Nutritionist

Foothill Family•El Monte, CA

1d•$27 - $37

About The Position

This position provides expertise and services to the Early Head Start Program in child and family nutrition. In collaboration with the Health Manager, the Nutritionist helps ensure that practices, recommendations, and services comply with Federal Performance Standards and local regulations. The role develops and implements action plans for referred cases and works with staff, parents, and partners to promote healthy lifestyles, eating habits, and child nutrition. Through direct contact with staff, children, families, and partners, the Nutritionist supports delivery of services that meet the nutritional needs of children enrolled in the Early Head Start program, including children with disabilities. Services and recommendations are to be developmentally and culturally appropriate and to support children’s growth and school readiness. The position responds to referrals involving concerns such as growth, feeding challenges, eating habits, food allergies, and other special dietary needs. It provides consultation, education, and recommendations; develops and monitors action plans and referrals; contributes to menu planning, policies, procedures, and reporting; and monitors adherence to nutritional guidelines through site and partner visits. The role also travels between program sites and to in-person meetings and events in Los Angeles County and surrounding areas.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, Food and Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, Community Nutrition, Health Sciences with a nutrition emphasis, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
A minimum of two years of professional experience providing nutrition education, assessment, counseling, or related services in an early childhood program, healthcare setting, public health agency, social services organization, nonprofit agency, community-based organization, or related field is preferred.
Experience providing nutrition services to infants, children ages 0–5, pregnant and postpartum individuals, parents, caregivers, and families is preferred.
Ability to communicate effectively and provide nutrition education and support to people from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds.
Obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certification within six months of employment.
Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to read and write complex material.
Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work cooperatively as a team member.
Demonstrated competency and respect for a child’s and family’s background.
Must not appear on federal, state, or other applicable sanctions, exclusion, or debarment lists that would prohibit or restrict employment with an agency receiving federal or state health care funding.
Valid California driver’s license and insurability on the Agency’s auto liability policy, including at least two years of driving experience, and compliance with California’s required auto insurance liability limits; alternatively, maintain reliable transportation for required appointments and meetings.

Nice To Haves

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), Certified Nutritionist, or another relevant nutrition credential.
Experience working in Head Start, Early Head Start, WIC, maternal and child health, public health, healthcare, or other family-serving programs.
Experience conducting nutrition assessments, developing nutrition care plans, and facilitating nutrition education for individuals and groups.
Current CPR and First Aid certification at the time of hire.
Bilingual abilities relevant to the populations served.

Responsibilities

Support and promote Foothill Family’s mission to empower children and families on their journey to achieve personal success.
Ensure nutrition services for enrolled families and children are developmentally and culturally appropriate and support each child’s growth and school readiness.
Provide nutrition information and recommendations through consultation and educational training for Early Head Start staff, childcare partner agencies, families, and children.
Respond to referrals concerning growth, feeding challenges, eating habits, food allergies, and other special dietary needs by providing consultation, information, recommendations, and education to pregnant women, children, families, and partners.
Develop and implement action plans for high-risk referrals to address the nutritional needs of children and pregnant mothers.
Track referrals, timelines, action plans, and follow-ups; prepare reports and submit them with analysis of data, trends, patterns, and needs to the Health Manager monthly or as requested.
Train staff, parents, and partners on family-style meals, division of responsibility, feeding infants on demand, safe handling and storage of breast milk and formula, breastfeeding benefits, transition from bottle to cup, and other required or requested topics.
Provide input into planning and evaluating menus for the Early Head Start program and childcare partners.
Develop and update nutrition policies, procedures, forms, tracking and monitoring systems, referrals, and reports.
Participate in collaborative and advisory meetings, program self-assessment, and community assessment to help guide recommendations and program direction using program and community data.
Monitor Foothill sites, socialization events, and childcare partners for adherence to state and federal nutritional guidelines, including Federal Performance Standards and Child and Adult Care Food Program regulations.
Keep current with nutrition issues, trends, and developments and support the quality, timely, and appropriate provision of services to children and families.
Provide care or services to minors or come into contact with minors as part of job duties.
Provide services relating to administration of public funds or benefits, including eligibility for public funds or benefits.
Travel between Foothill Family sites for training, meetings, and other in-person interactions, and attend meetings and events at locations within Los Angeles County and surrounding areas.
Demonstrate sensitivity to the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the service population.
Work safely and ensure others do not put themselves or others at risk.
Follow policies, procedures, and legal mandates related to HIPAA and maintenance of client files.
Ensure performance and behavior support the Agency’s performance quality improvement goals and objectives.
Report to work on time and maintain reliable, regular attendance.
Perform other duties as assigned.