Intermittent Nutrition Specialist

Dakota County•Apple Valley, MN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Nutrition Specialist determines participants’ eligibility for the WIC program through a comprehensive assessment process. This position provides education and counseling to participants to improve their health and nutritional status for needs mutually identified; implement a care plan, refer clients to other community resources, and assess client progress toward goals. This position is in-person at our Western and Northern Service Centers in Apple Valley and West St. Paul, MN. Work is performed Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8:00am-4:30pm), with occasional evening hours until 6:30pm. This position has a variable schedule working 1-2 days per week.

Requirements

Bachelors Degree or higher in Nutrition, meeting state WIC standards OR Associate's Degree in Dietetics Technology
Must be registered at time of hire if you are a graduate of a Dietetic Technician program and maintain ongoing registration as Dietetic Technician by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
computer skills and knowledge, including keyboarding, to perform job functions.

Nice To Haves

Experience working for the WIC program
Completed lactation education/training and/or experience working with lactating individuals
Bilingual skills are desirable

Responsibilities

Complete certification appointments for WIC participants, in which you will assess eligibility, determine health and nutrition risk factors, and create nutrition intervention plans based on identified needs
Document assessment, intervention plans, and outcomes in WIC Information System
Conduct follow-up nutrition assessments with corresponding nutrition education, following the counseling style of Participant Centered Services
Perform public health emergency response functions as trained and assigned within the department's emergency response plan
Promote a diverse, inclusive, culturally competent, and respectful workplace
Promote the department, division and county’s mission and vision
Promote a culture that values excellence, innovation, collaboration, and one that empowers individuals
Determine client/family needs by completion of a comprehensive assessment of the family/client situation focusing on nutrition and related health needs using independent nutrition assessment skills and professional judgment.
Develop and implement a nutrition intervention plan and strategies to meet identified needs and address service gaps to produce effective client outcomes and facilitate behavior change.
Counsel, advise and educate clients on realistic and individualized options to improve their health and nutrition status through the use of participant centered services.
Utilize available community resources to address identified needs building on individual and family strengths.
Document assessment, intervention plans, and outcomes according to federal, state, and local program regulations, statutes, policies, guidelines, and practice standards; provide input for program quality improvement.
Collaborates on the care of high-risk cases by communication and consultation with the high-risk team to ensure sufficient information is provided, so an individualized nutrition care plan (INCP) is developed and implemented by high risk staff.
Represents the agency in internal and external workgroups and advisory committees and provide consultation with county staff within scope of position to assure coordination of care and to support planning needs of other department services.
Ability to accurately perform and assess anthropometrics and hematological test as a part of nutrition practice when delivering client services.
Apply evidence-based information and research to advance individual and program level nutrition practices in WIC.
Performs other duties and tasks as assigned.