UC San Diego Health

Tobacco Cessation Coach (ASQ) - Hybrid - 131576

This is a part-time limited position with the possibility of extension/career conversion.

Hiring Pay Scale: $21.75 Hourly

This position will work a hybrid schedule which includes a combination of working both onsite at Greenwich Drive in San Diego and remote.

DESCRIPTION

Kick It California (KIC) provides free services to help people quit using tobacco and nicotine. Established in 1992 as the California Smokers' Helpline, KIC was the first statewide, evidence-based, telephone-counseling service for tobacco cessation in the U.S. KIC provides quit coaching over the phone in six languages - English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, and Vietnamese -- and quit help through web, chat, text, and mobile apps. KIC also conducts research related to tobacco and nicotine cessation. KIC is part of UC San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center and is funded by grants from the California Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control, and First 5 California.

The Asian Smokers' Quitline (ASQ) aims to offer evidence-based tobacco cessation services to individuals with limited English proficiency, specifically targeting Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Korean, and Vietnamese speakers. The mission of ASQ is to address the lack of accessible support for these communities and to reduce tobacco usage and tobacco-related illness and mortality rates. ASQ has been serving the community nationwide since 2012, providing assistance through dedicated toll-free phone lines in each language. In 2021, ASQ expanded its services by introducing an in-language text-to-quit feature to further enhance accessibility and reach.

The primary responsibilities of the Tobacco Cessation Coach include: answering incoming calls and chats to KIC; placing outgoing calls to people referred to KIC from healthcare providers and other organizations; enrolling people into KIC services or applicable research studies and transitioning into coaching using a standardized intake questionnaire; assisting clients in developing and implementing evidence-based strategies to quit smoking, vaping, and using smokeless tobacco/nicotine products; providing evidence-based education on cannabis and health effects, as appropriate; gathering and recording detailed and accurate client information; maintaining thorough and confidential record of client interactions; participating in various research studies, applying protocols and procedures appropriate to the subject populations; and assisting with training of new quit coaches.

To conduct this work, coaches are trained on established procedures, protocols, and the utilization of phone and chat interfaces and client management system. The Tobacco Cessation Coach: acquires a thorough grasp of all aspects of smoking cessation, including the psychology of addictive behavior, physiological aspects of withdrawal, and behavior modification techniques that facilitate the quitting process; creates and sustains a supportive, client-focused environment for the change of addictive behavior; continually develops knowledge and skills through training, education, and feedback from supervisor and other coaches; demonstrates a commitment to continuous cultural competence; and respects the dignity, perspectives, and cultures of all individuals to ensure fair and equitable services for all clients.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Coursework or work experience in related area. Continuing education in related field.

• Fluent in Vietnamese.

• Knowledge or experience in customer service or providing direct support to clients.

• Knowledge or experience in program content and objectives. Knowledge of how to deliver educational programs in a variety of settings.

• Demonstrated skill in communicating in a helpful, informative, and supportive manner on the phone, and in providing appropriate interventions based on accurate assessment to a diverse group of study participants.

• Organizational skills to develop a project plan, monitor plans against established deadlines, and review and analyze results.

• Basic effective reading, verbal, written communications and presentation skills to interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

• Ability to maintain positive interactions with others and work cooperatively.

• Experience using business software systems in the completion of work assignments; i.e., Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint.

• Demonstrated skill in conducting detailed telephone interviews, and ability to simultaneously use online databases.

• Ability to understand and follow research protocols, including determining subjects' eligibility to participate in studies, randomization procedures, and coding of data.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Background in counseling, psychology, or health-related field.

• Experience working with individuals with cannabis-use disorder.

• Experience working with youth and teens.

• Thorough grasp of all aspects of smoking cessation, including the psychology of addictive behavior, physiological aspects of withdrawal, and behavior modification techniques that facilitate the quitting process. Basic knowledge of cannabis use patterns and health effects.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and Live Scan/Fingerprinting.

• There will be a 4-week onsite training for this position.

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.

• Some holidays and weekends may be required.

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

Apply Online:

http://50.73.55.13/counter.php?id=289362

UC San Diego Health Sciences is comprised of our School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, and our Student Health and Well-Being Department. We have long been at the forefront of translational - or "bench-to-bedside" - research, transforming patient care through discovery and innovation leading to new drugs and technologies. Translational research is carried out every day in the hundreds of clinical trials of promising new therapies offered through UC San Diego Health, and in the drive of our researchers and clinician-scientists who are committed to having a significant impact on patient care. We invite you to join our team!

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UC San Diego is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination