PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION CONSULTANT III (SPECIALIST) JC-471719

Department Information

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.

The Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) has been part of the nation’s nutrition safety net for 50 years.

Extensive research has found WIC to be a cost-effective investment that leads to healthier infants, more nutritious diets, health care for children, and subsequently higher academic achievement for students. WIC helps families receive healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other community services.

Like other divisions within the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), WIC builds its program by addressing social determinants of health. WIC impacts the life course by promoting health practices that can ultimately improve life outcomes often experienced by vulnerable communities.

WIC serves babies and children up to age five, pregnant women, and new mothers. Dads, grandparents, foster parents of young children, and working families are welcome at WIC too!

Monthly, nearly one million WIC participants can find support at one of 84 local agencies which offer services at more than 500 sites throughout California. WIC participants can redeem their food benefits at approximately 3,800 grocers that are authorized to serve WIC families.

In 2019 - 2020, the WIC Division implemented an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card called the California WIC Card and a new management information system known as WIC WISE, that allows WIC participants to be served more efficiently. The CDPH WIC Division works continuously to improve its operations and system to better support families and its partners.

About The CDPH/WIC Family

Over 200 state staff work at CDPH’s WIC Division, headquartered at the Natomas campus in Sacramento. WIC is committed to a hybrid workforce and the state provides a modest stipend for those who fully and partially work from home. Staff are provided with a computer or laptop, camera, and large screen to conduct their work. We build our unit teams virtually and maintain contact with stakeholders by being on camera to solidify our relationships.

The WIC Division is led by senior managers administering a Local Policy and Health Programs Branch, Local Services Branch, Vendor Management Branch, Communications, Food, and Vendor Policy Branch, Data and Integrity Branch, Systems Integration Branch, and the Operations team. Through these branches, our support staff, analysts, specialists, researchers, and nutritionists serve the needs of WIC families, supports our program partners, and ensures the California WIC Program is administered appropriately and effectively.

The CDPH is not currently an E-Verify employer.

Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov

Job Description And Duties

The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Chief, Health and Nutrition Education Section, Health Program Manager II (HPM II). The Public Health Nutrition Consultant III (PHNC III) (Specialist) serves as a highly skilled nutrition and program services professional responsible for assessing the effectiveness and quality of nutrition education services provided by WIC local agencies to pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children; and evaluating the implementation of federal and state nutrition education policies by WIC local agencies. Leads the development, coordination, implementation and evaluation of nutrition education materials to meet the needs of participants, as well as complex, comprehensive state-wide nutrition, breastfeeding and training campaigns, projects, and initiatives. Travels statewide up to 25% of the time.

• Will also consider Temporary Authorization Utilization (TAU) appointments- Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications for the classification but do not currently have eligibility on an employment certification list by having taken and passed an examination may apply as a TAU. TAU appointments are limited to a duration of 9 months within a 12 consecutive month period. In order for a TAU appointment to become permanent, individuals must take and pass the related examination, and thereby become eligible from a certification list, within 9 months of TAU appointment. Individuals who successfully obtain eligibility prior to the expiration of the TAU appointment will not be required to re-compete in a competitive process for permanent appointment to that position.***
  
  
  

This position may be eligible for telework up to three (3) days per week and is required to report in-person to the designated headquarters office location a minimum of two (2) days per week. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded. Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquarters office subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate. The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CDPHRecruitment

The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year.

Final Filing Date: 4/14/2025

Position Details

Job Code #: JC-471719

Position #(s): 580-510-2166-024

Working Title: Nutrition Education Specialist

Classification: PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION CONSULTANT III (SPECIALIST) $6,725.00 - $9,184.00

# of Positions: 1

Work Location: Sacramento County

Telework:

Hybrid

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Should you have any questions regarding the application process, our Recruitment Team is ready to help you at Apply@cdph.ca.gov or (916) 445-0983.