NUTRITION EDUCATOR - 64005007

State of Florida • Lakeland, FL

13d • Onsite

About The Position

This position provides professional nutrition education and breastfeeding counseling and support to clients at any site or location in the geographic area covered by the Polk/Hardee WIC Program. The Florida Department of Health in Polk County is seeking individuals interested in establishing a successful career in Public Health. Many of our innovative and successful health programs are recognized throughout Florida. We hope you decide to join our team! Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

Requirements

• Knowledge of the current science and practice of food and nutrition, dietetics, or food service
• Knowledge of normal nutrition principles and food needs throughout the life cycle
• Knowledge of meal planning, food budgeting and purchasing.
• Ability to provide nutrition education to others in group or individual instruction.
• Ability to determine nutritional needs and develop nutrition education plans for individuals who are not at medically high nutritional risk
• Ability to participate in education or in-service training programs through teaching classes, demonstrating food practices, giving talks, and developing or selecting educational materials.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Current Florida Driver’s License
• Bachelor's degree (or master’s degree or higher) from an accredited college or university with the major course of study in public health nutrition, nutrition, dietetics, food and nutrition, or food service management. As required by the Florida state WIC program.
• Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency.
• Incumbent may have access to records containing Social Security numbers in the performance of their job duties.
• Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.
• All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English.

Nice To Haves

• If bilingual, may require performance of interpreter duties.
• Candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Completes the medical history, nutrition history, and breastfeeding assessment for WIC clients, except those determined to be at medical high risk.
• Develops, monitors, evaluates, and revises nutrition education plans for high and low risk WIC clients and provides/documents nutrition and breastfeeding counseling per program policies.
• Certifies eligible clients for participation in the WIC program by determining and assigning correct nutrition risk per program policies.
• Assigns/updates client food prescriptions according to program regulations.
• Reviews medical and health records for nutritionally relevant data and refers medical high risk clients to the Public Health Nutritionist for counseling.
• Completes inventories as assigned.
• Provides classes and group nutrition education per class lesson plans with appropriate documentation.
• Assists the Public Health Nutritionist Supervisor in the supervision of the clinic (including complaints) and clinic staff.
• Conducts quality improvement (QI) monitoring and reporting as directed by supervisor.
• Performance of other assigned duties as requested by supervisor.
• Completes administrative forms such as EARs, time sheets, and travel per department policies and required deadlines.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings, in-service trainings, and other staff development activities.
• Assists with outreach activities, health fairs and other community activities as needed.
• Completes all mandatory trainings within required time frames.
• Complies with all Department of Health and WIC security and confidentiality rules and regulations.
• This position may serve clients that speak only Spanish, Creole, or other languages. It may require performance of interpreter duties, if bilingual, or implementation of the Department’s Limited English Proficiency Plan.
• Performs other duties as required, including performance of additional interpreter duties, consistent with skill level, and as needed.

Benefits

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level