SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST - 64043663

Requisition No: 813867 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST - 64043663

Position Number: 64043663 

Salary:  $53,882.95-$58,240.00 annually 

Posting Closing Date: 05/10/2024 

Job posting category (Open Competitive)

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This is a professional position in the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). This position will report directly to the WIC Director. Licensure as a Dietitian in the State of Florida is required for this position.  Primary duties are to provide nutrition assessment including the gathering of anthropometric and hematological data and provide nutrition and breastfeeding counseling to clients; assistance and guidance to the clerical and technical support staff of the WIC program and other providers involved in the care and on the provision of services to WIC clients.  Duties also may include assisting in the development of Walton County WIC nutrition education materials for client distribution. Duties will be performed at the main clinic site or any other WIC satellite clinic. The person in this position must demonstrate good communication skills, professional ability to work as a team and independently with clients and a high degree of expertise in the educational and training processes. Will be tasked to support and promote excellent Customer Service. Compliance with all standards associated with this position is required, along with adherence to security, integrity, and confidentiality regulations, policies and procedures related to information under the direct control of this position. The incumbent in this position is responsible for the integrity and confidentiality of data sets under his/her control.

Certifies participants for WIC in accordance with federal requirements and Florida Department of Health WIC policies and guidelines.  Accurately determines a nutritional/health risk for certification through individual nutrition assessments and evaluations of health data obtained.  Provides appropriate WIC food packages to clients based on individually assessed information and current rules in place.    Documents all utilizing the SOAP method of Problem Oriented Recording in Florida WiSE.  Provides professional nutrition counseling and follow up to clients in accordance with established care plan, nutrition education and breastfeeding promotion requirements in DHM 150-24.      

Participates in VENA (Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment) principles that include critical thinking, open-ended questions, readiness for change and client centered goal setting.

 Provides breastfeeding support, equipment, and information.  Promotes breastfeeding as the normal and preferred method of infant feeding in WIC clinics, support groups, breastfeeding classes and other locations as necessary. Provides basic breastfeeding information and assists in teaching clients the use of breastfeeding equipment, ie. electric and manual pumps.  Will participate with monthly WIC and community breastfeeding classes and promotion; to include WIC staff and WIC peer counselors as time is allotted to help with breastfeeding participation, breastfeeding education and breastfeeding rates for Walton County.

Will provide a structured interaction between the professional and client which assists client to identify concerns or needs by addressing social, emotional, behavioral and environmental issues that affect the client’s well-being. Responsible for the receipt of services, facilitating care and minimizing other obstacles to full participation in prenatal, breastfeeding, child and infant care. Documents all activities appropriately in the FL WiSE System and codes all services accurately into the FL WiSE System adhering to DHM 150-24 and WIC standards and guidelines.

Responsible to work in a laboratory to obtain anthropometric and hematological data. Performs and records accurate measurements (heights/lengths and weights) as needed for certification or follow-up.  Uses CDC approved equipment correctly. Will obtain hemoglobin’s as needed (Either invasive or non-invasive where appropriate). Check client’s immunization status in FL Shots and accurately inputs client information into the FL WiSE system. Provides nutrition assessment and appropriate nutrition counseling to medically high-risk clients, high risk clients and low risk clients.

 Participates in monitoring QI/QA activities to assure compliance with program guidelines, objectives and regulations. Acts as a role-model to co-workers and other DOH staff.  Will help with training of all new CPA staff and breastfeeding staff upon hire for preparation of counseling duties.

Completes all required reports, documentation requirements, requests and assignments correctly and within needed time frames.  Functions as a team leader for other positions in the absence of supervisor.  Will be cross trained and expected to foster teamwork and assist staff when clinic staffing is short.  Attends meetings and participates in Walton CHD committees as needed.  Performs other duties as assigned.  

 Employee is responsible for processing invoices for exempt infant formula and WIC-eligible nutritional’s to standards of which comply with Section 215.422, Florida Statutes and Chapter 691-24, Florida Administrative Code.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Job duties require the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Job responsibilities require individual development of priorities for effective performance of duties, including re-prioritization in response to changes in circumstances.

Employees are expected to devise effective solutions to situations encountered based on the general goals and objectives of the function.

Duties require the compilation, interpretation and reporting of information.

Ability to take accurate height/length and weight measurements as well as perform hemoglobin testing for client services.

Knowledge of nutritional needs of pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women; infants; and children under the age of 5.

Basic computer skills; operate within FL WiSE for daily clinic function.

Ability to work with a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

Ability to counsel clients individually as well as conduct group education classes.

Provide excellent customer service to all internal and external customers.

Effectively communicate basic or non-technical information to coworkers and others.

Ability to lift and maneuver lab equipment, supplies and WIC infant formula/nutritional’s up to twenty-five pounds in weight.

Qualifications:

Licensure as a Dietitian in the State of Florida; eligible for License as a Dietitian in the State of Florida

Valid Driver’s License

Preferred CLC License within two years of position

Preferred to possess bilingual interpretation skills

Please be advised:

• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• The successful candidate must be able to pass a Level II Background screening.
• If you are claiming Veteran's Preference, you must attach the correct supporting documentation to be considered (DD214). 
• If you are claiming Right to First Interview, you must attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying to be considered. 

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

 Where You Will Work:

DeFuniak Springs, Santa Rosa Beach

 The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.    

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.