Title: Nutritionist II

Type: Full-Time/Benefits

Department: Health Department

Location: Lexington, NC

Salary Range: Grade 66

Starting salary based on qualifications and experience.

General Statement of Duties

The major purpose of this position is to provide clinical nutrition services and referrals to qualifying clients with nutrition needs to affect an improvement in the nutritional status of the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants. As a clinical nutrition provider, this employee provides comprehensive and in-depth nutrition assessments and counseling to clients. This involves providing education, referrals and WIC benefits to eligible members of this community. They will be responsible for determining clinical eligibility for participation in the WIC Program, maintaining appropriate documentation, utilizing knowledge of community resources and medical/nutritional treatments in developing and implementing a plan of nutrition care for each client applying for or receiving program benefits. This position will be performing the above-mentioned duties working with a team of nutritionists, clerical support staff and the program WIC director who supervises this position. Generally, work is 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. Occasional work during evenings or weekends may be required.

Illustrative Examples of Work

- Recurrent face to face and telehealth encounters with families applying for and receiving benefits of the WIC Program.

- Determines the needs of clients and ensures that client receives appropriate nutrition services.

- Completes a thorough nutrition assessment using anthropometric and biochemical measurements, health history, socio-economic information and food/nutrition history for clients with a wide variety of medical conditions or complex nutritional needs.

- Provides in-depth education and individual counseling concerning nutrition principles within programmatic parameters.

- Provides and maintains accurate written and electronic documentation of clinical assessment, growth or weight gain, plan of nutrition care and education for each individual who participates in the WIC Program.

- Accurately interprets anthropometric data on appropriate growth or weight gain charts and maintains this documentation in the client record.

- Obtains and approves appropriate prescriptions for nutrition products and foods as required by the WIC program manual and maintains these documents in the client record.

- Completes breast pump and supply contracts, inventory, education and consents in accordance with the NC WIC Program policy and maintains inventories of formula and verification of certification documents as well as logs for audit purposes.

- Notes in the client record that reflect and communicate with a high level of accuracy the needs of each client, plan of nutrition care and occurrences and/or communications with the client as well as interactions related to referrals or follows up on problems.

- May select, evaluate and revise nutrition education materials or curricula as assigned.

- Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to educate clients on topics as required by the WIC program.

- Works as a team in developing low risk nutrition education plans for WIC participants in accordance with NC WIC Program requirements, training WIC clerical staff to deliver low risk education at appropriate times and assures clear documentation the education delivered in a manner that satisfies audit requirements community.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

- Specialized knowledge and skill in comprehensive nutrition assessment and care planning, including problem diagnosis, counseling, and evaluation of clients from diverse backgrounds, ages, and with multiple and complex health and therapeutic nutritional needs.

- Knowledge of human behavior and techniques for effecting behavior change with considerable skill in counseling.

- Broad knowledge in health care ethics, documentation in the medical record, and quality assurance.

- Knowledge in organization of community health and nutrition resources.

- Sophisticated knowledge of current scientific information regarding nutrition, diet, and health and the ability to relate this information to clients, professionals, and the general public.

- Skill in conducting a nutrition education or community needs assessment.

- Fundamental knowledge of current principles and practices of public health, and program coordination.

- Ability to interpret policy and protocols into operational procedures and work priorities.

- Skill in organizing and coordinating the work of others.

- Full range of skill in presenting ideas orally and in writing in a clear, concise manner.

Physical Requirements

- Ability to physically perform the basic life operational support functions of stooping, kneeling, reaching, walking, lifting, fingering, talking, hearing and repetitive motions.

- Must be able to perform sedentary work exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

- Worker is subject to inside environmental conditions where there is protection from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes. Occasional assignment to outdoor environment as needed for WIC duties, outreach, or public health emergencies.

- Must possess visual acuity to recognize physical abnormalities and symptoms.

- Must be able to concentrate in a moderate to noisy environment including the presence of crying children and infants.

- The employee will have contact with clients and other professionals, which would not, under normal circumstances, present any danger. Behavioral problems, such as aggression, of some clients or their family members could cause bodily harm.

Education and Experience

- Registered Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetics Registration; or Master’s degree in Dietetics, Public Health Nutrition, or Nutrition; or graduation from a Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education- approved Didactic Program in Dietetics and two years nutrition experience; or Dietetic Technician, Registered with the Commission on Dietetics Registration with a Bachelor’s degree in any subject area from an accredited four-year college or university and two years nutrition experience; or a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Dietetics, Public Health Nutrition or Community Nutrition from an accredited four-year college or university and two years nutrition experience.

- Experience in WIC preferred

- Knowledge of breastfeeding preferred

Licenses and Certifications

- Valid North Carolina Driver License.