Translational Health Coach
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
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.
Job description
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.
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
Requirements
- 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
- Master's degree in nutrition, public health, health education, or a related field (preferred)
- Experience in clinical research or research-based lifestyle intervention programs (preferred)
- Experience developing coaching quality assurance systems (preferred)
- Expertise in cognitive and cardiometabolic lifestyle interventions (preferred)
- Experience in precision nutrition (preferred)
Company overview
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a nonprofit research institute established in 2008 that has become a global leader in genomic sciences and biotechnology innovation. Located on a 152-acre campus within Cummings Research Park in Huntsville, Alabama, the institute operates with a threefold mission: sparking scientific discoveries that impact human health and well-being, fostering life sciences entrepreneurship and business growth, and creating a genomics-literate workforce and society. Under the leadership of Dr. Richard M. Myers, a key collaborator on the Human Genome Project, HudsonAlpha has developed into a thriving ecosystem that co-locates nonprofit scientific researchers with entrepreneurs and educators. The institute houses 17 faculty investigators whose research spans diverse areas including the genetic basis of human diseases, computational genomics, plant genomics, immunogenomics, and neurodegenerative disorders. HudsonAlpha operates several specialized facilities including the Genome Sequencing Center, which specializes in de novo eukaryotic whole genome sequencing, assembly and analysis; the CAP-accredited and CLIA-licensed Clinical Services Lab; and The Smith Family Clinic for Genomic Medicine. The institute also hosts more than 45 diverse biotech companies on campus, creating a unique collaborative environment that accelerates translation of genomic discoveries into practical applications for medicine, agriculture, and sustainable energy. Through its Educational Outreach programs, HudsonAlpha trains the next generation of life science researchers while building genomic literacy across healthcare providers, educators, and the broader community.