Nutritionist - Bilingual (English/Spanish) - Extra-Help
Starting salary up to $39.00/hourly*
As a County of Sonoma Nutritionist, you will have expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment that provides continuous training and education, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are working to better our communities.
The County of Sonoma Department of Health Services is seeking a qualified candidate to fill one temporary, extra-help Nutritionist vacancy in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program. The employment list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help (intermittent) vacancies as they occur during the active status of the list.
Nutritionists work as part of a staff team within the WIC Program and provide services to WIC participants using the Participant-Center Education (PCE) approach. They engage in interactive discussions with WIC participants, determine and document indicators of nutritional need for WIC eligibility, provide nutrition education, referrals, and breastfeeding support to high risk and other WIC participants, prescribe the appropriate WIC food packages, and act as a consultant to individuals concerning a healthy diet. They communicate with community agencies, health care providers, and other Health Services staff regarding the WIC Program and exercise tact, discretion, and courtesy in conducting business with the public and other employees.
The ideal candidate will be a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist skilled in individual and group nutrition counseling, assessments, and evaluations, and have knowledge of the nutritional needs of infants, children, and pregnant and breastfeeding women. They should have the ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse, underserved populations and excel in a fast paced environment.
PLEASE NOTE: This position requires current registration as a Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration, or eligibility for registration. An individual hired into this class must obtain registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration within the six-month probationary period. Basic (conversational) Spanish is required for this position. Applicants who do not indicate they possess this skill will not be considered for this recruitment. An examination will be conducted prior to employment to confirm level of skill in this area.
EXTRA-HELP EMPLOYMENT
Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Temporary, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most employee benefits such as: long-term disability insurance coverage; accrual of vacation; participation in the County retirement program; or eligibility to take promotional examinations. Temporary, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of one calendar year. These employees must be off of work for three months before they can be re-employed on an extra help basis. Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
The employment list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help (intermittent) vacancies as they occur during the active status of the list.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and experience: Any combination of education and/or training which would provide an opportunity to acquire the above knowledge and abilities. A typical way to qualify is: Possession of a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with a major in food, nutrition, dietetics or a closely related field and completion of an internship in a program accredited by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level, including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Registration: Current registration as a Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration or eligibility for registration. Must obtain registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration within the six month probationary period.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Considerable knowledge of: the principles, techniques and practices of sound nutrition and dietary patterns; the educational methods and skills used in training others in the principles of nutrition and the manner in which the principles are applied to various phases of public health programs; the dietary requirements of various age and occupational groups, expectant mothers, and others with specialized food requirements; modern principles and techniques necessary for effective supervision.
Working knowledge of: the analytical and statistical research methods used in nutritional investigation and dietary studies; modern office practices, administration and recordkeeping; current sociological and economic problems pertaining to community health nutrition.
Ability to: apply methods and techniques used in nutrition investigation and dietary studies; plan, organize and conduct training programs on nutrition; supervise and assign the work of others in a manner conducive with effective operations and high morale; establish and maintain rapport with the community, other professionals and other staff; prepare clear and concise reports; analyze situations effective and implement an appropriate course of action.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all your employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application and should be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.