"Diabetes Educator and Lead Interventionist"

Position Summary/Description

The Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks candidates for the position of Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) and Lead Interventionist. The CDCES and Interventionist will work under the direction of Dr. Anna Kahkoska, Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

This role will work closely with Dr. Kahkoska and her research team to coordinate and oversee research activities relating to an externally funded 36-month study to develop and evaluate strategies to facilitate older adults living with diabetes adopting evidence-based diabetes technology. Specifically, the study will test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a novel longitudinal continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) integration program for older adults, compared to standard CGM education. This project will engage stakeholders to develop learning objectives and training strategies for older adults to learn to use CGM as part of their diabetes management. The project will then assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the novel training program in a randomized pilot study with 150 older adults using insulin, compared to two 'versions' of usual care. This is a single-center 1:1:1 randomized controlled trial lasting 6 weeks in duration. Following participation in the clinical trial, this study will also track CGM prescribing patterns post-study, evaluate clinical and patient-reported outcomes, and analyze provider documentation to identify clinical rationale, perceived benefits, and barriers to CGM use. The project will run from 2025 – 2028. The position is based in the Triangle region in North Carolina and comprises-person components.

Education and Experience

We are looking for a team-member who is passionate about improving diabetes care and support for individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with a focus on older adults and their unique needs. The ideal candidate will have familiarity with type 1 and 2 diabetes, including its treatments, glucose monitoring approaches, and technological therapies, as well as experience delivering remote diabetes education. The ideal candidate will be clinically strong, highly organized, detail-oriented, and responsive over email. This role involves contributing to innovative intervention design and helping strategize how to make diabetes technology more effective and accessible for older populations; we seek an individual who will embrace the challenges of developing and testing new interventions to overcome age-related barriers to technology use. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential, along with strong leadership and project coordination abilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with older adults in clinical and/or research settings
• Experience with group-based and individual diabetes education formats
• Prior experience in clinical research, including randomized studies
• Familiarity with continuous glucose monitoring, diabetes treatment, and age-related challenges of diabetes-self management and technology use
• Familiarity with developing or implementing structured health education programs Experience assisting with academic writing or data interpretation

Essential Skills

• Active certification as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)
• Experience with diabetes technology, especially CGM initiation and data interpretation
• Strong communication skills and ability to deliver education in hybrid formats (in-person and virtual)

AA/EEO Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

About The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Carolina rates among the nation’s great institutions of higher education, set on an historic and beautiful campus that celebrates all four seasons. Carolina’s students, faculty and staff come here from around the world, bringing varied cultural, racial and ethnic heritages that help make UNC-Chapel Hill a thriving intellectual center. We’re repeatedly ranked the nation’s best value in higher education for students seeking to earn a college degree – the University has garnered the top spot each time since the ranking’s launch in 1998.Whether you’ve just started your career, are new to academia or are a seasoned professional with assorted campus experiences to draw on, we hope you will find a great place at Carolina.