Orange County, CA

CAREER DESCRIPTION

PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST I / PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST I (SUPERVISORY)

In addition to performance-based merit increases, this position is scheduled to receive salary range increases on the following dates:

Effective June 28, 2024 – 4.25% increase

Effective June 27, 2025 – 4.00% increase

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

This recruitment is open to the public for a minimum of five (5) business days and will remain open on a continuous basis until 11:59 p.m. (PST) on the day the needs of the County are met. Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

This recruitment is being held to establish an Open eligible list to fill current and future vacancies within the Health Care Agency. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

THE AGENCY

The County of Orange Health Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the leadership of the Agency Director, a new and dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of seven (7) service areas - Administrative and Financial, Strategy and Special Projects, Behavioral Health, Correctional Health, Office of Care Coordination, Medical Health and Public Health - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.

THE DEPARTMENT

Through assessment, policy development and assurance, Public Health Services provides a wide range of services aimed at reducing death and disability by reducing the transmission of communicable diseases, preventing and lessening the impact of chronic diseases, and ensuring healthy and safe environments.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The department is seeking to fill one (1) Public Health Nutritionist I (Supervisory) within the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and one (1) Public Health Nutritionist I within the CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL) program.

Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Supervisory Duties:
• Monitor clinic flow and staff assignments to maintain efficient program operations
• Maintain work environment where cooperation and teamwork can occur
• Promote and encourage staff development and skills enhancement
• Resolve staff and client conflicts and conduct corrective action plan as necessary
• Provide input to Program Support Staff on clinic operations and needs
• Enforce WIC Program rules and regulations
• Provide back up for paraprofessional roles as needed
• Maintain and ensure secure delivery of negotiable instrument (food instruments and Farmers Market Coupons)
• Participate in Quality Improvement (QI) audits of staff to ensure efficiency and compliance to State mandates
• Review the work of staff for accuracy
• Develop and present performance evaluation to staff
• Verify time sheets and mileage reimbursement claims of staff
• Conduct staff meetings
• Assist in mentoring Dietetic Interns
• Client Services:
• Determine nutritional risk of participants for certification
• Provide individual nutrition counseling for low risk and high risk contacts as defined by the State
• Oversee services to WIC and CFHL participants/recipients such as nutrition education classes, issuance of food benefits, referrals, etc.
• Community Services
• Implement and assist in developing population-based community interventions to guide individual clients to choose healthier diets such as coordinating and facilitating nutrition classes
• Incorporate public health functions and essential public health nutrition services, community nutrition assessments and program, personnel, fiscal and data management skills 
• Ensure all aspects of education are culturally competent and literacy appropriate
• Apply, plan, manage, and evaluate techniques to public health nutrition programs and/or individual clients such as administering pre and post-tests and surveys
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate activities, projects and programs in order to meet defined public health measures
• Monitor nutrition policies, procedures, protocols and quality improvement systems and contract deliverables, to assure consistency, effectiveness and compliance
• Interact with community leaders for the purposes of offering services
• Other Administrative Duties:
• Maintain inventory of assets (ie. Electric breast pumps, computers, etc.)
• Perform tasks as delegated by the Administrative Manager II, HCA Program Supervisor II or Supervising Public Health Nutritionist
• Assist with surveys to determine nutrition needs and problems of participants
• Conduct Quality Improvement (QI) audits of staff workload and functions to monitor efficiency and quality of client care
• Assist in initial and ongoing training of WIC and/or CFHL staff
• Provide input to Operations Management in developing clinic procedures and/or community activities
• Provide follow-up consultation/information for public and private providers
• Prepare reports as needed
• Serve as liaison with Information Technology (IT) department regarding computer system issues as needed
• Participate in professional workshops and other trainings to update nutrition knowledge, administrative skills, and to comply with the County/State program mandates

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES:

The ideal candidate will be a Registered Dietician or Registered Dietitian Eligible. Also, supervisory experience and two (2) or more years of experience working in a Women, Infants and Children program type of setting is highly preferred. In addition, the ideal candidate will possess the knowledge, skills and abilities that demonstrates the following competencies:

• Technical Knowledge | Technical Experience
• WIC Information System Enterprise (WIC WISE) database
• WIC and/or CalFresh/SNAP regulations
• Maternal, child and infant nutrition for optimal health
• Quality Improvement tools and intervals to conduct audits
• Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook software
• Nutritional Care, Counseling and Advocacy
• Being culturally sensitive to the needs of the multicultural participant background
• Interpreting and determining the health and nutritional status of participants
• Improving the nutrition of participants by identifying environmental factors that affect health progress
• Developing and applying public health nutrition interventions
• Having the ability to use participant centered techniques when conducting counseling
• Promoting breastfeeding as optimal feeding choice for infants
• Leadership, Community Engagement and Supervision
• Having the knowledge of personnel management and maintaining optimal clinic flow
• Facilitating meetings with peers
• Delegating work duties to staff effectively
• Managing personnel issues and taking care of special participants needs and concerns effectively
• Applying conflict resolution by using effective leadership style to inspire and motivate staff
• Reporting team progress to upper management as requested
• Facilitating team work and cooperation among staff
• Writing staff work performance and providing feedback to staff
• Collaborating with upper management and Human Resource Services (HRS) regarding personnel issues
• Being a role model to staff and mentoring Dietetic Interns
• Training
• Developing work and training plans for participants
• Conducting presentations and providing training in group or individual setting
• Communication and Professionalism
• Communicating effectively both orally and in writing
• Assessing and identifying issues when providing services to participants and implementing improvements when necessary
• Evaluating own practice and requesting for effective feedback from WIC colleagues to identify additional learning needs
• Using appropriate communication method when communicating/sharing sensitive information with participants and staff
• Adaptability, Analytical Thinking and Accountability
• Being adaptable, flexible while maintaining a focus on program quality of care and services
• Applying different ways of assessing nutrition and health outcomes of participants
• Using appropriate and effective study designs to evaluate diet related diseases
• Formulating effective resolutions to problems by being consistent with the WIC's mission and vision
• Being accountable for the "negotiable instruments" in the clinic
• Managing workload effectively, following directions and meeting deadlines
• Willing to take on additional assignments

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Click here to learn more about the minimum qualifications for the Public Health Nutritionist I(Supervisory) classification as well as the physical and mental requirements and the environmental and working conditions.

Physical & Mental Requirement, Environmental and Working Conditions

Physical Requirements

Must have the body mobility to walk, climb stairs, reach, bend, twist, reach overhead and stoop; stamina to sit for a prolonged period of time (up to one hour); strength to lift and carry or push and pull objects such as boxes of materials and supplies, which may weigh up to 25 lbs.; hearing for normal conversations, ability to work in diverse environments; and the ability to drive a car.

Environmental Conditions

Will be required to work in clinic or community environment; may work with individuals who have a communicable disease; may be assigned to evenings and/or weekends.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Application Screening(Refer/Non-Refer) 

Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Veterans Employment Preference

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here (Download PDF reader) to review the policy. 

Structured Oral Interview (Weighted 100%)

Applicants will be interviewed and rated by an oral interview panel of job knowledge experts. Each applicant's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the applicant's qualifications for the job.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures. 

Eligible List 

Once the assessment process has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please see below for important information regarding COVID-19 related requirements. 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, and laws, regulations, and policies regarding COVID-19 are subject to change. The County of Orange is required to comply with all applicable State or County Public Health Orders, some of which require vaccination or testing as follows:

• Workers, who provide services in certain Medical or High-Risk Settings, will be required to provide proof of full vaccination from COVID-19 or to wear a mask and undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.
• Workers, who provide services in certain Health Care Facilities or in a correctional facility or detention center where health care is provided, will be required to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated and boosted. (Workers may be exempt from this requirement based on religious beliefs or a qualifying medical reason; however, if exempted, they will be required to wear a mask and undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.)

The position for which you are applying may be required to adhere to any applicable State or County Public Health Orders. You will receive notification of any requirement as it applies to a position.

Email Notification 

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. 

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact John Duckson at (714) 834-3119 or jduckson@ochca.com.

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Non-Management Benefits

In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.

http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

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