WIC Nutrition Educator

Job Overview
We are seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable Educator to join our team. The ideal candidate will play an important role in providing educational support in our Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC).

Summary This position is under general supervision, is responsible for professional public health education and consulting work of average difficulty; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: An employee in this class provides general nutrition counseling and educational services to local health department staff, clients, and community organizations in an assigned county area. This class differs from Nutritionist in that incumbents of the latter provide therapeutic nutrition counseling to high-risk clients, possess active status as a Registered Dietitian (RD) with the Commission on Dietetic Registration, and may supervise incumbents of this class.

EXPECTATIONS OF EMPLOYEE

• Adheres to County Government Policy and Procedures
• Acts as a role model within and outside the work environment
• Performs duties as workload necessitates
• Maintains a positive and respectful attitude
• Communicates regularly with supervisor about department issues
• Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload
• Demonstrates awareness and understanding of the various internal and external cultures that utilize department services
• Consistently reports to work on time and prepared to perform duties of position
• Meets County Government productivity and quality standards
• Maintains appropriate customer relations

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree, including 9 quarter hours in human nutrition, 4 quarter hours in human anatomy or physiology, and 4 quarter hours in education, psychology, or counseling.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

• Certifies patients who meet criteria and documents in medical records to provide appropriate services.
• Develops and documents appropriate nutrition plan of care to comply with program guidelines and practice standards.
• Assign appropriate supplemental food packages to comply with program guidelines.

Analyzing Data or Information:

• Compares patient data and information against program nutrition risk criteria to determine program eligibility.
• Analyzes medical information, including hemoglobin/hematocrit, anthropometric data, and other nutrition-related information, as required.
• Evaluates progress on nutrition goals utilizing patient input to determine the patient stage of change.

Getting Information:

• Consults with health care providers to obtain relevant information regarding patient care.
• Interview patients to assess their literacy level, cultural background, and readiness to learn.
• Collects nutrition-related data to determine the patient’s stages of change and goals.

Training and Teaching Others:

• Conveys information on breastfeeding techniques and other nutrition issues by using multiple media to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors.
• Develops and provides a variety of teaching strategies and tools, including posters or lesson plans, to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors, as needed.
• Serves as the nutrition advisor on multi-agency committees by providing nutrition information.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

• Assesses nutrition-related information using approved program processes to ensure compliance with standards.
• Determines patient eligibility for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to comply with program guidelines.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

• Maintains knowledge of community resources to provide referrals and resources to the public.
• Communicates with community stakeholders to offer medical and social services assistance to patients.
• Promotes community nutrition and education activities for healthy lifestyle behavior changes.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings:

• Monitors patient’s progress to achieve nutrition goals.

Performing Administrative Activities:

• Documents and information associated with the patient’s nutrition care plan and education are provided in the patient record according to policies and guidelines.

Documenting / Recording Information:

• Enters information into the patient chart in written or electronic form.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

• Develops and maintains constructive and cooperative working relationships with others.

Processing Information:

• Performs calculations to determine patient risk criteria such as body mass index, appropriate nutrition intake, gestational age, and estimated date of delivery.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

• Interprets and explains nutrition data and risks to patients to promote behavior change and comply with program guidelines.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material:

• Inspects and cleans breastfeeding equipment.

Interacting With Computers:

• Uses office software including but not limited to word processing programs, presentation software, web-based programs, and search engines.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

• Communicates with supervisors and co-workers using multiple media to effectively relay work-related information.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources:

• Monitors and inventories resources related to infant feeding such as breastfeeding aids and infant formula according to policies and program guidelines, as required.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

• Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish work in an efficient manner.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

• Attends required trainings to stay up-to-date with current knowledge and policies.

Competencies:

1. Action Oriented

2. Interpersonal Savvy

3. Listening

4. Written Communication

5. Customer Focus

6. Approachability

7. Problem Solving

8. Time Management

9. Self-Development

10. Presentation Skills

Knowledge:

1. Customer and Personal Service

2. Mathematics

3. Psychology

4. Biology

5. Sociology and Anthropology

Skills:

1. Critical Thinking

2. Reading Comprehension

3. Speaking

4. Writing

5. Active Listening

6. Instructing

Abilities:

1. Written Comprehension

2. Written Expression

3. Oral Expression

4. Problem Sensitivity

5. Finger Dexterity

6. Speech Clarity

7. Auditory Attention

8. Oral Comprehension

9. Speech Recognition

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Must hold a valid Tennessee driver’s license

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The incumbent frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. The incumbent is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and climb or balance. The incumbent must occasionally lift and/or move up to25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $22.39 per hour

Expected hours: 37.5 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $22