Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

The South Dakota Department of Health is seeking a Registered Dietitian/Licensed Nutritionist (RD/LN) in the Office of Family Nutrition Services (OFNS). This role supports the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Food Program in the west region of the state.

Responsibilities include participant case management, approving special formula requests, consulting with healthcare providers, and conducting quality assurance reviews for high-risk nutrition cases. Travel for meetings and on-site visits to maintain caseloads will be required.

• determine participant eligibility, including identity, income, residency, categorical and nutritional risk;
• provide nutrition support and education;
• conduct nutrition education and health assessments;
• provide breastfeeding education and support;
• link clients to appropriate health and social resources;
• offer nutrition-related technical assistance to team members;
• deliver nutrition education in community settings;
• collaborate on setting nutrition, outreach, and breastfeeding goals for the population served;
• provide maternal and child health services, including developmental screenings, infant safe sleep education, and promotion of immunizations, oral health, and other public health initiatives;
• build and maintain collaborative relationships with community partners and providers to enhance referrals and explore innovative partnership opportunities.

Requirements include a Master's degree in human nutrition, public health nutrition, clinical nutrition, nutrition education, community education, or foods and nutrition, and licensure as a Nutritionist in South Dakota or eligibility for licensure within one year of employment.

Must be licensed as a Nutritionist in South Dakota or eligible for licensure within one year of employment.

Master's degree required in human nutrition, public health nutrition, clinical nutrition, nutrition education, community education or foods and nutrition. Dietetic internship or similar Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics approval required. Must be a Registered Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) or obtain registration within 365 days of hire.

• motivational interviewing skills;
• principles and practices of food and nutrition sciences;
• breastfeeding education;
• infant/child developmental milestones.

• motivate participants to make decisions/goals to improve their nutritional status;
• provide nutrition and health information effectively one-to-one and in group settings; virtual settings (zoom, teams, telemedicine); phone and text; and/or online;
• share education at the client's level of understanding;
• prioritize and facilitate referrals within the context of multiple and complicated participant needs;
• apply federal and state regulations; policies and procedures in the functions of the position;
• work both autonomously and in a team environment;
• communicate effectively;
• demonstrate cultural competency when working with socioeconomically and culturally diverse populations;
• recognize and facilitate opportunities for outreach, marketing, and partnership building;
• communicate effectively with interpreters either in-person, by phone, or during virtual service delivery;
• multitask, prioritize complex situations and adapt to quickly shifting priorities.

The State of South Dakota offers a range of benefits, including $0 premium employee health insurance option, eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits.

The State of South Dakota is an Equal Opportunity Employer.