The Department of General Internal Medicine is seeking a Lifestyle Interventionist to provide a telephonic, lifestyle-based, weight loss intervention to obese adult cancer survivors for a remote research project. This position will also assist with the Screening/Oral Consent, Baseline Weight Verification, Program Start calls, and data collection, as needed. This position will also provide telephonic lifestyle-based DASH diet coaching intervention to participants in the DASHLife pilot study.

Primary HELPLINE study responsibilities include scheduling and providing regular telephonic weight loss counseling sessions focused on changing eating and exercise behaviors. The Interventionist will also monitor participant weight loss progress using web-based technology and a commercial smart phone application, evaluate participant behaviors in relation to study recommendations, identify problems, and implement corrective actions to facilitate participant weight loss. Responsibilities will also include asynchronous email communication with the participants for coaching, retention, and follow-up data collection. Interventionist will track and record these activities in detail as determined by study protocol, and help develop reports to relay this information to the study team. He/she will collaborate with the Program Manager, Intervention Director and study investigators to facilitate participant engagement and attainment of study weight-related goals.

HELPLINE responsibilities will also include conducting telephone screening calls which provide detailed program description, thorough review of the consent form, and obtaining the candidate’s verbal consent. Additional telephone conversations will include verifying baseline weights, and providing program orientation according to protocol transcript, including assisting participants to select their highest calorie-saving food choice priorities. Later duties may include collecting and verifying follow up weight data, as needed. The Interventionist will work directly with the Program Manager, Nutritionist Program Coordinator, and other study Interventionists in the day-to-day logistical and operational tasks of the project, as needed.

Additional duties for the DASHLife study will include providing regular telephonic counseling sessions focused on changing eating behaviors to include high potassium/high fiber foods provided by the study during the first phase of the program, and encouraging self-selected high potassium/high fiber food shopping and use in the second phase of the study. The Interventionist will assist the participant in selecting weekly high potassium food items from the study inventory guide, place weekly food orders, and monitor participant self-reported potassium intake and evaluate participant behaviors in relation to study recommendations, identify problems, and implement corrective actions to facilitate participant higher potassium food intake. The Interventionist will work directly with the Program Manager, Nutritionist Program Coordinator, and other study Interventionists in the day-to-day logistical and operational tasks of the project, as needed.

The candidate should possess excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills, both in person and over the phone, and in writing. They should be comfortable interacting in English with a diverse population.

The Interventionist will receive initial and ongoing training on topics such as motivational interviewing, diet, exercise, and weight management, as well as daily study operation, quality assurance, and working with cancer survivors. The Interventionist must demonstrate competency in all skills related to behavioral lifestyle interventions including participant education and counseling.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Maintain detailed working knowledge of and adhere to all assigned protocols and reporting requirements for both studies.
• Maintain working knowledge of the study’s SMS platform, and secure data management system (RedCap), and maintain daily accuracy of detailed follow up tracking logs.
• Monitor and retrieve data from all other protocol data collection tools (Ascend, Lose It!, Body Trace) when needed.
• Maintain secure and confidential documentation and storage of electronic consent forms.
• Conduct telephone calls and email messages with study participants to provide behavioral weight loss coaching, collect weight data, and schedule next call according to study protocol.
• Recognize emergency situations and report to the study team.
• Prepare for and participate in case management sessions
• Participate in skill development and training through in-service programs
• Ensure intervention data is collected and recorded in a timely fashion according to study protocol
• Use Outlook to schedule enrollment calls and coaching calls.
• Attend and participate in regularly scheduled staff meetings, conference calls, trainings, and quality assurance activities.
• Utilize good clinical research practices and maintain compliance with HIPAA and IRB regulations and guidelines.

Additional Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Interest in working telephonically with adult study subjects.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Comfortable conducting detailed phone conversations and writing detailed coaching emails
• Ability to communicate effectively across disciplines and within a variety of cultures and age groups
  
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Able to work independently, and manage multiple and competing priorities
• Knowledge of software, including Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.
• Knowledge of simple record keeping and reporting.
• Knowledge of smart phones, smart phone apps, and using social media (e.g. posting on apps, responding to digital communication threads).

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition, Health Science, Public Health, Behavioral Psychology, Kinesiology, or related field.
  

• One year of related experience.
  
• Available to work flexible hours, primarily afternoons, evenings, some mornings, and some Saturdays.
  

• Capability to work from a home office or other off-site location that provides a private, uninterrupted environment, and reliable internet access.

Classified Title: Lifestyle Interventionist 
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/03/CE  
Starting Salary Range: $19.75 - $35.35 HRLY ($35,000 targeted; Commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Casual / On Call 
Schedule: 10-19hrs per week 
Exempt Status: Non-Exempt 
Location: Remote 
Department name: SOM DOM General Internal Medicine 
Personnel area: School of Medicine