PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST - 64049870

Requisition No: 865771 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST - 64049870

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64049870 

Salary:  $51,430.82 

Posting Closing Date: 12/07/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST - 64049870

Pending Reclassification 

This is a very responsible, Public Health Nutritionist position with the Women’s, Infants and Children (WIC) Program stationed in the Sebring WIC office of the Florida Department of Health in Highlands County. This position will also be required to travel to the Lake Placid and Avon Park offices. Provides nutrition education to WIC clients and provides excellent customer service, phone etiquette and complaint management. 

Provides nutrition assessment and counseling to WIC participants.  Determines nutrition risk/eligibility criteria for applicants.  Gives correct food package per client’s needs.  Prepares high risks plans in the Subjective, Objective, Assessment Plan SOAP) format.  Complies with WIC policies and procedures that all documents must be typed in the FL-WiSE computer system.

Performs Height, Weight, Finger Sticks and/or Non-Invasive bloodwork procedures as needed. As well as, cleaning the lab and Hemacue machine at the end of the day as needed.  Follows policies and procedures for collection, entry and management of data as well as the operation of computer terminals and printers per the WIC manual and HRSM 150-24 as well as the FL-WiSE Clinic Manual.

Coordinates nutrition education services for assigned clients and makes referrals for appropriate services. Completes High risk care plan monthly by the end of each month. Completes No Show report monthly by the end of each month. Completes Clients Eligible for benefits but no appointments Report Quarterly before or by the end of each quarter.

Participates in at least two community outreach events and/or community presentations per one year rating period to include active participation such as planning and/or presenting. Each event and/or presentation must include programmatic information and document outreach in outreach activity log that is given to Outreach Coordinator and supervisor by the 5th of the month the outreach was performed.

This position also collaborates with community agencies, health care providers, WIC vendors, and Health Department staff to conduct WIC program operations.  Establishing relevant policy and procedures,  developing nutrition education curriculum, interviewing WIC clients to perform nutritional assessment screenings for medical high risk, high risk and low risk clients, analyzing medical and anthropometric data to determine nutritional risk eligibility; developing client nutritional care plans and prescribing food packages; documenting client medical record, monitoring accuracy of growth grids by staff, providing individual nutritional counseling and education.  Coordinating and integrating the WIC program services with other health services to ensure maximum participation from eligible residents, referring clients and families, as needed, to health and social service agencies, as well as conducting community outreach which may include nights and weekends.

Promote a culture of organizational continuous quality improvement (CQM) Expectation: Develop, implement, and sustain a quality improvement processes throughout organization and programs to continuity of quality operations. Evidence: Participate in at least two departmental CQM projects which have linkage to the Florida Department of Health Strategic Plan and Public Health Accreditation sustainability. Documented in WIC staff meeting minutes and/or minutes from attended community meetings such as Healthy Start Coalition.

Prepares records and reports, summarizes, and analyzes statistics of WIC program services, and activities at regular intervals.  Supply and inventory requisitions and reports are submitted monthly.

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 communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to learn and navigate FL WiSE computer application.
• 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.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• 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 in accordance with Chapter 468.

• The incumbent must possess a valid Florida Dietitian/Nutrition License. 

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.

Incumbent must possess a valid Florida Driver’s License.

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. 

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. 

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.