Nutrition Assistant I

Salary : $36,681.08 - $45,113.10 Annually
Location : Madera, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Public Health
Division: Public Health Administration
Opening Date: 06/16/2026
Closing Date: 7/1/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: TCHNL

Under general supervision, screens, reviews, notifies, and communicates with applicants regarding Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program eligibility; schedules appointments and completes certification and recertification appointments for participation; assists in providing assessment, counseling, and nutrition needs and support activities as directed; documents nutrition service and education duties and activities; provides a range of customer service and office support functions; and performs related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general supervision from assigned management or supervisory personnel. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.

Examples of Duties


The job functions listed below are not inclusive or exclusive and are intended only as illustrations or examples of the various types of work that may be performed. Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the County to be appropriate under applicable law.

Some duties, knowledge, skills, and abilities may be performed in a learning capacity for entry-level positions.

• Screens applicants, schedules appointments, and determines eligibility for program participation; notifies and communicates with participants regarding appointments and other required and requested information; completes certification and recertification appointments.
• Conducts nutritional assessments for participants, including weighing and measuring women, infants, and children and using data to review growth status and patterns.
• Advises and provides participants with information on nutritional needs and conducts nutritional education in group and individual settings following established rules, procedures, and guidelines as directed.
• Assists and conducts nutritional counseling sessions and breastfeeding classes and support.
• Interviews clients to determine nutritional risk and refers for further assessment to the Nutritionist, Breastfeeding Coordinator, other Public Health staff, and/or any other community programs and resources.
• Issues program credits to eligible participants following established rules, regulations, and procedures; explains procedures for credits usage in stores to participants; refers reported grocer offenses and/or problems to management or supervisory staff.
• Performs general office functions such as answering the telephone, greeting participants and visitors, and responding to inquiries.
• Maintains a variety of files, records, documentation, appointment schedules, and program and site supplies; prepares written documentation and correspondence; completes data entry.
• Documents nutrition education activities; contacts interpreter services for hearing-impaired clients; may be required to utilize bilingual translation skills.
• Assists in the transport of equipment and files; travels to outlying sites and participates in program outreach activities as assigned.
• Observes and complies with County and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Employment Standards / Minimum Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Basic nutritional terminology.
• Principles and application of nutrition and nutritional needs for various stages of life.
• Basic nutrition assessment and education programs.
• Public health program requirements.
• Education techniques and skills utilized in individual and group settings.
• Cultural food habits of populations in the County.
• Available community agencies and resources.
• Basic recordkeeping principles and practices.
• Preparing and maintaining a variety of documentation.
• Safety procedures and use of personal protective equipment.
• Social determinants of health.
• Impacts of socioeconomic and cultural differences in public health.
• Principles of health equity as it applies to public health practice.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and ordinances relevant to the area(s) of responsibility.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

ABILITY TO:

• Obtain and verify public health program eligibility.
• Communicate principles of nutrition and nutritional needs for women, infants, and children.
• Perform breastfeeding support and education services.
• Communicate nutrition information effectively to groups and individuals in a variety of formats.
• Follow and efficiently adapt to current and changing program policies, procedures, software, and forms.
• Exhibit sensitivity to the needs of ethnic, minoritized, and low-income participants.
• Maintain and prepare documentation and files including participant eligibility, assessments, and status.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, and procedural guidelines.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.
• Some responsible work experience in customer service or health education experience.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Possession of, or ability to obtain by the time of appointment, an appropriate California driver's license.
• Must possess, or have the ability to obtain, and maintain a valid WIC Nutrition Assistant certification within one (1) year of appointment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting, treat patients, and use standard tools and equipment, including a computer, and to operate a motor vehicle to visit various County and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing in and walking between work areas is frequently required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate above mentioned tools and equipment. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties, as well as push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 20 pounds.


ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Ability to travel to different sites and locations. Employees work in an office, clinical, and/or community environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Application Process
The application review process will include screening to ensure applications are complete and meet all minimum qualifications. In addition to the application, the applicant is required to complete the Supplemental Questions to further evaluate their education, training and experience relative to the required knowledge and abilities for the position. Applicants must submit answers that are as complete as possible.

Only the most qualified applicants, who pass the minimum qualifications review, will be invited to the examination process which may be administered by a written examination, oral interview, or any combination of qualifications appraisal determined by the Department of Human Resources to be appropriate. The Department of Human Resources will make reasonable accommodation in the examination process for disabled applicants. If you have an accommodation request, please indicate such on your application.


Depending upon the number of applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, applicants may be scheduled for one or more assessment. Of those passing the initial assessment, only the top 15 will move forward to the appraisal panel. Passing score is 70% out of 100% on each assessment section. If only one assessment is conducted, the weight for that assessment will be 100%.


THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION (100%) WILL BE CONDUCTED ON THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

To move forward in the application process, you must complete an online application through our websiteResumes may be uploaded but cannot be used in place of a completed application.


Those applicants claiming veteran's preference must submit a copy of their DD-214 form along with the application. Candidates who attain ranking on an eligible list and are involuntarily called to active duty may be considered for eligibility reinstatement upon their return.

Placement on Eligible List:
The Civil Service Commission may limit the number of qualified applicants eligible to participate in the examination process. If two or more candidates have the same total final score on an examination, they shall be ranked in order of their scores in that portion of the examination which has the greatest weight. The names of two or more eligibles having final ratings which are identical shall be grouped on the eligible list as tie names with equal rank for certification and appointment purposes.


Candidates who are successful in all phases of the examination process will be placed on an eligible list, in rank order based on a calculation of their total score from the examination process. The eligible list established by this recruitment will be active for a minimum of six (6) months or one (1) year, unless otherwise determined by the Director pursuant to section 6-4 (b) and may be extended for up to an additional year by the Commission.
Benefits of employment with the County of Madera include:

• 14 paid holidays per year;
• 1 sick leave day per month (unlimited accrual);
• 2 weeks paid vacation after 1 year, vacation accrual increasing thereafter with years of service (45 days maximum accrual);
• Membership in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), with an enhanced 2.7% @ 55 retirement benefit formula (based on the highest 12 months with the employee paying 8% toward the retirement cost) for those individuals with current or prior qualifying public sector service that establishes eligibility as a "classic member" pursuant to the provisions of California's 2013 Pension Reform Act (Act) and CalPERS Regulations. Individuals with no current or prior qualifying public sector service, and who are defined as new members or new employees under the Act, will be eligible for the 2% @ 62 retirement benefit formula (based on the average compensation over 36 consecutive months with the employee paying 7.75% toward the retirement cost);
• County participates in the Public Employees' Retirement System Health Benefit Program and for certain selected health plans, the County pays 95% of health insurance premium for employee and 50% for either two-party or dependent coverage;
• Additional salary increases after 10, 15, and 20 years of service.

01


Please indicate the highest level of education you have completed.

• Formal or informal education equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.
• Associate's degree or higher.

02


Do you possess some responsible work experience in customer service or health education experience?

• Yes
• No

03


I understand that I must indicate the specific time period and distinct job title in the application's work experience section. I understand that I am required to describe, in detail, my qualifying experience on my application.

• Yes, I understand.

Required Question