Nutrition Specialist (Classification: Health Education Specialist I/II) - WIC - Temporary

About the Position

The County of San Luis Obispo, Public Health Department, has an exciting opportunity to join our North County's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) team as a temporary, Nutrition Specialist (County Classification: Health Education Specialist I/II)!

Under the guidance of a Registered Dietitian, the Nutrition Specialist conducts nutrition assessments, provides nutrition counseling, develops care plans and assists in planning and arranging nutrition and breastfeeding services for all participants enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

(Not in order of importance)

Nutrition Specialist I (Health Education Specialist I)

• Assist in coordinating WIC clinics and staff & clinic schedules.
• Assist in developing and giving nutrition and breastfeeding education classes.
• Conduct individual nutritional assessments and provide individual nutritional counseling for all low-risk WIC clients.
• Under the guidance of a Registered Dietitian provide individual nutritional counseling for high-risk WIC clients.
• Under the guidance of a Registered Dietitian develops high-risk care plans.
• Under the guidance of a Registered Dietitian processes therapeutic formula and WIC-eligible nutritional requests for WIC program participants.
• Refer clients to appropriate medical and social services.
• Participate in WIC Authorized vendor visits.
• Assists is performing quality improvement audits for WIC paraprofessionals.
• May conduct studies and surveys relating to nutritional and breastfeeding issues, dietary patterns, and food needs of population groups.
• Attends and participates in workshops and conferences to promote nutrition and breastfeeding for better public health.
• Assists in planning, organizing and implementation of targeted outreach.
• Provides input for paraprofessional staff performance evaluations.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and/or evaluation of the Local Agency (LA) Nutrition. Services Plan and ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) plan.
• Monitors and ensures program compliance with Local, State, and Federal regulations.
• Can act as a site lead to WIC paraprofessional staff in the absence of Registered Dietitian.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Nutrition Specialist II (Health Education Specialist II)

In addition to the above:

• Conducts educational programs in nutrition for departmental staff and community groups.
• May serve as a member of various public health committees.
• Prepares a variety of correspondence and report materials.
• Assists with on-the-job training and technical support for new staff, volunteers and interns.
• Assists with compiling data for the development and monitoring of program reports.
• Assists in drafting procedural documents.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

To see the complete job description for Health Education Specialist I,

To see the complete job description for Health Education Specialist II,

This recruitment may be used to fill future permanent, temporary, substitute or limited term vacancies within the County.

The Ideal Candidate

Knowledge of:

Nutrition Specialist I (Health Education Specialist I):

• Nutritional needs of pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women;
• Nutritional needs of infants and children.
• The principles, methods and techniques for participant centered education.
• Current social and economic problems pertaining to public health nutrition.
• Food acceptance habits of different ethnic and age groups.
• Cultural Competency.
• Effective educational strategies and techniques.
• Experience with electronic health records and standard office software.

Nutrition Specialist II (Health Education Specialist II):

In addition to the above:

• Health Agency policies and procedures.
• In depth knowledge of community resources.
• The socioecological model and child health outcomes, including healthy growth and development.
• Advanced knowledge and experience in specific area(s) of nutrition and breastfeeding.

Ability to:

Nutrition Specialist I (Health Education Specialist I):

• Under the guidance of a Registered Dietitian implement programs for the promotion of proper nutrition, breastfeeding and the dietary control of disease.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Under the guidance of a Registered Dietitian develop and present educational programs and trainings on nutrition; program operations, and related topics for paraprofessional staff
• Assist in developing and implementing policies and procedures to meet Federal, State and Local regulations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Apply effective time management skills.
• Under the guidance of a Registered Dietitian can lead, review, and guide the work of paraprofessional staff.
• Collaborate with co-workers to develop effective work teams.

Nutrition Specialist II (Health Education Specialist II):

In addition to the above:

• Work independently.
• Assist with local agency vendor visits.
• Assists with the on-the-job training and technical support for new paraprofessional staff, volunteers and interns.
• High degree of organizational skill.
• Organize and manage projects.

How to Apply

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. Apply for this position at governmentjobs.com/careers/slocountyca

Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.

An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.

Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at hr@co.slo.ca.us. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us for more information.

Veteran's Preference Points
If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. Click here for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran’s credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)781-5959.

Make a Difference
Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.

Compensation and Benefits
Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.

For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated Benefits-At-A-Glance webpage (click here for link).

Some benefits include:

• Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
• Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
• Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
• Free visits to the employee health clinic
• Mental Health resources/benefits including Headspace
• Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
• A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
• Optional deferred compensation plan
• Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
• Paid personal, sick and vacation days
• 12 paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Education and Wellness Allowance
• Post Employment Health Plan
• Family Friendly workplace policies
• Flexible work schedule options
• Rideshare commuter benefits
• Pet Insurance

The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.

Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:
The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.

Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:
The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or ‘cafeteria’ contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.

To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria), visit the Cafeteria Rates webpage (click here for link).

Learning and Development
The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.

Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:

• Emotional Intelligence
• Supervisor/Manager academies
• Microsoft Suite courses
• Defensive Driving
• Financial management
• Retirement preparedness
• Teambuilding
• Written Communication
• Conflict Management
• Clifton StrengthsFinder and DISC
• Job specific conferences/trainings

Student Loan Forgiveness
Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.

Homebuyer assistance program
Employees have access to the “Assist-to-Own” program sponsored by Golden State Finance Authority (click here for link to more information) to get a loan for the down payment.