Nutritionist Senior

Title: Nutritionist Senior

State Role Title: Program Administration Specialist I

Hiring Range: $53,000 - $55.431

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: BLUE RIDGE HQ

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov/blue-ridge

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) is currently seeking a Nutritionist Senior to join our team dedicated to protecting and promoting public health! BRHD is comprised of the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. The position will be based in the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department but will require travel to other locations in the district.

Become a vital force in community health! A WIC Nutritionist, independently and collaboratively delivers comprehensive client care to a diverse population, directly impacting health and birth outcomes while enhancing community food access. Characteristic activities include conducting patient nutritional assessments and evaluations in the clinic, developing and monitoring nutritional care plans and food packages. This individual certifies clients for participation in available public health programs, promotes and supports breastfeeding, schedules, provides and documents basic and secondary/high risk nutrition education; makes referrals to programs such as Medicaid or SNAP. May perform other related administrative tasks.

Assume a leadership role in fostering excellence within our WIC program. The WIC Nutritionist Senior, provides direct supervision and mentorship to a team of Nutritionist Associates, promoting professional development and cultivating a cohesive and collaborative work environment. In partnership with the WIC Coordinator, this role contributes to the effective delivery of services, upholds rigorous quality assurance standards, and actively participates in leadership decisions impacting program operations.

This role offers a unique pathway to professional advancement, including sponsorship for a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS) certification from the Virginia WIC Program. Additionally, after one year of employment, qualified individuals can apply to the VA/MD/DC WIC Dietetic Internship to further their studies in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Core Responsibilities
Performance Management - Serves in a managerial/supervisory capacity and conducts performance management activities for staff. Establishes and reviews work assignments and priorities, and resolves related issues, in conjunction with program management and Human Resource staff. Ensures relevant training and workplace safety for staff and conducts appropriate performance monitoring and appraisals.

Program Management - Ensures adequate staffing and training. Assist with enforcing policies, procedures and development plans; program planning, monitoring and analysis. Works closely with district locations/staff; creates a customer friendly environment; handles questions/complaints. Maintains inventory of equipment/materials. Determines program/supply/equipment needs; ensures required authorization; ensures office(s) are well-maintained and presentable. Assures Separation of Duties is in compliance with policy. Performs quality assurance audits.

Nutrition Assessment - Assesses nutritional status through interview. Follows policies and procedures to determine body measurements. Identifies referrals and scans forms into system. Interprets, calculates and compiles data through obtaining hematological and anthropometric values/medical history. Provides nutrition education; interprets assessment data to develop care plan; sets goals, identifies and makes appropriate referrals. Prescribes food package tailored to needs, policies and procedures. Schedules, provides and documents basic/secondary nutrition education. Promotes nutrition programs, best practices and may act as a subject matter expert for participants.

The appointment is to a restricted position which is solely funded by a WIC grant for a one-year period ending September 30, 2025. The availability of funding is scheduled for review annually and periodically thereafter. Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of grant or non-general funds.

The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of nutritional programs, policies & procedures; current therapeutic diets, principles of nutrition, nutrition standards & application to public health.
• Skills in use of electronic health records; counseling techniques including motivational interviewing & participant centered approaches.
• Ability to supervise, schedule & evaluate personnel; assess clinic flow for efficiency & effectiveness; promote breastfeeding; perform comprehensive nutrition assessments; identify nutrition risks & develop individual care plans; communicate in a professional manner; work effectively as a member of a team with diverse participants.
• Must meet requirements for use of title Dietitian/Nutritionist as authorized by Code of VA 54.1 – 2731.
  

Additional Considerations

• Registration by Commission on Dietetic Registration
• Obtain certification as Competent Professional Authority within (6) months of hire
• Preferred Bilingual in English/Spanish

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHS IG Exclusion List check, employment reference check, and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, or other background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.

VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications will be accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists); sex; color; national origin; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer, VDH welcomes Veterans to apply!

Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.

VDH requires all Health-Care Personnel (HCP) to provide documentation of immunization or evidence of immunity to the following: hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella; a one-time dose of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine regardless of the interval since the last dose of tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine was administered (Td or Tdap boosters shall be received every 10 years); and the current year’s seasonal influenza vaccination.

Contact Information

Name: Tammy Richardson / Richard Bolden

Phone: 434-422-4556 / 434-972-6271

Email: Tammy.Richardson@vdh.virginia.gov / Richard.Bolden@vdh.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.