Community Navigator (Part-time)

Job Summary:

Join the Colorado School of Public Health as the Community Navigator.

The Center for Health, Work, and Environment (CHWE) is seeking a part-time (50%FTE) Community Navigator (Intermediate Research Services Professional). This position will serve as an essential liaison and trusted bridge between the Mountain West Hub research team and local residents in Monte Visata, West Alamosa and Center, CO. As part of a landmark clean air and health resilience study, the Community Navigator is responsible for conducting community-based recruitment, securing informed consent, conducting structured home visits, placing indoor air filtration units, and collecting longitudinal health and environmental metrics across participating households.

Key Responsibilities:

Community Outreach & Recruitment

• Local Outreach & Engagement: Conduct direct outreach to engage residents in the Clean Air Study. Represent the study at community meetings, local events, and public hubs to build awareness and trust.

• Participant Recruitment Waves: Reach out to households identified through randomized address sampling and community sign-up lists, maintaining respectful, multi-modal contact attempts (phone, in-person, email).

• Recruitment Tracking: Maintain accurate, real-time records of all participant contact attempts, eligibility screenings, and recruitment dispositions using REDCap and shared tracking logs.

Informed Consent & Participant Onboarding

• Study Explanation & Screening: Clearly explain study objectives, household eligibility criteria (year-round SLV residence, no existing air cleaner, adult 18+ household consent), and participation benefits ($200 incentive + free air filter).

• Consent Administration: Guide participants through the informed consent process (via phone, Zoom link, or in person) and collect child assents during initial visits in accordance with IRB protocols.

Home Visits & Environmental / Health Data Collection

• In-Home Monitoring & Equipment Setup: Perform initial, quarterly/midpoint, and endpoint home visits to measure indoor air quality, record room dimensions, and set up DIY box-fan air cleaners (DIYacs) and UPAS air quality monitors.

• Health Measurement Collection: Collect baseline and follow-up clinical and survey measures, including resting blood pressure, lung function testing (spirometry/PEF), survey responses, and urine sample coordination for designated sub-cohorts.

• Equipment Maintenance & Inspection: Inspect air filter units and sensors during routine visits, ensuring proper placement in participant bedrooms or primary living areas and supplying replacement filters as needed.

Acute Air Quality Event & Longitudinal Support

• Poor Air Quality Event Follow-Up: Assist participants during text-alerted poor air quality events (wildfire smoke or dust events) by supporting short 3-day daily surveys and lung function measurements.

• Ongoing Participant Support: Serve as the primary local point of contact for participating Alamosa households, delivering plain-language air quality/health results summaries and addressing participant questions.

Work Location:

Onsite - this role is expected to work onsite and is located in Aurora, Colorado.

Why Join Us:

The Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) is a unique and collaborative graduate school that combines the collective expertise of three Colorado universities: the University of Colorado Anschutz (CU Anschutz) in Aurora, Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, and the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley, Colorado. The Colorado School of Public Health is the only accredited school of public health in the Rocky Mountain Region, attracting top tier faculty and students from across the country, and providing a vital contribution towards ensuring our region's health and wellbeing. The school's faculty, staff, and students work together to share knowledge and conduct innovative research and community service to actively address public health issues including chronic disease, access to healthcare, environmental threats, emerging infectious diseases, costly injuries, and more.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options

• Dental: Multiple plan options

• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision

• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay

• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year

• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)

• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)

• Holiday Days: 15/year

• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses

• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's in public health, public administration, social/behavioral sciences, physical sciences, nursing, healthcare, finance, accounting, business administration, business, or a directly related field from an accredited institution.

• 1 year of experience in community health, research coordination, or public service outreach, preferably in rural health initiatives

• A combination of education and related technical/military/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for a bachelor's degree on a year for year basis.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Community Health / Outreach Experience: Prior experience working as a Community Health Worker (CHW), Promotora, patient navigator, research assistant, or community outreach worker in rural health or environmental health programs.

• Established Local Networks: Established relationships with local community organizations, clinics, schools, agricultural groups, or public hubs in Alamosa and the San Luis Valley.

• Field Data Collection Experience: Prior experience conducting structured home visits, administering surveys, or collecting basic health measurements (e.g., resting blood pressure or peak flow lung function

• Basic computer and mobile technology literacy (e.g., using smartphones, tablets, Zoom, Google Sheets, and web-based survey software like REDCap).

• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide work visa sponsorship or employment authorization for this position now or in the future.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.

• Outstanding customer service skills.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication Skills

• Demonstrated experience in fostering a community that values a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

3. Three to five professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Questions should be directed to: Emily Ivanich, emily.a.ivanich@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

Screening begins immediately and continues until November 18, 2026.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting target salary for this position has been established at

$25,500 - $32,000 (50% FTE)

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@cuanschutz.edu.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.