Nutritionist #TJ007

Title: Nutritionist #TJ007

State Role Title: Program Administrative Specialist I

Hiring Range: $50,000 - $51,714

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 (Breastfeeding Coordinator) 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, develop and monitor nutritional care plans and food packages. This individual certifies clients for participation in available public health programs, 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.

This position is directly responsible for overseeing breastfeeding efforts and promoting breastfeeding across the district. The Breastfeeding Coordinator directly supervises the team of breastfeeding peer counselors and is considered the designated breastfeeding expert for the district. This role specifically monitors and supports the district's breastfeeding participants, breastfeeding supplies, and handles all high-risk breastfeeding cases.

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.

Direct Care/WIC Services - Provides WIC nutrition services and direct care in clinics; assures efficient delivery of patient care services that meet local, state and federal standards, policies and procedures. Assesses the nutritional status of pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and children using health and nutritional history, laboratory data and anthropomorphic measures to determine nutritional eligibility of applicants; assures assessment is appropriately documented and measures correctly obtained and recorded.
Develops and implements care plan based on assessment; involves patient in care plan development; refers patients with suspected or potential health problems to clinician for further evaluation/treatment. Schedules, provides and documents basic and secondary/high risk nutrition education for all WIC participants according to WIC policies and procedures.

Nutrition Education - Works with appropriate staff to create targeted nutrition education classes; ensures that nutrition education classes are made available for all participants; facilitates nutrition education classes to participants through individual or group discussion or a child focused setting utilizing interactive techniques to engage the in the activity; documents nutrition education for each participant according to guidelines. Serves as a resource to representatives of the district and community organizations in interpreting WIC guidelines. May develop educational material for WIC, nursing, and program support staff.

Breastfeeding Support - Ensures breastfeeding support, encouragement, promotion and counseling is promoted to pregnant and breastfeeding women; strives to increase breastfeeding rates and duration of breastfeeding amongst WIC eligible clients in the district. Assesses and counsels mothers with complex breastfeeding situations; provides breastfeeding support and follow up; refers mothers to community resources and encourages attendance in breastfeeding education classes. Issues breast pumps and breastfeeding supplies/accessories when appropriate and documents all information as required. Maintains a breastfeeding friendly environment. Participates in continuing breastfeeding education. May serve as the District Breastfeeding Coordinator: coordinates Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program and supervises Breastfeeding Peer Counselors; provides technical supervision to District WIC staff regarding breastfeeding initiatives.

Administrative Support - Participates in other activities of the Nutrition Program and the Health Department, including program planning, staff meetings, orientation of new staff, and provision of in-service programs. Provides reports to WIC Coordinator as requested; handles client records and other confidential information with care, according to established procedures and HIPAA policy. Responsible for maintaining clinic functions as needed, including but not limited to reminder phone calls, missed appointment phone calls and letters, inventory, completing the failure to pick up benefit list, etc.

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

• Comprehensive knowledge of principles and practices of nutrition and dietetics and its relationship to public health and regulations/standards for the program
• Knowledge of nutrition principles and an ability to make appropriate nutritional assessments for all age groups, including women, infants and children; ability to obtain, interpret, and evaluate data to describe population served and outcomes of nutrition intervention
• Strong communication, organizational and planning skills; ability to communicate effectively with patients and staff members individually and in group settings
• Ability to respond to public inquiry regarding the WIC program
• Must meet requirement for use of title Dietitian/Nutritionist as authorized by Code of VA 54.1 - 2731
  

Additional Considerations

• Registered Dietitian preferred
• Prior public health experience and/or experience with WIC program preferred
• Preferred Bilingual in Spanish/English.

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.