Nutritionist - I

The Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health division currently has a temporary/extra-help* assignment for the classification of Nutritionist - I. The eligible list from this recruitment may also be used to fill future extra-help and/or permanent vacancies. Extra-help appointments made from this eligible list may transition to permanent status, should vacancies arise.

*Temporary/Extra-help assignments are limited to 28 hours per week with a cap of 999 hours or 960 hours for CalPERS retired annuitants in a fiscal year and are not eligible for benefits. 

Employees who are designated to use a second language in the normal course and scope of work will receive five percent (5%) bilingual pay.

We are seeking a self-motivated and flexible individual with outstanding customer service skills to provide services for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program. This federal assistance program provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. The Nutritionist - I provides counseling to high risk participants, communicates with healthcare providers on WIC participants' behalf regarding access to healthcare and therapeutic formula requests, and is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of nutrition education materials and class lesson planning. 

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Professional benefits

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To provide nutrition education and counseling to eligible low income pregnant women and families of young children as part of the Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Food Program (WIC); and to develop appropriate educational materials.

This is the entry level class in the Nutritionist series.  This class is distinguished from the journey by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series.  Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgement on matters allocated to the journey level.  Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience.  Employees work under general supervision while learning job tasks.

• Assess program participants' nutritional status, including a general assessment of social well-being; review clinic intake information, verifying eligibility status; analyze medical data relative to nutritional status; identify high risk individuals.
• Provide nutrition education on a group or individual basis; develop theme for classroom settings and select and/or prepare appropriate instructional materials; prepare periodic program newsletter.
• Coordinate with other public health professionals to ensure an integrated approach to service delivery; make referrals as appropriate within the Public Health Nursing Division or to other County departments or community agencies/resources.
• Prepare and present in-service training to public health and other program staff as directed; provide nutrition consultation to public health staff, other program staff, and outside agencies.
• Maintain appropriate records and documentation relative to departmental, regulatory, and funding source requirements.
• May oversee clinic staff in absence of program coordinator.
• Assist with clinic set up and take down as appropriate.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below. Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: No professional experience is required.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in food and nutrition or a related field, including an academic internship approved by the American Dietetic Association.

NOTE: Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

License or Certificate:

• Possession of a valid certificate as a Registered Dietitian.
• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles of nutrition.
• Recommended nutritional requirements for various age groups; impact of various medical conditions upon nutrition requirements.
• Educational methods used in counseling low literacy groups; instructional methods used in training professional and technical staff.
• Comparative costs of various foods relative to their nutritional values.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports and special projects, identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedures; explain program and nutritional information to participants, families, and various County staff.
• On an intermittent basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, and reach while making educational presentations.  Intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; sufficient acuity to see and hear participants; use telephone, and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; and lift heavy weight.
• Provide nutritional assessment, including analysis of diets for nutritional adequacy, relevance to medical conditions, and identification of high risk cases.
• Prepare and present nutritional information appropriate for client groups with low literacy skills and from a variety of socio-economic, age, and ethnic populations.
• Relate to and communicate with individuals who may be dysfunctional and socio-economically disadvantaged.
• Provide individual nutritional counseling.
• Prepare and present nutritional training to professional and technical staff.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Obtain information through interview and deal fairly and courteously with the public.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Use a computer, calculator, typewriter, telephone, photocopy machine, and various audiovisual equipment.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.