SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST SUPV - 64005785

Requisition No: 860189 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST SUPV - 64005785

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64005785 

Salary:  $61,200 - $63,902 annually 

Posting Closing Date: 09/12/2025 

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Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the Florida Department of Health in Polk County.  If you are looking to establish a successful career in Public Health, you have come to the right place.  Many of our innovative and successful health programs are recognized throughout Florida.  We hope you decide to join our team!  Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This position spends the majority of the time engaged in supervisory responsibilities. This includes communicating with, motivating, training, and evaluating employees in addition to planning and directing employees' work. The incumbent has the authority to hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, or discipline subordinate employees or effectively recommend such action. The incumbent will also be required to develop performance expectations, meet with staff regularly to discuss performance, complete performance reviews, maintain vacation and work schedules, ensuring proper coverage, and complete timesheets.

Responsible for the supervision of staff Including appraisals, planning, and directing their work, approving leave, having the authority for hiring, and taking disciplinary action or effectively recommending such actions.

The incumbent is part of a global public health organization and is expected to support the Florida Department of Health in Polk County in its mission to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts and its vision to be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Furthermore, the incumbent is expected to incorporate the agency values of Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Responsiveness and Excellence in all aspects of their work.  

This is a highly responsible public health nutrition position providing services to clients or the community at any site or location in the geographic area covered by the Polk/Hardee WIC Program. The primary work of the position is carrying out WIC Program responsibilities at the Lakeland Central WIC site.  This is the most responsible WIC position at this office, providing supervision, coordinating activities, evaluating services, and implementing improvements designed to improve patient care.

Management Duties:

• Supervision of the WIC program in Lakeland Central.  Supervision of subordinate staff.
• Interviews potential subordinate employees and recommends their hire
• Trains new employees according to local, state, and federal rules and guidelines
• Evaluates employees according to previously determined standards, meeting state-imposed deadlines
• Plans site schedule of subordinate staff.
• Recognizes and rewards high performing employees; disciplines employees as necessary
• Communicates with employees on a regular basis and uses team building skills to motivate and guide the team to improved performance
• Uses time management skills and delegation to stay on track with all assignments and work responsibilities
• Takes and resolves client complaints, ensuring customer satisfaction as much as possible
• Ensures the accurate completion of all inventories, purchasing requirements, and p-card transactions according to local, state, and federal guidelines
• Works closely with health care professionals to provide an integrated approach to nutrition and health care; coordinates nutrition services at the WIC site with other health services.
• Helps to develop quality improvement (QI) tools, participates in quality improvement activities, presents the information to subordinate staff, and makes changes in clinic policies and procedures as appropriate based on QI findings
• Purchasing Card – Assigned Purchasing Card Responsibilities.  This position is responsible for the preparation of purchasing and the approval of purchases.
• Complies with all Department of Health and WIC security and confidentiality rules and requirements
• Information Custodian for the WIC/Nutrition Division.  Serves as the Information Custodian of assigned Information Sets; maintaining the confidentiality of the information in accordance with state and federal statutes, rules, regulations and Department of Health Information Security Policies, Protocols and Procedures, in accordance with Protocol:  Security – 3, V, Sec 1-3
• Serves as the designated staff person in charge of voter registration activities within their clinic site.

Nutrition Education Duties:

• Completes the medical history, nutrition history, and breastfeeding assessment for WIC clients.
• Develops, monitors, evaluates, and revises nutrition care plans for high risk, medially high risk and low risk WIC clients and provides/documents nutrition and breastfeeding counseling according to all local, state and federal guidelines.
• Certifies eligible clients for participation in the WIC program by determining and assigning correct nutrition risk per program policies.
• Assigns/updates client food prescriptions according to program regulations.
• Provides nutrition programs and outreach to health care professionals and members of the community.
• Provides classes and group nutrition education per class lesson plans with appropriate documentation.
• Ensures that clients receive the required number of nutrition education contacts.

Lead Trainer Duties:

• Serves as the lead trainer for all new WIC staff who must complete the “Florida Nutrition Training Guide” (Nutrition Education Series Modules) prior to providing client services
• Assists new WIC staff with any questions or difficulties encountered while completing the nutrition module series
• Maintains documentation of all related paperwork for the entire Polk/Hardee WIC Agency per program policies (including module workbooks, tests, and certificates of completion)
• Submits staff information on monthly NEAR report to WIC Administration by the deadline for those employees who successfully completed the “Florida Nutrition Training Guide” (Nutrition Education Series Modules)
• Trains new WIC staff on all “Nutrition Education Kits” and maintains required documentation for each employee
• Serves as preceptor for interns/students requesting rotations or learning opportunities with Polk/Hardee WIC
• Ensures all necessary paperwork required by DOH and the intern’s/student’s school is completed prior to and/or following the rotation

• Completes administrative forms such as EARs, time sheets, and travel per department policies and required deadlines.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings, in-service trainings, and other staff development activities.
• Completes all mandatory trainings within required time frames.
• This position may serve clients that speak only Spanish, Creole, or other languages.  It may require performance of interpreter duties, if bilingual, or implementation of the Department’s Limited English Proficiency Plan.
• Serves as Building Manager for designated site, carrying out the duties and responsibilities contained in the Department’s Building Manager manual.
• Prompt Payment Compliance:  Complies with and when applicable, monitors compliance with the mandatory requirements in Section 215.422 F.S., and Ch. 3A-24, FAC regarding payment of invoices.
• Performs other assigned duties as requested by supervisor.
• Performs other duties as required, including performance of additional interpreter duties, consistent with skill level, and as needed.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the science and current practice of nutrition or dietetics
• Knowledge of the concepts and theories of nutrition or dietetics as it relates to growth, development, health or disease
• Knowledge of nutritional and dietary assessment techniques
• Knowledge of the methods of compiling, organizing and analyzing data.
• Ability to develop educational/training plans and supporting materials
• Ability to use various communication channels to provide education/training
• Ability to analyze and interpret anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and dietary data
• Ability to interview and counsel patients
• Ability to plan, organize and evaluate a nutrition program or project
• Ability to supervise people
• Ability to determine work priorities, assign work, and ensure proper completion of work assignments
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Qualifications:

• Dietitians & Nutritionists, Chapter 468, Part X.  
• Licensure as a dietitian/nutritionist (LD/N) with the State of Florida   
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with the major course of study in Public Health Nutrition, Dietetics, Clinical Nutrition, Community Nutrition or Nutritional Science 
• Valid Florida Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment.

Other job-related requirements for this position:

EMERGENCY DUTY:  Incumbent may be required to work before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency.  Emergency duty required of the incumbent includes working in special needs or Red Cross shelters, or performing other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to or threats involving any disaster or threat of disaster, man-made or natural.

CONFIDENTIALITY: Incumbent may have access to records containing Social Security numbers in the performance of their job duties.

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:

Lakeland, FL

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.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.  

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

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). 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. 

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.    

If there are any problems applying online, please call People First Staffing Administration: (877) 562-7287.

Service Center hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., ET. TTY users, call (866) 221-0268.

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.