Nutritionist Associate

Virginia Information Technologies Agency•Chesapeake, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave. The Chesapeake Health Department is seeking a Nutritionist Associate to join the Women, Infants and children’s (WIC) program. This position works primarily at main WIC site at Great Bridge, as a Lead Nutritionist. Primarily performs nutritional interviews to determine client eligibility for the WIC program. Position also requires performing income eligibility and lab duties routinely. Uses VENA techniques to assess readiness, motivation & barriers to behavioral change. Dietary goals are established & documented in care plan. Prescribes dietary food packages in accordance with WIC protocols. Helps plan and schedule nutrition coverage for WIC clinic. Monitors patient flow and clinic scheduling to meet the needs of the clients. Helps train new staff on lab protocols and procedures. Ensures security of WIC EBT cards and all other related supplies. Dietary goals will be established and documented for each WIC client in care plan according to state policy. Patient counseling specific to the individual's nutritional needs will be provided and documented in care plan according to state guidelines. Assists/plans quarterly nutrition education classes (lesson plan, talking points, bulletin board, and handouts). Facilitates nutrition education classes to applicants/participants through group discussion or over the phone. Promotes breastfeeding; schedules applicants to breastfeeding classes and breastfeeding support groups; refers pregnant and breastfeeding moms to district's breastfeeding coordinator, DBE or peer counselor. This is a restricted position, which is solely funded by the Federal WIC grant. The availability of funding is scheduled for review annually. Annual funding cycle October 1 to September 30 of the following year. Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds.

Requirements

Basic knowledge of nutrition and nutritional standards
Ability to conduct interviews and collect information
Ability to interpret, document, calculate, and compile routine data
Experience providing patient education and/or communicating information to individuals
Good communication skills, verbally and in writing, to interact with a variety of patients, peers, and supervisors
Ability to work effectively individually and as a team member
Experience multi-tasking and prioritizing workloads
Skills using computer systems

Nice To Haves

Training, job experience, or coursework in Nutrition, Dietetics, food services, or a related area
Bilingual in Spanish and English
Experience obtaining blood samples/finger sticks, and taking heights and weights of individuals

Responsibilities

Performs nutritional interviews to determine client eligibility for the WIC program.
Performs income eligibility and lab duties routinely.
Uses VENA techniques to assess readiness, motivation & barriers to behavioral change.
Establishes and documents dietary goals in care plan.
Prescribes dietary food packages in accordance with WIC protocols.
Helps plan and schedule nutrition coverage for WIC clinic.
Monitors patient flow and clinic scheduling to meet the needs of the clients.
Helps train new staff on lab protocols and procedures.
Ensures security of WIC EBT cards and all other related supplies.
Provides patient counseling specific to the individual's nutritional needs.
Assists/plans quarterly nutrition education classes (lesson plan, talking points, bulletin board, and handouts).
Facilitates nutrition education classes to applicants/participants through group discussion or over the phone.
Promotes breastfeeding; schedules applicants to breastfeeding classes and breastfeeding support groups.
Refers pregnant and breastfeeding moms to district's breastfeeding coordinator, DBE or peer counselor.