Clinton County

Jurisdictional Class: Competitive

Adopted: June 15, 2006

Revised: November 10, 2022

PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This position involves responsibility for assessing, implementing, and integrating the nutritional components of individuals diagnosed with or at risk for chronic disease. This position involves responsibility for implementing nutritional services within the community. The incumbent is actively involved in assisting in the planning, development, provision, and evaluation of nutritional programs and services designed to prevent disease and improve the health of individuals, families and communities. The position involves assessment of nutritional needs and food patterns of clients, planning for, and directing for the provision of food and counseling appropriate to the individual’s physical, medical, and emotional needs, and providing nutrition education and counseling to adequately meet their regular and therapeutic needs. The work is performed under the general supervision of the Health Planning and Promotion

Unit Director with leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the professional nutrition details of the job. Supervision may be exercised over the work of other subordinate staff involved with nutritional aspects of the program. The incumbent does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: (Illustrative only)

Conducts community outreach, screening, education, and referrals to individuals diagnosed with or at risk for chronic disease;

Assesses nutritional need of clients by evaluating intake and comparing against recommended intakes and assigns a food plan based on these needs;

Provides for the nutritional needs of clients as affected by medical regimens, drug therapy or physical limitation;

Provides case management and care coordination for nutrition care for nutritionally and mentally high risk and chronically ill individuals in home and other agency programs;

Develops dietary plan for providing nutritional care to clients by conducting a nutritional assessment through diet histories, anthropometric values, laboratory values, and socio-economic data;

Provides nutrition counseling to clients and clients families on nutritional needs and dietary modifications;

Refers patients to appropriate community resources and provides expert assistance on nutrition care to other healthcare providers within the agency;

Coordinates dietary care with services provided by others;

Maintains a working relationship with community agencies, Public Health Nursing, and area medical offices;

Conducts education for providers on nutrition protocols and trains professionals on various methods of nutrition management of disease;

Works with agencies, physician’s offices, and hospitals to promote continuity of care between public health and other providers;

May function as a Qualified Nutritionist (QN) as required by Federal and State mandate to determine health risks and to conduct WIC appointments;

May provide specific dietary, health, and food package information within WIC maternal and child population;

Conducts individual and group counseling on health nutrition specific to the participants needs;

Advises clients, clients’ families, and staff on available community resources in foods, nutrition, and other needs;

Assists in selecting and developing nutrition resources and nutrition guidance materials for clients and professionals;

Public Health Nutritionist

Assists in the development and upkeep of protocols and agency policies for nutrition care;

Participates in State, regional, and local programs to keep abreast of new developments in the field of nutrition;

Maintains records in accordance with Federal and State agency requirements;

Prepares records and reports including expenditures relating to nutrition activities;

Plans and evaluates methods and materials used in nutrition education aspects of the program appropriate to the educational level and cultural needs of clients.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices related to nutrition including nutritional and dietary assessment and planning;

Thorough knowledge of the relationship of nutrient intake to health and to restorative and rehabilitative treatment;

Thorough knowledge of how various disease states and medical regimens alter nutrient needs;

Thorough knowledge of processes involved in menu planning, marketing and food preparation and ability to advise on organizing and directing these processes effectively, efficiently, and economically;

Good knowledge of community resources;

Knowledge of presentation techniques;

Ability to apply scientific information to develop nutrition care plans;

Ability to document and interpret medical information;

Ability to effectively counsel and communicate nutrition recommendations;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, and public agencies;

Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written instructions;

Ability to speak clearly and effectively to individuals and to groups.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Either:

(a) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a

Bachelor’s Degree in Nutritional Sciences, Community Nutrition, Clinical or Human Nutrition, Dietetics,

Foods and Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, or closely related field and six (6) months of experience providing nutrition services in a clinic, healthcare, or public health setting; or

(b) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a

Bachelor’s Degree with major studies in food and nutrition and completion of a didactic program in

Dietetics as approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and six (6) months of experience providing nutrition services in a clinic, healthcare, or public health setting.

NOTE: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of

Education. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Eligibility for credentialing as a New York State Certified Dietitian/

Nutritionist and be eligible to be a Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with the Academy of

Nutrition and Dietetics at time of application; possession of Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian

Nutritionist credentials at time of appointment and obtainment of New York State Certified

Dietitian/Nutritionist status within one (1) year of appointment.

Public Health Nutritionist

Certain assignments made to employees in this class will require reasonable access to transportation to meet field work requirements made in the ordinary course of business in a timely and efficient manner.

Qualifications are regulated by Part 11 of the State Sanitary Code (10 NYCRR).

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $57,210.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person