Health Education Assistant II - Degreed Nutritionist

About the role

The County of Riverside’s University Health System – Public Health is recruiting for a Degreed Nutritionist to work as a Health Education Assistant II. Under general supervision, the incumbent assists and participates in all phases of community and/or patient health and nutrition education programs, including planning and evaluation, and performs other related duties as required. The Health Education Assistant II assists in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of health education programs within major functional areas of the Department of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, or Office on Aging. This class differs from the Health Education Assistant I, which is the entry-level class where incumbents receive training in the principles, methods, and techniques of community health and nutrition education including program planning and evaluation.

The incumbent will provide basic and high-risk nutrition counseling, process applicants and participants for WIC eligibility, and instruct group classes. The selected candidate will work closely with the site supervisor and act as a nutrition education lead for their site, which includes training staff on monthly class curriculum and ensuring the site is stocked with appropriate nutrition education materials. The most competitive candidates will possess a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Nutrition or a nutrition-related field such as Dietetics, Food and Nutrition, or Food Science. Spanish bilingual is highly preferred.

Riverside University Health System – Public Health is one of California’s largest and most dynamic public health departments, with dedicated professionals working to keep communities safe and healthy. From disease prevention and health education to nutrition, emergency response, and community outreach, the team’s impact reaches every corner of Riverside County.

Schedule

Work Location: Desert Region

Work Schedule: 5/40 Monday–Friday 8:00 am–5:00 pm or 9/80 Monday–Thursday 7:30 am–5:00 pm; Friday 8:30 am–5:00 pm with every other Friday off

Responsibilities

• Determine community health and/or patient education needs and participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of required programs.
• Assist in developing and maintaining coalitions, advisory councils, and other partnerships by identifying and contacting community resources and leaders to gain cooperation and encourage participation in assessing community health needs, implementing community educational efforts, and promoting positive health practices.
• Assist in the planning of, and participate in, workshops, seminars, and discussion groups to promote health and health education programs; assist in the orientation of departmental and other County department staff participating in health education programs in the areas of program objectives and methods.
• Organize and conduct educational sessions on various health and nutrition topics, including the objectives and services of the Department of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, Office on Aging, or Riverside County Regional Medical Center for schools, community groups, and agencies.
• Prepare bulletins, periodic reports, and educational materials; prepare news releases and special features on assigned health topics; maintain and utilize a list of media contacts.
• Prepare exhibits, posters, and displays for presentation at meetings, conferences, clinics, and public gatherings; assist community groups in the organization and development of various community health education projects.
• Assist in preparation and modification of appointment schedules and patient/participant flow.
• Provide health and nutrition education to individuals based on assessed needs.

Requirements

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in community health education, public health, health sciences or services, health education, home economics, foods and nutrition, kinesiology, family or consumer related sciences, behavioral or social sciences, or closely related field.

Experience: One year of experience as a Health Education Assistant I with the County of Riverside.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Health education principles, methods, and techniques, including the preparation of educational materials and the means of disseminating educational information to the public through mass media
• Community resources and their functions
• Techniques of collecting and compiling data pertinent to health education program planning and evaluation
• Common health problems of target groups in the community, their causes and prevention
• Group dynamics and human behavior

Ability to:

• Prepare public educational materials such as pamphlets, posters, displays, and exhibits
• Present ideas accurately, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing
• Prepare and deliver effective oral presentations before public and professional groups
• Organize and conduct meetings, training forums, and seminars
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of community agencies, organizations, and individuals