Intermittent Nutrition Specialist

About the role

The Nutrition Specialist position is located in-person at the Western and Northern Service Centers in Apple Valley and West St. Paul, MN. Work is performed Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8:00am-4:30pm), with occasional evening hours until 6:30pm. This position has a variable schedule working 1-2 days per week.

Responsibilities

• Complete certification appointments for WIC participants, assessing eligibility, determining health and nutrition risk factors, and creating nutrition intervention plans based on identified needs.
• Document assessment, intervention plans, and outcomes in the WIC Information System.
• Conduct follow-up nutrition assessments with corresponding nutrition education, using participant-centered services.
• Implement a care plan and refer clients to other community resources.
• Assess client progress toward goals.
• Represent the agency in internal and external workgroups and advisory committees.
• Participate in public health emergency response functions as trained and assigned.
• Promote a diverse, inclusive, culturally competent, and respectful workplace.
• Promote the department, division, and county’s mission and vision.
• Promote a culture that values excellence, innovation, collaboration, and empowerment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in Nutrition, meeting state WIC standards OR Associate's Degree in Dietetics Technology AND Must be registered at time of hire if you are a graduate of a Dietetic Technician program and maintain ongoing registration as Dietetic Technician by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
• Nice to have: Completed lactation education/training and/or experience working with lactating individuals; Bilingual skills are desirable.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications: Experience working for the WIC program; Completed lactation education/training and/or experience working with lactating individuals; Bilingual skills are desirable.
• Nice to Have Qualifications: Experience working for the WIC program; Completed lactation education/training and/or experience working with lactating individuals; Bilingual skills are desirable.

Skills

• Knowledge of human dietetics and nutrition principles in health and disease across the lifespan, especially in maternal/infant/child health and breast/chest feeding and their application to public health, public health nutrition, and other healthcare settings.
• Knowledge of effective client-centered education and counseling methods and concepts used to facilitate behavior change and skill building with WIC eligible population in public health settings.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations, statutes, policies, guidelines related to Dakota County, Public Health and public health nutrition and the ability to integrate them into practice.
• Knowledge of cultural patterns and practices of diverse populations, especially those that relate to health and nutrition of women, infants, and children.
• Knowledge of universal precautions and blood borne pathogens, and ability to implement them in public health practice settings.
• Knowledge of communities and their resources, and the ability to identify gaps in available resources and barriers to client access and referral.
• Ability to establish collaborative relationships with other health professionals and staff to deliver safe, effective nutrition services.
• Ability to refer clients and their families to other professional services when needs are beyond the scope of nutrition practice or can be better addressed in a collaborative environment.
• Considerable ability to use technology and software, data, and information systems to support client services and perform assigned duties within specified work standards.
• Ability to communicate effectively for client and program services in a variety of formats, including oral, written, visual, and electronic methods.
• Ability to work effectively in teams to meet the nutrition related health needs of WIC clients.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize responsibilities, and solve problems effectively.
• Ability to competently perform CPR.

Benefits

This position does not offer benefits.

Pay

The full salary range for this position is $28.06 - $43.85 per hour and the preferred hiring range is $28.06 - $31.57 per hour. The amount that is offered is dependent on the candidate's overall skills.

Schedule

This position has a variable schedule working 1-2 days per week.