the Rural CHW Program Coach helps organizations and CHWs navigate challenges, identify practical solutions, and strengthen local capacity in ways that reflect CHW values and community priorities.

The role works closely with UW-PHI RHTP CHW Initiative leadership and the CHW Initiatives team, CHW leaders, healthcare and community-based organizations to ensure that technical assistance, training resources, and learning experiences reflect CHW values, rural community realities, and workforce development goals.

This position provides an opportunity to:

• Support and mentor CHWs across Wisconsin
• Help rural organizations successfully implement and sustain CHW programs
• Contribute to statewide CHW workforce development efforts
• Collaborate with CHW leaders and partners to strengthen health and well-being in rural communities
• Shape training, coaching, and technical assistance resources that reflect CHW values and lived experience

We recognize that Community Health Workers come to this work through many pathways. If you are excited about supporting CHWs and strengthening rural communities, we encourage you to apply.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of Community Health Worker core roles, standards, and values, including trust-building, community accountability, cultural humility, and CHW-led practice
• Knowledge of CHW workforce training and technical assistance models
• Knowledge of rural health contexts and the unique organizational considerations for CHW integration in rural and underserved communities
• Knowledge of popular education and adult learning principles
• Understanding that CHW leadership, community voice, and relationship-centered practice are foundational to successful CHW programs

Skills

• Skill in facilitating communities of practice, learning collaboratives, or peer-learning spaces
• Skill in delivering training and technical assistance offerings across multiple community-based sites while respecting CHW roles, workloads, and community context
• Skill in coaching, providing feedback, and supporting quality improvement
• Skill in tracking and reporting on community needs and technical assistance activities
• Skill in communicating clearly and respectfully with CHWs, community-based organizations, funders, and institutional partners
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and communicate across various partners

Abilities

• Ability to balance CHW movement values with institutional requirements, navigating both community-centered work and formal administrative systems
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines and maintaining quality and follow-through
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and power structures, including with CHWs, healthcare and community-based organizations, government partners, and funders
• Ability to anticipate CHW and organizational training and technical assistance needs and identify practical solutions
• This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.
• Must provide a valid driver's license. Employees may use their own transportation or receive approval for University Car Fleet usage. Employment is conditional pending the results of a Pre-hire Driver Authorization Check. See https://businessservices.wisc.edu/managing-risk/driver-authorization-and-insurance/driver-authorization/#become-authorized-driver (click on “Become an authorized driver;” then click on “Required criteria”).

Key Job Responsibilities

• Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
• May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
• Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
• Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
• Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
• Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials

Reviews and adapts coaching resources, tools, and TTA materials that reflect CHW values, rural community realities, and workforce development goals

Department

School of Medicine and Public Health, UW Population Health Institute

The UW Population Health Institute (UWPHI) works to improve the health of all people in Wisconsin and beyond by conducting research and providing technical assistance to policymakers, practitioners, and communities. The Public Health Workforce Development Pathways (WFDP) unit leads national and statewide Community Health Worker workforce development, including coordination of the Rural Health Transformation Program CHW initiative in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Compensation

The minimum salary for the position is $70,000 annually ; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage. SMPH Faculty /Academic Staff Benefits Flyer 2026

Required Qualifications

• Lived or professional experience as a Community Health Worker (CHW) or Community Health Representative (CHR) or Promotor(a).
• Demonstrated understanding of CHW values and practice, including trust-based relationship building and community accountability
• Experience working with CHW workforce development efforts, or experience supporting, mentoring, training, supervising, or developing CHWs
• Experience building capacity through training, coalition building, or coaching, or experience facilitating groups, mentoring peers, supporting community initiatives, or providing leadership in community settings
• Comfort using common office and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Zoom, or similar platforms

Preferred Qualifications

• Multilingual
• Project management experience
• Experience working within grant-funded programs or supporting grantees
• Familiarity with the Rural Health Transformation Program or Wisconsin DHS CHW initiatives
• Knowledge of Medicaid CHW sustainability policies and approaches
• Experience with CHW sustainability policies and approaches

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public health, community health, social work, or a related field is preferred

Contact Information

Brittany Brown, [e-mail], 608-265-2978

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further informatio

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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.

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