Public Health Nutritionist

Performs under the direct supervision of the Nutrition Coordinator, provides basic nutrition education to participants and their families, and certifies participants for specific public health program benefits. Performs a range of administrative functions required to ensure efficient program operation.

Our core values—
Resilience
, Excellence
,
Accountability
, Customer Service
, and Honesty
—are the foundation of our work and the standard by which we operate. As a member of our team, you are expected to demonstrate these values in every aspect of your role. This means delivering high-quality work, taking responsibility for your actions, providing exceptional service, and maintaining integrity in all interactions. Your commitment to these principles is essential to fostering a positive workplace culture and ensuring the success of our organization and the community we serve.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

This position will serve in the Nutrition Services Division of the Onslow County Health Department.
Regular working hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00am until 5:00pm in person.

Essential Functions

• Conduct comprehensive nutrition assessments, evaluate nutritional status, determine eligibility, prescribe food packages, and develop individualized care plans for WIC participants.

• Educate participants and families in individual and/or group settings on nutrition topics, including but not limited to growth and development, good eating habits, physical activity, breastfeeding support, and positive behavior changes.

• Create nutrition education and training plans, which include lesson plans, group classes, online modules, and associated materials for participants and staff.

• Communicate participants’ nutrition status and additional information to healthcare providers as appropriate.

• Develop effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.

• Attend community outreach events and provide in-service training to increase program awareness

• Perform various administrative duties related to public health nutrition programs.

• May oversee daily operations or a small or limited nutrition program.

• Maintains professional growth and development through the completion of required departmental competencies.

• Perform assigned functions as a Disaster Ready Team (DRT) member, as assigned

• Other related programmatic assignments as determined by management.

Core Competencies

Communication Skills

• Fosters communication. building trust, engaging in active listening, conducting in-person and virtual meetings, considering language and accessibility needs, being clear and transparent

• Communicates information to influence behavior and improve health.

• Assess the literacy, communication needs, and preferences of internal and external audiences

• Seeks input from internal and external audiences, including populations served, coworkers, chambers of commerce, faith-based organizations, schools, social services organizations, health care providers, and community-based organizations

Data Analytics and Assessment Skills

• Analyzes health and nutrition histories based on lifecycle stage. Evaluates the impact of the parent/child feeding dynamic on nutritional status, growth, and development

• Uses critical thinking and knowledge of high-risk indicators to assess participants

• Uses appropriate participant-centered counseling techniques for high-risk participants to assist in setting specific behavioral goals, and actions to improve identified medical and nutritional risks

• Applies current evidence-based information to the education and counseling of children served by WIC feeding dynamics on nutritional status, growth, and development

Public Health Sciences Skills

• Applying, planning, managing, and evaluating techniques to public health nutrition programs and/or individual client needs and developing and documenting appropriate high risk care plans with high-risk participants

• Assess…