NUTRITION EDUCATOR - 64051901
About The Position
The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County is hiring a Nutrition Educator for its Plant City WIC Clinic. The position provides individual nutrition counseling to WIC clients who meet high- and low-nutritional-risk criteria. The educator certifies clients for WIC, assesses nutritional needs, develops care plans and goals using the SOAP note format, and provides follow-up nutrition education. The role also supports breastfeeding, client referrals, community outreach, WIC benefit issuance, and clinic inventory and documentation processes. The employee may be scheduled to work at other locations and may be required to perform emergency duty outside normal work hours or days. The department encourages professional growth through mentorship, training, workshops, and continuing education, and offers a tuition reimbursement program. This position requires a bachelor's or master's degree in a specified nutrition-related field. Bilingual English/Spanish or English/Haitian Creole ability is preferred.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science or master's degree in Nutritional Sciences, Community Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, Dietetics, Public Health Nutrition, or Home Economics with an emphasis in Nutrition, as required by WIC federal regulations.
- Effective verbal and written communication and telephone etiquette skills.
- Knowledge of local, state, and federal WIC Program policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of current food, nutrition, and dietetics science and practice, including normal nutrition principles and dietary needs throughout the life cycle.
- Ability to assess appropriate and effective feeding for women, infants, and children.
- Ability to counsel effectively using Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment (VENA) techniques.
- Knowledge of medical terminology.
- Knowledge of nutrition charting techniques using the designated format.
- Ability to use office equipment, including a computer, digital scale, stature board, Hemocue machine, copier, and telephone.
- Thorough computer knowledge and ability to use Excel, Word, Outlook, and FL-WiSE.
- Customer service skills, ability to maintain client confidentiality, and ability to establish effective working relationships.
- Ability to learn and communicate effectively in English, orally and in writing.
- Successful completion of required security background check and, for safety-sensitive positions, a drug test.
- Ability to perform emergency duty before, during, or beyond normal work hours or days, if required.
Nice To Haves
- Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish or English and Haitian Creole.
Responsibilities
- Certify clients for WIC and provide individual counseling to clients with high and low nutritional-risk criteria.
- Assess clients’ nutritional needs, develop care plans and goals using SOAP note format, and provide second nutrition education contacts to clients in the family record.
- Review client records for medically high-risk criteria and refer clients to a licensed dietitian.
- Assist with translation when fluent in another language, as needed to ensure quality client services.
- Collect anthropometric data by measuring client height or stature and weight, and perform finger sticks to assess hemoglobin levels after receiving approved training.
- Attend or conduct health-related meetings, staff meetings, committees, and workgroups.
- Assist with outreach activities, health fairs, and other community activities as needed.
- Provide breastfeeding education, encouragement, guidance, and referrals, and assist with WIC breastfeeding activities.
- Receive exempt formula deliveries, document receipt, return inventory paperwork to the master inventory employee, and participate in monthly formula inventory.
- Document smoking cessation referrals in client education notes and the HMS system.
- Issue WIC benefits to participants when appropriate or as directed by the clinic supervisor.
- Pursue professional development through approved workshops and training activities.
- Travel to clinics and other locations and perform additional duties assigned by the supervisor.
- Submit travel, HMS, People First, and other reports within assigned timeframes.
Benefits
- Annual and sick leave.
- Nine paid holidays and one personal holiday each year.
- State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance.
- Retirement plan options, including employer contributions.
- Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Tuition waivers for State Universities and Community Colleges.
- Professional development opportunities, including mentorship, educational and skills training, and continuing education at no cost to the employee.
- Tuition reimbursement program.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
