Lactation Consultant

Vista Community Clinic (VCC)

At Vista Community Clinic (VCC), we believe healthcare is more than medicine, it's about hope, community, and impact. For over 50 years, we've been a leader in the community clinic movement, growing from a small volunteer-driven effort in Vista to a nationally recognized network of state-of-the-art clinics across San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside counties. Today VCC has 14 clinics serving over 70,000 patients annually, we continue our mission of delivering exceptional, patient-centered care where it's needed most.

As a private, non-profit, multi-specialty outpatient clinic, VCC provides more than healthcare, we provide opportunity. Here your skills are celebrated, your growth is supported and your work makes a difference. We know that our success is a direct result of the exceptional talents and dedication of our employees.

Benefits include: competitive compensation & benefits, medical, dental, vision, company-paid life insurance, flexible spending accounts, 403(b) retirement plan.

Why VCC?

• Winner of the 2025 HRSA Gold Medal for Outstanding Care, placing VCC among the top 10% of Federally Qualified Health Centers in the U.S.

• Recognized by HRSA as a National Quality Leader in Behavioral Health and Diabetes and for excellence in Preventive Health and Health IT.

• A robust training & development culture to help you grow and advance your career.

• A workplace built on respect, collaboration and passion for care.

Responsibilities

Job Summary

Provide evidence-based lactation education, assessment and clinical support to pregnant and postpartum patients and their infants. Promote successful infant feeding through individualized care, collaboration with the interdisciplinary healthcare team, patient education and timely follow-up while supporting patient care goals.

Essential Job Functions

• Perform comprehensive lactation assessment for prenatal and postpartum patients per CPSP protocols
• Develop individualized feeding plans based on patient and infant needs
• Assess infant feeding effectiveness, milk transfer, latch, positioning and maternal breastfeeding concerns
• Coordinate breast pump orders through designated DME vendors, track order completion, obtain required documentation from providers, and ensure patients receive equipment in a timely manner.
• Identify potential maternal or infant complications requiring referral to the medical provider
• Refer patients to community resources and support groups as appropriate.
• Assist with community outreach and breastfeeding promotion events.
• Meet established productivity and documentation standards.
• Provide services in-person and via telehealth as operationally needed
• Counsel and educate on infant feeding, working with clinicians when necessary
• Work with new parents to prevent and solve breastfeeding problems
• Document and chart as necessary
• Provide resources as needed
• Interface with prenatal care staff, (i.e. clinicians, health educators, social worker) regarding care of patients
• Call and reschedule patients who miss their appointments
• Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature review, in-service meetings and workshops
• Support the vision, mission and goals, and demonstrate a commitment to the values, of the organization
• Perform other duties as directed

Patient-Centered Medical Home (as applicable)

• Participate in and emphasize a team-based approach to care
• Work with the assigned team coordinating care around the patient
• Participate (as instructed by clinician) in evidence-based counseling/education (motivational interviewing, coaching) regarding disease management and unhealthy behaviors
• Support patients and families in self-management, self-efficacy and behavior change
• Communicate across the continuum of care – from internal staff, to third parties such as health plans, specialists, hospitals, and radiology facilities

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• IBCLC certification
• Bilingual, English/Spanish
• CPR certification (including BLS Child, Infant, Adult with one-time hands-on skills training)
• Valid California driver's license, current vehicle insurance, and reliable transportation to travel between sites for meetings and/or to gather information for reporting purposes; minimum two years' driving experience; no more than 2 violations or a single ticket/accident value at more than 1 point on driving record

Required Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Experience working in prenatal, postpartum, pediatrics, or maternal-child health.
• Experience/familiarity with computers, business e-mail, communication systems and internet search capabilities and proficient in Microsoft Office products, specifically Word and Excel
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Ability to interface with all levels of personnel in a professional manner, including people of all social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and within the constraints of government funded programs
• Effective verbal and written communication, including ability to conduct presentations
• Ability to handle confidential materials and information in a professional manner
• Excellent customer service skills and commitment to providing the highest level of customer satisfaction
• Ability to maintain organized records and files; demonstrated ability to correctly file in alphabetical and numeric order
• Ability and willingness to meet the organization's attendance and dress code policies

Preferred Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Knowledge of CPSP, WIC, and community breastfeeding resources preferred.
• Experience/familiarity with Practice Management and Electronic Medical Records systems, NextGen preferred

Pay Range $31.00-$40.00 depending on experience