NUTRITIONIST II - Part time/Full time

Nutritionist II - Part time/Full time

Under the general supervision of the WIC Manager, this position is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the clinic, assuring policies and procedures are being followed by all staff and that clinic operations are conducted in a professional, accurate, and timely manner. Duties include supervising staff working in the WIC clinic; assisting with the development of nutrition education lessons, materials, and activities; conducting nutritional education classes and activities; performing WIC certifications and assessing the needs and nutritional issues of moderate and high-risk clients; counseling and providing follow-up on moderate, high risk and special formula clients; and assisting with training new staff.

Starting pay: $23.00 per hour

Essential Responsibilities

• Supervises the day-to-day operation of a WIC clinic, assuring all policies and procedures are followed by all staff and that clinic operations are conducted in a professional, accurate, and timely manner.
• Assists with the development of nutrition education lessons, materials, and activities as directed.
• Presents nutrition education in-service during staff meetings, utilizing good presentation and teaching skills, as assigned.
• Teaches nutrition education group classes to include facilitated learning style classes and cooking/food demonstration classes.
• Screens clients for feeding and nutrition problems and counsels/makes) appropriate referrals for such problems.
• Determines final eligibility of applicant for WIC benefits based on assessment of nutritional and/or medical risk factors according to federal, state, and local policies.
• Obtains and assesses diet recalls for nutritional deficiencies according to nutritional standards and state policies.
• Obtains height and weight measurements of all applicants following state and local policies and procedures.
• Accurately plots height and weight measurements on appropriate growth charts and/or weight gain grids according to state and local policies and procedures.
• Performs hematocrit/hemoglobin test on all applicants over the age of six months according to local and state policies and procedures.
• Provides individualized Breastfeeding counseling to clients to increase the incidence of breastfeeding among WIC participants and thus increase the health standards of at-risk babies.
• Completes Breastfeeding educator curriculum and counsels according to state and local policies.
• Provides technical support and instruction to WIC staff who are assisting with certifications and/or teaching nutrition education classes to assure sound nutritional information is being dispensed according to state policy and as directed by the WIC Director.
• Assists with the training of new WIC staff and the on-going training updates for existing staff.
• Consults with physicians as directed by Nutritionist III or IV concerning formula prescriptions and/or diet orders to arrive at the most suitable formula for the client that WIC can issue according to state policy.
• Writes diet prescriptions for food packages according to individual needs assessed at time of certification or as special needs arise during the certification period according to federal and state policies.
• Coordinates WIC clinic operations with nursing staff and/or other entities located in the same facility to enhance services provided to clients and to promote a smooth clinic flow.
• Provides referrals to appropriate medical/social agencies for WIC clients in need of services. Assists Nutritionist I and Nutrition Techs with the more difficult or extreme cases that they may encounter.
• Provides outreach information to community agencies and organizations to increase the awareness of referrals to the WIC program as directed by the WIC Director.
• Performs quality assurance chart audits, clinical observations, report monitoring according to state and local guidelines and policies. Provides technical support and instruction to WIC staff who are assisting with certifications and/or teaching nutrition education classes to assure sound nutritional information is being dispensed according to state policy.
• Performs the duties of the Nutritionist I, Nutrition Technicians and WIC Technicians when needed.
• Complies with safe food handling guidelines from the federal, state, and local entities.
• Completes all state required training modules and annual updates utilizing print, multi-media, and electronic forms of training provided by the state agency.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Requires a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Dietetics, Food and Nutrition, Food Science, Food Technology, or Home Economics or related field. Also requires a minimum of 24 semester hours in food and nutrition or be able to achieve this within the first six (6) months or two (2) semesters of hire. Two years of experience as WIC Nutritionist I or closely related position required. Valid Texas Driver's License Required.

Consideration will be given to alternatives to the above qualifications as the administration may find appropriate and acceptable.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to operate computers for data entry and word processing.
• Strong verbal and written communication skill.
• Ability to operate small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.

ADA Profile

Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is required to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or in excess of 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. The employee must also balance, climb, crawl, crouch, walk, stand, kneel, stoop, sit, hear, feel, finger, grasp, handle, reach, pull, push, speak, see, and talk. Also requires the ability to make rational decisions and perform repetitive motions.

Work Environment

The employee works in a safe and secure indoor work environment that may periodically have unpredicted requirements or demands.

The City of Amarillo is an Equal Opportunity employer and encourages applications from eligible and qualified persons regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, genetic information or protected veteran status, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law. The City of Amarillo provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case by case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Office at View phone number on click.appcast.io.