SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST - 64005749

State of Florida • Lakeland, FL

36d • $52,000 - $55,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Public Health Nutritionist provides public health nutrition services to clients and the community at sites throughout the geographic area covered by the Polk/Hardee WIC Program. The position supports the Florida Department of Health in Polk County’s mission to protect, promote, and improve health through state, county, and community efforts, and is expected to reflect the agency’s values of innovation, collaboration, accountability, responsiveness, and excellence.

The incumbent performs WIC nutrition services, including client assessments, nutrition care planning, eligibility certification, food prescription updates, counseling, education, and outreach. The position also assists the Public Health Nutritionist Supervisor with clinic and staff supervision, quality improvement, administrative duties, staff development, and community activities. The role may involve serving clients who speak Spanish, Creole, or other languages, including interpreter duties when qualified or implementation of the Department’s Limited English Proficiency Plan.

The position is based in Lakeland, Florida. Emergency duty may require work before, during, or beyond normal work hours or days, including service in special-needs or Red Cross shelters or other disaster-related duties. The incumbent may access records containing Social Security numbers and must comply with applicable confidentiality and information-security requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university, with a major course of study in public health nutrition, nutrition, dietetics, food and nutrition, or food service management, as required by the Florida state WIC program.
• Valid Florida Driver’s License or ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment.
• Knowledge of the science and current practice of nutrition or dietetics.
• Knowledge of nutrition or dietetics concepts and theories as they relate to growth, development, health, or disease.
• Knowledge of nutritional and dietary assessment techniques.
• Knowledge of methods for compiling, organizing, and analyzing data.
• Ability to develop educational or training plans and supporting materials.
• Ability to use various communication channels to provide education or training.
• Ability to analyze and interpret anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary data.
• Ability to interview and counsel patients.
• Ability to plan, organize, and evaluate a nutrition program or project.
• Ability to supervise people.
• Ability to determine work priorities, assign work, and ensure proper completion of assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively and establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to learn and communicate effectively in English, orally and in writing.
• Ability to perform or support interpreter duties may be needed for clients who speak Spanish, Creole, or other languages.
• Successful completion of required security background check and, where applicable, drug screening; participation in direct deposit.
• Compliance with confidentiality and information-security rules, including handling records that may contain Social Security numbers.

Responsibilities

• Complete medical histories, nutrition histories, and breastfeeding assessments for WIC clients.
• Develop, monitor, evaluate, and revise nutrition care plans for high-risk, medically high-risk, and low-risk WIC clients; provide and document nutrition and breastfeeding counseling according to local, state, and federal guidelines.
• Determine and assign appropriate nutrition risk and certify eligible clients for WIC participation according to program policies.
• Assign and update client food prescriptions in accordance with program regulations.
• Provide nutrition programs and outreach to health care professionals and community members.
• Complete inventories as assigned.
• Provide group classes and nutrition education using lesson plans and complete appropriate documentation.
• Assist the Public Health Nutritionist Supervisor with supervision of the clinic and clinic staff.
• Respond to and resolve client complaints, supporting customer satisfaction where possible.
• Complete administrative forms, including EARs, timesheets, and travel documents, according to department policies and deadlines.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings, in-service trainings, and other staff development activities.
• Assist with outreach activities, health fairs, and other community activities as needed.
• Conduct quality-improvement monitoring and reporting as directed; help present results to subordinate staff and make appropriate clinic policy or procedure changes based on findings.
• Complete mandatory training within required time frames.
• Comply with Department of Health and WIC security and confidentiality rules and regulations.
• Serve as Alternate Information Custodian for assigned WIC/Nutrition Division information sets and maintain confidentiality in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and department information-security policies and procedures.
• Perform interpreter duties when qualified or implement the Department’s Limited English Proficiency Plan as needed.
• Perform other duties assigned by the supervisor, including additional interpreter duties consistent with skill level and need.
• Perform emergency duties as required, including work in special-needs or Red Cross shelters or other disaster responses.

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

What This Job Offers

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