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Public Health Nutritionist II/III - Bilingual Preferred

County of Ventura
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YOUR FUTURE EMPLOYER: The Ventura County Public Health Department is an accredited public health organization that presents dynamic and exciting career opportunities. In our current open positions, you will have the opportunity to gain a mixture of clinical and community nutrition intervention experiences to become a well-rounded professional. Additionally, our offices and assignment locations are just minutes from the California coastline and a short drive to the mountains. 


WHO WE WANT: We are looking for two (2) compassionate and empathetic individuals to work with families with a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. The ideal candidate can easily establish rapport with people will be willing to interact with families with infants and/or small children on a regular basis and be able to provide appropriate nutrition care to individuals with complex medical conditions. Bilingual skills are strongly desirable. 
 


WHAT YOU WILL DO: Under general supervision, you will oversee or provide nutrition and dietary education to individuals and groups, assessment and counseling to clients. You will also develop and implement nutrition education plans, counsel high risk participants, develop and teach education classes, and train and supervise paraprofessional staff. Finally, you will provide nutrition expertise to assigned program(s), supervise nutrition operations, provide breast feeding education and support, and perform related duties as assigned.


OUR CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES: There are currently 2 regular, full-time vacant positions in the Public Health Department. One vacancy in the Special Supplemental Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) and the other vacancy shared by the Children’s Medical Services (CMS) and Community Health Nursing (CHN) programs. In these positions:

WIC: You may have the opportunity to oversee staff and or WIC site operations.

CMS/CHN: You will provide consulting and counseling to clients and families in California Children’s Services (CCS), as it relates to the CCS eligible medical condition and the nutritional needs of the client. You will also coordinate changes with client’s physician, as needed.

PAYROLL TITLES AND APPROXIMATE SALARIES:
Public Health Nutritionist II: $2,245.08 - $3,209.62 biweekly
Public Health Nutritionist III: $2,471.11 - $3,637.06 biweekly

EDUCATIONAL/BILINGUAL INCENTIVE:  Incumbents may be eligible to receive an educational incentive of either 2.5%, for an associate degree, 3.5%, for a bachelor's degree, or 5% for a master's degree that is not required to work in the classification. Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive pay depending upon operational needs and certification skills.    
 

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Health Care Agency - Public Health

Public Health Nutritionist II and III are represented by the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) and are not eligible for overtime compensation.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, and Extra-Help vacancies. 

NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, incumbent may be promoted to the higher level without further examination upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.


TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
Opening Date: April 8, 2024
Closing Date: Continuous

 

 

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

Public Health Nutritionist II:
 

  • Plans, arranges and conducts a nutrition education program in the promotion of positive health for women, infants, children, young adults, clients with a physical disability and high-risk clients;
  • Conducts diet assessment for clients; monitors client’s health status as it relates to nutrition; counsels clients; coordinates changes with client’s physician, as needed; approves special formulas or other dietary needs;
  • Collaborates and partners with staff in CHN to support case management of Maternal Child Adolescent health population by supporting families with their nutritional and breastfeeding needs;
  • Determines participants’ eligibility for program services by reviewing applications, nutrition questionnaires, and medical documents; explains ineligibility to participants.
  • Implements State mandates and policies;
  • Counsels participants; and makes referrals to other professional workers and other community resources, as necessary;
  • Provides consultation and in-service education concerning dietary needs of various patient and population groups, anthropometric measurement and BMI, food value and food preparation to professional staff of health and social agencies;
  • Develops group education programs to aid patients and their families in the use of modified diets for specific, chronic diseases, in cooperation with other agencies and the medical profession; conducts training classes;
  • Conducts studies and surveys relating to nutritional status, dietary patterns and food needs of selected population groups;
  • Reviews, recommends, and develops materials on nutrition and related topics such as pamphlets, textbooks, audio- visual material for professional and lay individuals or groups and for mass media channels;
  • Supervises and evaluates paraprofessional staff; resolves conflicts among patients and staff.;
  • Trains staff in nutrition and requirements of the WIC, CMS and/or CHN programs;
  • Performs any assignment related to nutrition operations to ensure work is completed and clients receive timely services;
  • Performs administrative duties and special projects as assigned.
  • Works within a multidisciplinary team that includes, but is not limited to, community health workers, public health nurses, primary care physicians, social workers, and physical and occupational therapists
  • Drives between various clinical sites in Ventura County to support case management efforts
  • Performs other duties as assigned

In addition to the above duties, the Public Health Nutritionist III also performs the following:
 

  • CMS/CHN: Assumes ultimate responsibility for all CMS and CHN nutrition operations in each respective  program.
  • WIC: Assumes ultimate responsibility for all WIC services provided at assigned WIC site.
  • Hires, supervises, trains, and evaluates staff.
  • Collaborates with the state and external agency stakeholders to advance goals of the CMS and CHN or WIC programs.
  • Supports grant activities that support the clients of both the CMS and CHN or WIC programs.

 

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING and EXPERIENCE:

Public Health Nutritionist II: Possession of a bachelor's degree in nutrition and/or dietetics from an accredited college or university, PLUS at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to a Public Health Nutritionist I with the County of Ventura, PLUS current registration as a Registered Dietitian (RD) with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 

Public Health Nutritionist III: Possession of a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and/or dietetics from an accredited college or university, PLUS at least two (2) years of experience equivalent to a Public Health Nutritionist I with the County of Ventura, PLUS current registration (RD) with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Where required, Continuing Education Units (CEU) in compliance with requirements of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics are mandatory conditions of employment.
  • Live Scan clearance prior to date of hire.
  • Requires travel to various sites throughout Ventura County.
  • Must be able to possess and maintain a California Driver's License by first date of hire.

DESIRED:

  • Bilingual skills (English/Spanish)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of: principles, techniques and practices of nutrition; CMS and CHN or WIC program rules and regulations; normal and therapeutic nutrition to public health; methods and techniques used in nutrition investigations and dietary studies; methods of nutrition and dietary assessments; educational methods; community health and welfare organizations and resources and current social and economic problems pertaining to public health nutrition; the principles and practices of effective supervision; counseling techniques; community resources and services; and standard office software.

Comprehensive ability to: apply to public health the principles, techniques, and practices of nutrition; analyze menus and diets for nutritional adequacy and therapeutic value; learn, interpret, and apply program rules and regulations; perform diet analyses; learn nutritional habits or cultural needs of program participants; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in work; establish rapport with and motivate individuals from diverse backgrounds; supervise and evaluate subordinate employees; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; communicate effectively in a written and oral manner and conduct group presentations; apply the educational methods appropriate for all age groups; maintain client confidentiality; safely drive a vehicle.

Working skill in: the operation of a variety of office equipment; input and information retrieval from State computer system.

Supplemental Information:
Work is primarily performed in an office, clinic, and/or field environment.