WIC Qualified Nutritionist

About Oswego County Opportunities

Ranking among Oswego County's top ten largest private employers, OCO carries out its mission to inspire partnerships and provide services that empower people, support communities, and change lives through more than 50 programs serving 15,000 people each year.

OCO's Employee benefits include:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance (available to Full-Time staff)
• Paid leave (sick leave, PTO, holidays, etc.)
• 403B Deferred Annuity Retirement Plan
• Term Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

Full-time - 37.5 hours per week

Grade 13 (L-5)

Monday to Friday - 8:30am - 4:30pm

JOB SUMMARY:

Responsible for: determining nutrition risk eligibility, prescribing and tailoring the WIC food package and, providing nutrition education for the county-wide WIC Program.  Possesses expertise that qualifies him/her to provide and oversee high-risk care to high-risk participants.  Provide technical nutrition consultation and training to staff and other agencies on an as needed basis. Maintain compliance with: Federal, State, and Local Agency (LA) WIC Program policies and regulations.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conducts a complete nutrition assessment to determine nutritional risk criteria and program eligibility and enrolls participants.
• Provides oversight and guidance to CPA and Nutrition assistant staff including the collection of nutrition assessment data.
• Collects information for the nutrition assessment process including all training anthropometrics and hematological data.
• Prescribe, tailor, authorize, issue and reissue all food packages.
• Reviews and approve formula requests requiring medical documentation for participants in consultation with the HCP.
• Provides and document participant-centered nutrition education/counseling (individual/family sessions or facilitated group discussions) for participants.
• Participates in breastfeeding promotion and support; addresses common breastfeeding concerns and issues breast pumps.
• Conducts a breastfeeding assessment and provides participant centered counseling that helps the mother initiate breastfeeding, establish a milk supply, exclusively breastfeed and continue breastfeeding.
• Refers prenatal and postpartum participants to peer counselors and other breastfeeding support resources.
• Documents nutrition services provided, including referrals and follow-up to referrals.
• Develops and implements high-risk care plans and oversee high-risk care to all participants.
• Coordinates nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support that is responsive to the identified needs/interest of each high risk participant.
• Refers high-risk participants to other health related and social services, as necessary.
• Tracks high risk participants’ progress in improving their health and document for outcomes.
• Provide leadership in the planning, conducting and evaluating participant centered nutrition education services.
• Provide leadership and assists in orienting/ training/mentoring new staff and CPA’s.
• Sets the tone for excellent customer service, ensures the efficient flow of the assessment and education processes and timely service to participants.
• Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of responsibility and skill required for the job.
• Steps in as needed and conducts all duties/responsibilities of the nutrition assistant and CPA staff.
• Supervises clinic operations in the absence of the Lead Nutritionist.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to handle crisis situations.
• Must be familiar with nutrition education and county health resources as they relate to special populations.
• Must be skilled in participant-centered nutrition counseling to produce behavioral change.
• Must exhibit professionalism, good judgment, flexibility, courtesy, and integrity.
• Must possess good communication skills, be able to follow oral /written directions and maintain client confidentiality.
• Must be motivated, have the ability to relate to clients in a caring and sensitive manner, be a positive role model to clients and staff and work collaboratively with others.
• Must possess a valid NYS Driver's License with good driving record and have access to a reliable vehicle for travel throughout the county and occasionally, outside the county.
• Must have acceptable physical and mental health to carry out the position including regularly lifting 25 - 50 more pounds 5-10% of the time.
• Must be able to attend to detail and accuracy and be able to work well in a stressful environment.
• Must attend trainings, in-services and seminars for skill maintenance and enhancement.
• Required to obtain 24 hours of continuing education every three years in topics relevant to WIC.
• Must have good knowledge of Oswego County geography and County resources for the lower socio-economic population.
• Must be flexible and able to work hours of operation to meet State, program and participant needs including some evenings and Saturdays.
• Must have knowledge of data entry and word processing; must be able to perform data entry with accuracy.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors in Nutrition or Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN;) and
• One to three years related experience which includes supervisory and management experience.

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Oswego County Opportunities, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.