PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST - 64041660

Requisition No: 842447 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST - 64041660

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64041660 

Salary:  $1,892.00 Biweekly 

Posting Closing Date: 01/05/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Job Posting Category:  Open Competitive

Your Specific Responsibilities:

This is a Career Service position as a Public Health Nutritionist with the Department of Health in Charlotte County (DOH-Charlotte).  Employee plans and provides comprehensive nutrition care and education services within the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in health clinics and other community settings.  Work is performed under the supervision of the Senior Public Health Nutritionist Supervisor.  The incumbent may also be tasked to determine eligibility, take anthropometric measurements, provide a finger stick for hemoglobin testing, and complete State Office required reports. The incumbent is expected to work with a high degree of independence and must be relied upon to maintain patient confidentiality and adhere to HIPPA guidelines, while providing excellent customer service.  Work hours may be adjusted to accommodate early and/or evening appointments.

Nutrition Counseling and Clinic Services:

• Assesses nutritional and dietary needs of high risk and medically high-risk clients in the community.  Provides nutritional care, management, and education for high-risk clients in primary care clinics.  Reviews medical data, determines nutritional care needs, develops plan of care.  Provides individual and group nutritional counseling for the client population.  Certifies eligible clients for the WIC Program and provides or arranges for required follow-ups.  Works with Breastfeeding Coordinator to organize, promote, and support breastfeeding for WIC clients. Documents client contacts and services in appropriate records
• Provides expert consultation and technical assistance to health care professionals and health center staff.  Works with health care team to ensure that comprehensive nutritional care is provided for clients. Assists in providing field experience for nutrition students and interns.  Participates in staff meetings, in-service training, and other staff development activities.  Provides continuing education and consultation for WIC staff, CHD staff and community agencies or organizations
• Provides excellent customer service. Promptly answers the telephone, schedules client appointments, re-schedules and/or follows up missed appointments by telephone or in person.
• As needed, instructs WIC participants, parent/guardian in the co-caretaker/proxy procedures, appointments scheduling and certification period(s). Completes and/or updates WIC program verification of certification/identification (VOC/ID) cards. Instructs participant, parent/guardian, and co-caretaker/proxy the redemption process of WIC program food instruments and notifies participant of their rights and responsibilities as a WIC program participant.
• As needed, evaluates program eligibility status of each WIC participant to ensure a valid EBT issuance and/or formula issuance can be performed. Issues WIC program EBT cards and/or formulas in accordance with procedures outlined in DHM 150-24 and the WIC System Guide.
• Offers the opportunity for voter registration to each eligible participant at certification. 
• Performs and records accurate measurements (heights/lengths, weights, and hemoglobin), as needed, for certification, mid-year certification, or follow-up.  Uses CDC approved equipment correctly.

Other:

• Fosters a positive environment for promoting breastfeeding as the normal and preferred method of infant feeding.
• Refers WIC clients to WIC breastfeeding staff and other community breastfeeding support systems.
• Completes all State Office required reports, documentation requirements, requests, and assignments correctly and within needed time frames. 
• Accurately and promptly completes all administrative forms, including but not limited to timesheets, employee activity reports (EARS), and travel forms. 
• Participates in quarterly WIC Quality Assurance monitoring using monitoring tools.
• Actively participates and/or leads quality improvement or process improvement initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Statutes and Rules and Regulations that pertain to the WIC program
• Knowledge of principles, practices & office procedures
• Knowledge of correct spelling, punctuation & grammar usage
• Knowledge of standard business formats & styles for letters & business forms
• Knowledge of theories & concepts of preventive health care, current science & practice of nutrition
• Knowledge of prenatal, breastfeeding, postpartum, infant and children nutrition
• Knowledge of breastfeeding benefits and ability to promote and educate on it
• Knowledge of the methods of data collection
• Knowledge of planning principles & techniques
• Skill in operating a personal computer
• Ability to provide nutrition education for individuals and groups
• Ability to assess nutritional status and develop basic nutrition plans
• Ability to teach and develop or select education materials
• Ability to operate general office equipment
• Ability to train others and deal effectively with a variety of people
• Ability to follow office procedures and practices
• Ability to organize and maintain filing systems
• Ability to handle telephone calls in a courteous and effective manner
• Ability to plan, organize & coordinate work assignments & communicate effectively verbally & in writing
• Ability to establish & maintain effective working relationship with others
• Ability to understand, interpret & apply applicable rules, regulations, polices & procedures
• Ability to prioritize individual workload, prepare reports & maintain records
• Ability to frequently bend, kneel, reach, and sit or stand for long periods of time
• Ability to frequently use telephone, computer, copier, and small hand tools
• Ability to work with occasional loud noises
• Ability to follow instructions
• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds as needed
• Ability to review data for accuracy & completeness
• Ability to work independently or with minimal supervision
• Ability to work indoors with occasional temperature changes

Qualifications:

• Must have an active Nutritionist License (LDN) in the State of Florida
• Must have a valid driver's license, if out of state a valid, Florida driver's license is required within 30 days of hire
• Must be willing and able to perform hemoglobin testing on clients
• Experience in a Women, Infants and Children (WIC) office is preferred

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:

Port Charlotte, 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.

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.