Placer County

To provide the most difficult and complex high risk nutrition education and counseling requiring a high level of skill and independent judgement to eligible low income pregnant women and families of young children as part of the Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Food Program (WIC); to develop appropriate educational materials; and to coordinate nutrition education and breastfeeding services.

This is the advanced journey level class in the Nutritionist series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, independence of action taken, and by the nature of the public contact made. Employees in this job class perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series and exercise technical and functional supervision over professional, paraprofessional, and clerical staff.  Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

Receives general direction from supervisory or management staff.

Exercises technical and functional supervision over professional, paraprofessional, and clerical staff.

• Serve as coordinator of the Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Food Program (WIC); establish and maintain networks with related agencies; develop outreach activities related to community physicians, vendors, and client population.
• Assist in the preparation of the program budget and monitor expenditures.
• Assist with the interpretation and implementation of federal, state, and county regulations, personnel policies, and administrative procedures which are used to govern the program and staff.
• Maintain required records and documents of program operation; and use program statistics to evaluate program operation.
• Represent the program during fiscal and program audits from the State Controller's Office, WIC State office, USDA, or other parties.
• Assess community needs using public health and demographic data for targeting program outreach to highest risk populations; develop appropriate outreach materials; and maintain records and documents of program operations to evaluate operations.
• Manage clinic operation including scheduling of clinics, staff scheduling, WIC Card security, vendor reports, nutrition education components, breastfeeding promotion; acquire supplies and educational materials; manage capital expenditures; and oversee delivery of services to clients.
• Perform direct client service to high-risk clients in an individual and classroom environment, including clinical counseling and referral to medical and social resources.
• Plan and oversee nutrition education plan, including training, supporting, and mentoring professional staff; prepare and present in-service training; and provide consultation to public health staff, other program staff, and outside agencies.
• Provide nutrition education on a group or individual basis; perform nutrition assessments; coordinate with other public health professionals relative to ensure an integrated approach to service delivery; make referrals as appropriate.
• Establish and maintain communications with related agencies and outreach activities directed to physicians, vendors, and counseling clients.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Two (2) years of responsible professional nutritional experience performing duties similar to a Nutritionist II with Placer County.

Training: A master's degree from an accredited college or university that meets the requirements for eligibility to take the registration examination for dietitians.

Required License or Certificate:

• Possession of a valid certificate as a Registered Dietitian issued by the Commision on Dietetic Registration.
• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles of nutrition.
• Recommended nutritional requirements for various age groups; impact of various medical conditions upon nutrition requirements.
• Educational methods used in counseling low literacy groups; instructional methods used in training professional and non-professional staff.
• Cultural, religious, economic, and social groups and relationships to the delivery and acceptance of health and human services.
• Procedures and practices relative to the provision of nutritional services.
• Services, programs, and other community resources appropriate for program participants.
• Pertinent local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and laws.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; analyze work papers, reports, and special projects; understand, identify, and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedures; read, understand, recall, interpret, and explain program and nutritional information to participants, families, and various County staff; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of work with interruptions; handle multiple tasks at once and work with frequent interruptions; focus on a single task for long periods of time.
• On an intermittent basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, and squat to reach equipment surrounding desk or other office equipment and while making educational presentations; perform simple and power grasping pushing, pulling, and fine manipulation; see, hear, and smell with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; speak, use telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate; lift moderate weight.
• Train, assign, and review the work of assigned subordinate staff.
• Provide comprehensive nutritional assessment to program participants.
• Prepare and present nutritional educational information appropriate for client groups with low literacy skills and from a variety of socio-economic, age, and ethnic populations.
• Relate to and communicate with individuals of various cultural, religious, economic, and social groups.
• Provide individual nutritional counseling.
• Prepare and present nutritional training to professional and technical staff.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Obtain information through interview and deal fairly and courteously with the public.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Use a variety of modern office equipment, including but not limited to, computer, calculator, telephone, photocopy machine, and various audiovisual equipment.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.