PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION PROGRAM DIRECTOR - 64001102

Requisition No: 836744 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION PROGRAM DIRECTOR - 64001102

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64001102 

Salary:  $70,000 - $75,000 

Posting Closing Date: 11/10/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

This individual will be responsible for all supervisory duties including, but not limited to, hiring and selection, developing performance plans, conducting performance appraisals, planning, and directing their work, approving leave, and taking disciplinary action as appropriate.  The incumbent, Health Nutrition Program Director, is an employee of the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) Highlands County, representing the agency and its mission and values.  The incumbent is part of the organization and is expected to promote cooperation, courtesy, and teamwork in a diverse environment.  This position will also be required to travel to the Lake Placid or Avon Park offices.

Supervisor

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.

Operations

This is work providing direct services, supervising nutrition and/or one or more nonprofessional staff, and coordinating the Special Supplemental Food Program for women, Infants, and children (WIC) with the Highlands County Health Department (CHD).  Provides nutrition assessment and counseling to WIC participants.  Determines nutrition risk/eligibility criteria for applicants and prepares high risk care plans as needed.  Provides excellent customer service, phone etiquette and complaint management as defined by the Highlands CHD All Staff Standards of Performance Internal Operating Procedure (IOP).

Monitors the WIC Program per specified objectives and/or federal, state, and county rules and regulations.  Plans, promotes, coordinates, implements, and evaluates the WIC program countywide.  Analyzes public health statistics and community needs, to develop nutrition objectives and project priorities.  Assesses the existing objectives and begins new objectives based on identified needs within monetary constraints.  Ensures all program requirements are met.

Prepares and administers the WIC budget, prepared reimbursement documents for county health department trust fund.  Independently orders special formula and complies with the Prompt Compliance Payment Section 215.422, Florida Statutes & Chapter 691-24, Florida Administrative Code; recruits, employs, assigns, and manages WIC program personnel and recommends transfers, promotions, and separation from service, assures ongoing training for employees, plans, and directs work for supervisors, senior nutrition staff and other support staff; assures good communication through regular supervisor and staff meetings.

Assists with the integration of WIC services with other county health department programs and community agencies.  Participates in the formulation of policies and procedures as wee as the process of implementation throughout the county health department.  Ensures compliance with the current FDOH security policies by fulfilling information custodian responsibilities for the assigned data set.

Serves as nutrition advisor for the county and community agencies.  Services on community councils, committees, and collaborates with organizations to represent and support WIC, nutrition, and public health services provided by the department.  Ensures the promotion of WIC and nutrition programs through various public relations activities.  Notifies the public and agencies serving potential WIC clients of significant program changes.  Responsible for initiating outreach activities and ensuring referrals from other social service program are properly addressed.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge:

• 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.

Skills:

• Skill in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and computer navigation.
• Skill in determining nutrition related needs of clients and how to respond to those needs.
• Skill in analyzing and explaining rules, regulations, laws, policies, and standards.

Abilities:

• Ability to use various communication channels to provide education/training to audiences of varying literacy and comprehension levels.
• Ability to perform supervisory duties to include, but not limited to recruitment, training, discipline, and timely approval of EARs and timesheets.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to learn and navigate FL WiSE computer application.
• Ability to plan, organize, and evaluate a nutrition program or project.
• Ability to learn and remain in compliance with all Florida department of Health policies and internal operating procedures, Florida Statutes, and WIC Procedure Manual DHM 150-24, while completing job duties.
• Ability to process and handle confidential information with discretion.

Licensure/registration/certification requirements (If applicable, list the appropriate Florida Statute or federal regulation cite):

• Incumbent must possess a Florida Dietitian/Nutritionist License.  Incumbent must possess a valid Florida Driver’s License.
• Incumbent must possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a U.S. accredited University or College in Nutrition Sciences, Community Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, Dietetics, or Public Health Nutrition.

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:

Florida Department of Health – Highlands County

7205 S George Blvd

Sebring, FL 33875

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. 

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. 

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.