What are the responsibilities and job description for the Nutrition Educator position at Olmsted County, MN?
Recognized as one of the best places to work in Southeast Minnesota for three consecutive years, at Olmsted County every role helps to foster a vibrant community where everyone thrives. Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, driving public service excellence and community well-being.
We don't just offer a job, we offer a career filled with purpose, growth, and fulfillment. Our benefits package ensures your wellbeing, while career advancement opportunities and professional development empower you to reach your full potential.
Join us, and you'll be part of a purpose-driven team where your work truly makes a difference. Together, we build a sustainable, healthy, and welcoming community.
Minimum Qualifications of Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in nutritional sciences or dietetics.
OR
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in health sciences or family and consumer sciences with applicable coursework in nutrition. Documentation required for minimum coursework evaluation as required by Minnesota WIC Program requirements (Download PDF reader).
OR
Registered Nurse licensed by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and two (2) years of experience in a maternal child health or nutrition program.
OR
Nutrition Dietetic Technician, registered (NDTR) registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
Regular and reliable attendance is a necessary component of job/position. Individuals required to use County vehicles and equipment must have a valid driver's license and be free of any major traffic violations for the last three (3) years.
Desirable Qualifications:
Ability to communicate fluently in Spanish or Somali in addition to English.
Nature of Work
Under supervision, provides public health nutrition services to individuals and families enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. Determines eligibility of WIC applicants and conducts health screening and dietary assessments. Provides nutrition counseling and breastfeeding support to improve the health and nutritional status in the WIC population. Applies evidence-based information and research to advance nutrition practices in WIC. Supports a diverse, respectful, and inclusive workplace.
Examples of Work
- Schedules client visits, screens calls, enrolls clients in the WIC program and provides information to clients by phone, email, and text.
- Gathers nutrition information from clients and conducts health screening including height, weight, and hemoglobin.
- Determines eligibility of clients for WIC program.
- Provides nutrition education and breastfeeding support to WIC clients using participant centered counseling.
- Documents nutritional services provided according to established guidelines and adheres to federal and state program regulations.
- Identifies risk factors for a high-risk care plan. Assists with the development of care plans for high-risk cases.
- Supports the department during disease outbreaks and emergency situations that may require non-standard work hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Performs administrative support duties for the WIC program.
- Completes additional tasks as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of normal and therapeutic nutrition throughout the life cycle.
- Knowledge of current and emerging nutrition issues.
- Knowledge of education techniques and principles of human motivation for change.
- Knowledge of the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals.
- Knowledge of blood borne pathogens, universal precautions, and ability to implement them in clinics located in community settings.
- Knowledge of community resources.
- Skill in the use of computers and technology.
- Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
- Skill in conducting health and nutrition screening tests and assessments according to standard procedures.
- Ability to work with a diverse population.
- Ability to work effectively with interpreters.
- Ability to establish and maintain professional working relationships with others.
- Ability to effectively organize and prioritize work.
- Ability to support a quality improvement culture by growing knowledge, identifying performance improvement opportunities, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
Persons with disabilities: the above is a general listing of job duties. Essential and non-essential functions may vary by individual position. Reasonable accommodations may be available for both essential and non-essential job duties.
Physical Demands and Work Environment: In compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the Physical and Environmental Demands:
Function:
24% or Less
25% - 49%
50%-74%
75% or more
Office environment
x
Clinical environment
X
Needle sticks / sharps exposure
x
Human blood, pathogens, body fluids
x
Exposure to hazardous materials, chemicals, toxic or caustic chemicals
X
Sitting
X
Standing, walking, reaching, pulling, crouching, kneeling, stooping, balancing, handling, feeling
X
Repetitive hand movement, typing/data entry
X
Talking, hearing
X
Close vision (near acuity)
X
Distance vision (far acuity), field of vision
x
Color vision, depth perception
X
Accommodation (bring object into sharp focus)
X
Sedentary (exert up to 10 pounds of force)
X
Light effort (exert up to 20 pounds of force)
X
Medium effort (exert up to 50 pounds of force)
X
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Additional Considerations
- This is a Rochester, MN based position and is not remote eligible at this time.
- International relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.
- Applicants for this position must be currently authorized to work in the United States.
- Olmsted County does not sponsor applicants for this position.
Provisional employees are eligible for benefits if employment is projected to be 12 months or longer and work at least 40 hours per pay period.
This document is a brief Summary of Benefits for Olmsted County Employees on the Paid Time Off Program.
Paid Time Off
Employees over .5 FTE accrue Paid Time Off (PTO) based on their length of service as follows:
First year to 5 years of service - accrue up to 23 days
6 to 10 years of service - accrue up to 25 days
11 to 15 years of service - accrue up to 27.5 days
16 to 20 years of service - accrue up to 30 days
21 to 26 years of service - accrue up to 32.5 days
Over 26 years of service - accrue up to 35 days
Employees begin accruing PTO on their first day of work and can use it as soon as accrued with supervisor approval.
Flexible Time Leave
All regular, full-time employees and part-time employees who are scheduled to work at least twenty (20) hours or more per week on an ongoing basis shall receive up to 24 hours (prorated by FTE) of paid FTL at their regular base pay each calendar year.
Commencement of Employment # of FTL Hours
Between January 1 and June 30 24 Hours
Between July 1 and August 31 16 Hours
Between September 1 and November 30 8 Hours
Between December 1 and December 31 0 Hours
Paid Holidays
Olmsted County recognizes the following legal holidays:
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (4 hours when December 24th falls on a Monday – Thursday only), Christmas Day
Employee Health and Insurance Benefits
Health, Dental, Vision, Basic Life, Health Care Spending Account and Dependent Care Spending Account benefits become effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
Health Insurance
The self-insured Olmsted County Employees' Health Plan is administered by Medica. Under the plan, eligible employees and their dependents have access to all providers in the Medica Health Plan Solutions network,
including Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center.
The plan offers a comprehensive preventive care program to help protect the health of employees and their dependents, 80% co-insurance on most services (after deductible) and access to Nice Healthcare, which offers no-cost virtual and in-home appointments, labs, x-rays, and more.
There is a base in-network deductible of $1,500/person, $4,500/family with the opportunity to earn a reward to lower the deductible to $500/person, $1,500/family. The in-network out-of-pocket maximum is $3,000/person, $6,000/family for those who earn the reward.
Coverage is available for employees and their eligible dependents.
The monthly rates for healthcare coverage are as follows:
Health Insurance Rates
Single health coverage monthly cost to the employee is $110.00 per month or $55.00 per pay period. Employee Plus Children monthly cost to the employee is $500 per month or $250 per pay period. Employee Plus One coverage monthly cost to the employee is $546.00 per month or $273.00 per pay period. Family coverage monthly cost to the employee is $690.00 per month or $345 per pay period.
Nice Healthcare
Nice Healthcare is an additional healthcare option for employees on our health plan. The plan includes virtual and in-home care, primary care, convenient medication delivery, lab work and diagnostics, and comprehensive family care. There is no premium to the employee. Coverage is available for employees enrolled in the health plan and their eligible dependents (even if not enrolled in the health plan).
Prescription Drug Plan
The Olmsted County Employees' Health Plan prescription drug benefit is part of the health plan and is administered by Alluma. Covered prescriptions are based on the Alluma Advantage Formulary. The plan contracts
with Express Scripts to provide a national network. This allows members to receive prescriptions conveniently at home, or across the country, for the same co-insurance amount. Prescription co-insurance is 25% or 40%
depending on whether the prescription is formulary or non-formulary, with the opportunity to lower co-insurance through mail order. Prescriptions are subject to minimum and maximum charges. Both retail and mail order
prescriptions apply toward an annual $2,400/person or $4,800/family out of pocket limit.
Dental Insurance
The Olmsted County Dental Plan is self-insured and administered by Delta Dental. Coverage includes Diagnostic & Preventive Services – 100%; Basic Services - 80%; Major Restorative Services - 50%; and Orthodontics - 50%. Lifetime maximum for Orthodontics is $1,500 per eligible dependent child. Diagnostic and Preventive Services do not apply to the yearly individual maximum benefit of $1,500. There is a $50 deductible per family member per year, with a maximum of $150 per family. The deductible does not apply for Diagnostic and Preventive Services.
Coverage is available for employees and their eligible dependents.
Single dental coverage monthly cost to the employee is $14.00 per month. Employee Plus One coverage monthly cost to the employee is $25.00 per month or $12.50 per pay period. Family coverage monthly cost to the employee is $56.00 per month or $28.00 per pay period.
Life Insurance
The County paid Basic Life Plan is group term guaranteed issue life insurance up to two times employee's annual salary rounded to the nearest $1,000 to a maximum of $300,000. Olmsted County pays 100 percent of enrolled dependent coverage costs for the following life benefits:
Spouse: $2,000
Children up to age 26: $1,250
Vision Insurance
Olmsted County offers insurance for vision correction materials through EyeMed. Benefits include discounts on frames, lenses, and contacts. Coverage is available for employees and their eligible dependents.
Voluntary Life Insurance
The cost of employee and spouse Voluntary Life Insurance coverage is determined by age and the amount of coverage. This coverage would be in addition to what employees receive under the Basic Life Plan.
New employees who enroll within 30 days of eligibility may select up to $250,000 in life insurance coverage and up to $50,000 for their spouse without answering any health questions. Employees may apply for additional life insurance in $5,000 increments up to a maximum of $500,000. Spouses may apply for additional life insurance in $5,000 increments up to a maximum of $250,000.
New employees can also elect child life insurance without having to answer any health questions. The cost of life insurance is $1.30 per month, regardless of the number of children covered. The coverage amount is $10,000 per child.
PERA Life Insurance
Employees can purchase guaranteed issue group term life insurance coverage through the Voluntary Group Life Plan with the National Conference on Public Employees Retirement Systems (NCPERS) in which Olmsted County is a participant. It is underwritten by The Prudential Insurance Company of America and administered by Member
Benefits.
Cost is $16.00 per month with no medical questions asked.
Minnesota Paid Leave
The County participates in the Minnesota Paid Family Leave program. This provides partial income replacement to employees needing time off for covered conditions, including serious health conditions, bonding, or to care for a family member.
Long Term Disability Insurance
The County provides 40 percent pay replacement coverage at no cost to the employee.
Employees have the option to purchase an additional 26 2/3 percent pay replacement coverage for a total of 66 2/3 percent. Long-term disability benefits are effective on the first of the month following 30 days of service. The plan has a 90-day elimination period before benefits may be payable.
Employee Assistance Program
AllOne Health, Olmsted County's Employee Assistance Program (EAP), is a confidential service to help employees and their families address work and life issues. Online and telephone resources are available 24/7/365.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employees have the option of using one or both flexible spending accounts provided through Olmsted County to pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and day care expenses with pretax dollars.
Health Care Spending Account limit is $3,400.
Dependent Care Spending Account limit is $7,500.
Blood Assurance Program
A Volunteer Blood Donor Program through Mayo Clinic Blood Bank is available to employees. It covers the employee and family for all red blood cell products.
Workers Compensation
All employees are covered by Workers Compensation insurance while performing County business.
Retirement
Olmsted County and employees pay into the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) as follows:
General Plan: Employee Share is 6.50%, County Share is 7.50%
Police & Fire Plan: Employee Share is 11.80%, County Share is 17.70%
Correctional Plan: Employee Share is 6.83%, County Share is 10.25%
General Plan members pay into both PERA and Social Security.
Deferred Compensation Plans
Olmsted County employees may choose to participate in Deferred Compensation Plans (457 Plans) offered through: VOYA Financial, Nationwide Retirement Solutions, and Minnesota Deferred Compensation Plan.
Years of Service Awards
Olmsted County recognizes employees for milestones in their years of service (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and above).
Direct Deposit
All employees are paid bi-weekly. Employees' paychecks are electronically deposited directly into employees' bank accounts, avoiding situations like late checks or inconvenient trips to the bank.
United Way Donation
If an employee requests, the County will deduct contributions to United Way through payroll deduction.
Staff Development Program
The Staff Development Program offers courses online and in the classroom. The purpose is to train and retain employees through educational opportunities.
Tuition Reimbursement
Olmsted County offers tuition reimbursement for college courses of 80% or $3,000 (whichever is less) per year with prior approval from supervisor and Human Resources for job-related courses.
Olmsted County has partnered with Saint Mary's University to offer unique career advancement, degree completion, and professional development opportunities at a discounted rate. To learn more about the partner scholarship and Saint Mary's bachelor's completion, master's, doctoral, or graduate certificate programs visit the Olmsted County partner page.
As a Local Government, Olmsted County is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Act. Go to StudentAid.Gov to learn more about this program and see if you qualify.
Savi Loan Forgiveness
Olmsted County has partnered with Savi, a trusted financial wellness resource to support your student loan journey. Savi has three different support plans - DIY, Essential, and Pro. As an Olmsted County employee, you can receive Savi Essential (typically $70) for free or Savi Pro for $80 (typically $
Credit Union
Employees are invited to join the First Alliance Credit Union. For more information, call the Credit Union at or
Parking/Transit Plan
Parking for Government Center employees is available employee parking lots. The County supports public transportation. Employees who ride the bus to and from work and during work hours are offered subsidized bus passes.
Jury Duty
Employees required to report for jury duty or attend a trial in response to a subpoena will do so without loss of income. Employees will receive their regular pay during their court service.
Salary : $2,400 - $300,000