WIC Nutritionist (Temporary)

About the role

This position requires in‑depth knowledge of nutrition principles and their application to the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. The incumbent must be responsive to the identified needs and interests of participants, especially those whose nutrition or health concerns require an advanced level of nutrition expertise (High Risk) according to the core competencies associated with Participant Centered Nutrition Assessment (PCNA). The role is responsible for the overall coordination, planning, and development of the nutrition treatment plan for participants in the WIC Program.

Responsibilities

• Perform all duties of Nutrition Assistant staff and provide program support.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the WIC program and successfully communicate its purpose.
• Demonstrate understanding of nutrition issues for pregnancy, breastfeeding, the postpartum period, infancy, and early childhood and their impact on the life course.
• Develop and implement individual care plans (ICPs), high‑risk care plans, and oversee high‑risk care of all participants.
• Provide oversight and guidance to Nutrition Assistant staff.
• Coordinate nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support, responsive to the identified needs/interests of each high‑risk participant.
• Serve as Designated Breastfeeding Expert (DBE) in NYWIC based on agency need.
• Refer high‑risk participants to other health‑related and social services as necessary.
• Track high‑risk participants’ progress in improving their health and document outcomes.
• Ensure the efficient flow of the assessment and education processes.
• Provide leadership in planning, conducting, and evaluating Participant Centered Nutrition Education services.
• Provide leadership and assist in orienting, training, and mentoring new local agency staff.
• Provide leadership in developing, conducting, and evaluating nutrition training for local agency staff in nutrition education topics.
• Implement optional and required individual care plans for participants, especially those requiring an advanced level of nutrition expertise (high risk).
• Provide and document Participant Centered Nutrition Assessment (PCNA) core competencies during counseling, including:
  • Utilize a participant‑centered approach: open‑ended questions, body language, affirmations, and reflective listening.
  • Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of how sociocultural issues (race, ethnicity, religion, group affiliation, socioeconomic status, world view) impact nutrition behaviors and practices.
  • Collect relevant information from all sources: anthropometric, hematological, clinical, lifestyle, breastfeeding, and visual observations.
  • Assist in the collection of onsite hematology according to OSHA and NYSDOH policy and procedure.
  • Utilize critical thinking and probes appropriately to collect and analyze relevant information.
  • Assign and generate appropriate nutrition risk criteria.
  • Summarize the assessment by conveying pertinent risks to the participant/caretaker in a sensitive manner.
  • Work with participants to prioritize needs and concerns.
  • Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of community resources and appropriately refer WIC participants for services and additional care.
  • Document all mandatory information based on professional judgment and non‑mandatory information.
  • Provide facilitated group counseling using Talk Listen Connect (TLC) techniques.
• Conduct a complete nutrition assessment and determine program eligibility.
• Provide breastfeeding information and issuance of breast pumps.
• Prescribe, tailor, authorize, issue, and reissue any food package.
• Review and approve formula requests requiring medical documentation for participants in consultation with the health care provider (HCP).
• Provide and document appropriate follow‑up referrals to other health and social services agencies for participants.
• Provide participants with appropriate NYSDOH forms and letters regarding certification.
• Assist in the collection of data needed in the planning of the daily operation of the WIC program.
• Transfer and terminate participants according to NYSDOH NYWIC policy.
• Maintain good public relations and keep staff, participants, and community residents aware of ongoing education programs in WIC.
• Attend NYSDOH nutrition education meetings, seminars, and trainings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN)
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in nutrition

Experience

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to interact with clients and staff through active listening, proper business language, and tone of voice to obtain information and/or complete tasks.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to apply common sense to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Language Skills

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of an organization.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly required to sit.
• Frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to stand and walk.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Computer Skills

The knowledge and ability to use computers and related technology effectively with regard to several specific application systems and software.