What are the responsibilities and job description for the Public Health Nutritionist position at DC Department of Human Resources?
We are excited in your interest to join DC Health (The District of Columbia Department of Health), a nationally accredited public health department (https://phaboard.org/) Where our Vision is for Washington, D.C. to be the healthiest city in America. We believe that all people - no matter their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, education level, age, language, religion, ability, or geographic location - should have the opportunity to live healthy lives.
DC Health is focused on providing the essential public health services (10 Essential Public Health Services) necessary to protect and promote the health of all people in all communities and remove systemic and structural barriers that have resulted in health inequities through the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (PH Core Competencies.)
Role
Bring your professional career to Washington, D.C., the most dynamic and diverse city in the country. Join us as you are appreciated, developed, and rewarded and play a vital role in DC Health achieving our Strategic Priorities and Values:
We look forward to reviewing your candidacy, be well and good luck!
Job Summary
This position is located in the Department of Health (DC Health), Community Health Administration (CHA), Nutrition and Physical Fitness Bureau (NPFB). CHA promotes healthy behaviors and healthy environments to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities in the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the district. CHA focuses on population health strategies to prevent and control cancer, chronic disease, and vaccine preventable diseases; promote nutrition and physical fitness; ensure access to quality health care services; and support the health and well-being of families across the lifespan. CHA’s approach targets the behavioral, clinical, and social determinants of health through evidence-based programs, policy, and systems change. The Nutrition and Physical Fitness Bureau administers multiple federal and local healthy food access initiatives and programs including WIC, Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, SNAP-Ed, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Produce Incentive Initiatives, Healthy Corner Store Initiatives, Home Delivered Meals, and Healthy Community Pop-Up Markets.
WIC’s mission is to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age five, who are at nutrition risk, by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. Incumbent serves as a public health nutritionist for the District of Columbia Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) State Agency with responsibility for supporting all aspects of nutrition services performed by a variety of Local Agency WIC staff including participant screening and assessment, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, health promotion, food package prescriptions, and health care referrals.
Major Duties And Responsibilities
Assists in coordinating assessment of nutrition and diet related health problems and resources to determine current needs in the target population. Provides or arranges for technical assistance to internal and external DCH personnel in the areas of nutrition and education theory and techniques. Assists in the preparation and implementation of the nutrition education component of the WIC Program by providing guidance materials and developing tools to facilitate client education etc. Interprets and transmits current scientific information regarding food, nutrition, diet and health as it relates to target population to professionals, agencies and program participants. Plans, arranges, conducts and evaluates nutritional educational programs for professionals, paraprofessionals and program participants.
Procures and develops educational materials for dissemination to the WIC population. Develops or participates in the development of appropriate research methodology and data analysis and contributes to improvements in existing methods, appropriate to the area of study. Analyzes and drafts interpretive reports of program statistics, including nutrition education reports, surveillance data and computer-generated reports that may reflect and impact educational needs that identify nutritional trends or indicate interventions needed in certain program areas. Assists in monitoring DCH nutrition education and certification techniques and procedures, including monitoring of nutrition surveillance data collection procedures and provides technical assistance as necessary. Assists in the coordination District activities related to educational and program initiatives and participates in other projects related to improvement of service delivery. Investigates the usage of microcomputers to increase program efficiency and effectiveness in the area of nutrition diet assessment and data analysis.
Qualifications And Education
Bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree in the fields of dietetics, food, nutrition, food service management, institution management, or related science. The educational program must have been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (external link) (ACEND), or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. For dietitian positions, the curriculum must have been in accordance with the qualifying requirements established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) (external link) (formerly American Dietetic Association (external link) (ADA) prior to January 1, 2012) in effect at the time of graduation. OR
Completion of a coordinated undergraduate program, internship, or other clinical component approved by AND (formerly ADA) for dietitians or nutritionists. OR
Professional registration as a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least one year (1) of the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression.
A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics, nutrition science, public health or equivalent degree, and certification as a Registered Dietician Nutritionist, are strongly preferred for the incumbent of this position.
Licensures, Certifications, And Other Requirements
None required.
Working Conditions/Environment
The incumbent must be able to carry out official duties in a variety of settings and conditions. Routine work will occur primarily in an office setting.
Other Significant Facts
Tour of Duty: Monday - Friday 8:15am - 4:45pm
Area of Consideration: Open to the Public
Promotion Potential: No Known Promotion Potential
Duration of Appointment: Career Service Term Appointment (13-months)
Pay Plan, Series and Grade: CS-0630-11
Collective Bargaining Unit (Union): This position is in the collective bargaining unit represented by AFGE Local 2978 and you may be required to pay an agency fee (dues) through direct payroll.
Position Designation: This position has been designated as Protection Sensitive. Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or occupying security sensitive positions are subject to the following checks and tests:
DC Health is focused on providing the essential public health services (10 Essential Public Health Services) necessary to protect and promote the health of all people in all communities and remove systemic and structural barriers that have resulted in health inequities through the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (PH Core Competencies.)
Role
Bring your professional career to Washington, D.C., the most dynamic and diverse city in the country. Join us as you are appreciated, developed, and rewarded and play a vital role in DC Health achieving our Strategic Priorities and Values:
We look forward to reviewing your candidacy, be well and good luck!
Job Summary
This position is located in the Department of Health (DC Health), Community Health Administration (CHA), Nutrition and Physical Fitness Bureau (NPFB). CHA promotes healthy behaviors and healthy environments to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities in the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the district. CHA focuses on population health strategies to prevent and control cancer, chronic disease, and vaccine preventable diseases; promote nutrition and physical fitness; ensure access to quality health care services; and support the health and well-being of families across the lifespan. CHA’s approach targets the behavioral, clinical, and social determinants of health through evidence-based programs, policy, and systems change. The Nutrition and Physical Fitness Bureau administers multiple federal and local healthy food access initiatives and programs including WIC, Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, SNAP-Ed, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Produce Incentive Initiatives, Healthy Corner Store Initiatives, Home Delivered Meals, and Healthy Community Pop-Up Markets.
WIC’s mission is to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age five, who are at nutrition risk, by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. Incumbent serves as a public health nutritionist for the District of Columbia Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) State Agency with responsibility for supporting all aspects of nutrition services performed by a variety of Local Agency WIC staff including participant screening and assessment, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, health promotion, food package prescriptions, and health care referrals.
Major Duties And Responsibilities
Assists in coordinating assessment of nutrition and diet related health problems and resources to determine current needs in the target population. Provides or arranges for technical assistance to internal and external DCH personnel in the areas of nutrition and education theory and techniques. Assists in the preparation and implementation of the nutrition education component of the WIC Program by providing guidance materials and developing tools to facilitate client education etc. Interprets and transmits current scientific information regarding food, nutrition, diet and health as it relates to target population to professionals, agencies and program participants. Plans, arranges, conducts and evaluates nutritional educational programs for professionals, paraprofessionals and program participants.
Procures and develops educational materials for dissemination to the WIC population. Develops or participates in the development of appropriate research methodology and data analysis and contributes to improvements in existing methods, appropriate to the area of study. Analyzes and drafts interpretive reports of program statistics, including nutrition education reports, surveillance data and computer-generated reports that may reflect and impact educational needs that identify nutritional trends or indicate interventions needed in certain program areas. Assists in monitoring DCH nutrition education and certification techniques and procedures, including monitoring of nutrition surveillance data collection procedures and provides technical assistance as necessary. Assists in the coordination District activities related to educational and program initiatives and participates in other projects related to improvement of service delivery. Investigates the usage of microcomputers to increase program efficiency and effectiveness in the area of nutrition diet assessment and data analysis.
Qualifications And Education
Bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree in the fields of dietetics, food, nutrition, food service management, institution management, or related science. The educational program must have been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (external link) (ACEND), or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. For dietitian positions, the curriculum must have been in accordance with the qualifying requirements established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) (external link) (formerly American Dietetic Association (external link) (ADA) prior to January 1, 2012) in effect at the time of graduation. OR
Completion of a coordinated undergraduate program, internship, or other clinical component approved by AND (formerly ADA) for dietitians or nutritionists. OR
Professional registration as a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least one year (1) of the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression.
A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics, nutrition science, public health or equivalent degree, and certification as a Registered Dietician Nutritionist, are strongly preferred for the incumbent of this position.
Licensures, Certifications, And Other Requirements
None required.
Working Conditions/Environment
The incumbent must be able to carry out official duties in a variety of settings and conditions. Routine work will occur primarily in an office setting.
Other Significant Facts
Tour of Duty: Monday - Friday 8:15am - 4:45pm
Area of Consideration: Open to the Public
Promotion Potential: No Known Promotion Potential
Duration of Appointment: Career Service Term Appointment (13-months)
Pay Plan, Series and Grade: CS-0630-11
Collective Bargaining Unit (Union): This position is in the collective bargaining unit represented by AFGE Local 2978 and you may be required to pay an agency fee (dues) through direct payroll.
Position Designation: This position has been designated as Protection Sensitive. Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or occupying security sensitive positions are subject to the following checks and tests:
- Criminal background check.
- Traffic record check (as applicable).
- Consumer credit check (as applicable).
- Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test; and
- Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.