State of Maryland

18

This is professional work at the supervisory, administrative and consultative level in the field of public health nutrition.

An employee in this classification functions as either the director of a generalized community nutrition program of a large-sized county or multi-county agency, or as a Statewide consultant for a specialized area of nutrition, such as Child Day Care, WIC, or Maternal Health. As director of the nutrition program of a large or multi county health agency, the employee is responsible for planning, implementing, evaluating, coordinating, and revising the nutrition component of the agency’s services and programs, and for training and directing staff. This employee also collaborates with other agency personnel in the planning of a multi-agency nutrition program. As a consultant, the employee renders technical guidance and provides leadership to other nutritionists in a local health program regarding Statewide programs. This employee is responsible for planning and coordinating the activities and evaluation of a specialized area of nutrition. The work in this class requires the exercise of considerable judgment and initiative in planning and coordinating the program within the limits of established policies and in maintaining high standards of service.

As nutrition program director, the employee is administratively responsible to the health officer of a local health agency. As a consultant, the employee receives direction from a higher-level nutritionist or the director of the program administration to which assigned. In a local health agency, this employee supervises subordinate nutritionists, paraprofessionals and clerical staff; headquarters employees supervise staff as assigned. Work is evaluated through conferences and written reports in terms of the overall effectiveness of the program.

Plans, implements, directs, and evaluates a generalized nutrition program of a large-sized county or multi-county health agency, or a large specialized Statewide nutrition program involving administrative responsibilities;

Provides continuous assessment of the population’s nutritional needs and recommends or initiates appropriate action;

Provides technical consultation to professional and paraprofessional staff of the health agency and of other official and voluntary agencies;

Recommends policies and procedures to promote and strengthen nutrition services;

Plans and implements orientation and in-service education for professional and paraprofessional staff of the local health agency and other organizations;

Plans, implements, and supervises field training for undergraduate or graduate students in public health nutrition, related fields, and professional visitors;

Develops and evaluates nutrition education methodology;

Assesses the need for, prepares, and develops nutrition education materials;

Cooperates with other agencies, professional and lay groups; coordinates the nutrition program of the local health agency with that of other agencies or programs;

May conduct special nutrition programs, surveys, or studies, and/or participate in broad research which includes a nutrition component;

Promotes the use of interagency referral systems and other methods to assure continuity of nutritional care;

Prepares program plans, reports, and budgets;

Performs other related duties.

Specific educational and experience requirements are set by the agency based on the essential job functions assigned to the position.

A Class Description provides information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work and General Requirements for a classification in the Management Service or a classification in the Skilled or Professional Service in which all positions have been designated Special Appointments. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency. Class descriptions broadly define groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

Dec 20 2006 12:00AM

Director, Division of Classification and Salary