WIC Nutrition & Local Services Manager (Public Health Manager 1)

About the role

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Public Health Division (PHD), Nutrition & Health Screening section is excited to announce recruitment for a WIC Nutrition & Local Services Manager. This key leadership role supports the mission of the Oregon WIC Program and, more broadly, the goals of the agency by directing a major statewide public health program dedicated to supporting the nutritional well-being of Oregon families.

Responsibilities

• Guide program policy and priorities, overseeing complex operations related to certification and eligibility, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion, and local program service delivery.
• Ensure accuracy, integrity, and successful implementation of federally mandated biennial compliance reviews, working in coordination with broader Public Health Division review processes.
• Support the program’s ongoing Caseload Compliance Review activities, helping ensure Oregon meets federal performance measures.
• Provide direct supervision to the Nutrition and Local Services Team—which includes Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists and health educators—and serve as a member of the state WIC Office’s management and leadership teams.
• Represent Oregon WIC in public health and nutrition partnership settings, fostering collaboration to advance the program’s mission.
• Designate as the Oregon State WIC Nutrition Coordinator as required by USDA.

Requirements

• Five years of lead work, supervision, or progressively related experience OR Two years of related experience and a bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Master’s or Doctoral degree in the field of nutrition from an accredited college or university with emphasis in food and nutrition, community nutrition, public health nutrition, nutrition education, human nutrition, nutrition science or equivalent AND at least two years responsible experience as a nutritionist in education, social service, maternal and child health, public health, nutrition, or dietetics; OR Credentialed Registered Dietitian (R.D.) or is eligible for registration with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Commission on Dietetic Registration AND has a minimum of two years of job-related experience OR Bachelor’s degree in the field of nutrition from an accredited college or university AND Credentialed Registered Dietitian (R.D.) or is eligible for registration with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Commission on Dietetic Registration AND has a minimum of 5 years of job-related experience.

Special Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of USDA regulations and requirements that govern the WIC Program.
• Extensive experience and expertise in the operations, administration, and service delivery of local WIC Programs.
• Working knowledge of public health principles and the WIC Program’s role in improving health outcomes at both the state and local levels.
• Strong professional understanding of maternal and child nutrition, including the principles and practices of adult education.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively within a unionized environment, including applying contract provisions and supporting positive labor-management relationships.
• Strategic Leadership and Systems Thinking: Leads complex, multi-layered public health programs by aligning policies, resources, and operations with statewide and federal priorities and developing long-term strategies that strengthen service delivery for WIC families.
• Collaborative Partnership Building: Builds strong relationships with internal teams, local agencies, state and federal partners, union representatives, and community organizations; fosters cross-agency collaboration and represents program interests effectively.
• Data-Informed Evaluation and Decision-Making: Applies data, performance measures, scientific evidence, and evaluation findings to guide planning, assess program effectiveness, and drive continuous improvement, translating analysis into clear, actionable insights.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications: These qualifications must be reflected in your application for consideration.
• Desired Attributes: The following are desired attributes that we have identified as key to success for this role at OHA. These are the attributes we are looking for in our top candidate. If you possess any of these attributes, please highlight them in your application, resume and address specifically in your cover letter.

Benefits

• Excellent, low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family.
• Optional benefits like life insurance, disability coverage, deferred compensation, and FSA options for health and childcare.
• Generous paid time off: 11 holidays, 3 personal days, monthly sick leave, and vacation accrual starting at 8 hours/month.
• Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Retail security through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
• Training and development opportunities to grow your career with the State of Oregon.