SENIOR HEALTH PUBLIC NUTRITIONIST - 64084885

State of Florida • Quincy, FL

6d • $55,000 - $65,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Health Public Nutritionist is a professional nutrition and breastfeeding education position with the Florida Department of Health in Gadsden County. The employee provides nutrition and breastfeeding education, assessment, counseling, evaluation, support, and promotion to participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), with breastfeeding promoted as the normal and optimal feeding of infants and young children.

The position provides nutrition assessments and counseling for low-, high-, and medically high-risk WIC participants and documents medical and high-risk care plans in the FL-WiSE system using the SOAP format. The employee conducts group nutrition classes, demonstrations, and other nutrition education activities; provides breastfeeding support; and makes referrals to medical, health, and socioeconomic agencies. The role collaborates with the Healthy Start Program as its primary nutrition contact and helps plan, implement, and evaluate public health nutrition programs while supporting compliance with federal, state, and local guidelines.

The position facilitates required nutrition training for newly hired staff, including FL-WiSE modules, Nutrition Through the Lifecycle, VENA Participant-Centered Education, and nutrition-related in-service training at WIC staff meetings. It also assists the WIC Coordinator with administrative and nutrition reports, equipment and special formula inventories and reporting, purchasing supplies, vendor compliance and training, participant abuse and suspension reporting, and the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. The employee works with breastfeeding councils, community organizations, hospitals, and coalitions to support continuity of breastfeeding care for Gadsden County clients.

Additional duties include determining eligibility for new and returning WIC clients, assisting with benefit issuance as needed, performing client weights, heights, and hemoglobin tests as needed for certification, entering collected data into the charting system, and performing other related duties as assigned. The position is based at the Florida Department of Health in Gadsden County in Quincy, Florida. Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, or beyond normal work hours or days.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major course of study in nutritional science, community nutrition, clinical nutrition, or dietetics, in accordance with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Association and Florida Chapter 468.
• Current, active license in good standing as a Dietitian or Nutritionist in Florida, issued by the Division of Medical Quality Assurance.
• Knowledge of data collection methods.
• Ability to accurately enter information into multiple data systems.
• Knowledge and skill in applying nutrition principles and practices to client needs.
• Ability to work independently and be organized and attentive to detail.
• Ability to motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English.

Responsibilities

• Provide nutrition and breastfeeding education services to WIC participants.
• Assess and counsel low-, high-, and medically high-risk WIC participants; document medical and high-risk care plans in FL-WiSE using the SOAP format.
• Conduct group nutrition classes, demonstrations, and other nutrition education activities, and provide breastfeeding support.
• Refer clients to medical, health, and socioeconomic agencies and serve as the primary nutrition contact for the Healthy Start Program.
• Assist in planning, implementing, and evaluating public health nutrition programs for WIC clients, department patients, and staff, and help ensure compliance with federal, state, and local guidelines.
• Facilitate required nutrition training for newly hired staff, including FL-WiSE modules, Nutrition Through the Lifecycle, VENA Participant-Centered Education, and nutrition-related in-service training at WIC staff meetings.
• Assist the WIC Coordinator with administrative and nutrition reports; equipment and special formula inventory; special formula ordering and receiving reports; and purchasing administrative, medical, and nutrition education supplies.
• Work with breastfeeding interagency councils, community organizations, hospitals, and coalitions to provide continuity of breastfeeding care to Gadsden County clients.
• Maintain current vendor lists, complete compliance reviews and vendor training, and report participant abuse and suspensions.
• Assist with the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.
• Determine eligibility for new and returning WIC clients and assist with benefit issuance as needed.
• Perform weights, heights, and hemoglobin tests as needed for WIC client certification and enter collected data into the charting system.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days when required.

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 supplemental insurance
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

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