Extension Nutritional Assistant

Kansas State University; Manhattan (KS); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Kansas State University Extension Nutrition program is hiring a full-time Extension Nutritional Assistant to serve Sedgwick County. The role focuses on delivering nutrition education to families with limited resources, planning events, and building community partnerships.

The assistant will teach topics such as food preparation, safety, and nutrition, collect program data, and support recruitment to EFNEP. This is a grant-funded on-site position requiring travel within the county.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma (or equivalent) required.
• Valid driver’s license, proof of vehicle insurance and reliable transportation.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus and preferred for outreach with diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Plan curriculum-based health education events and activities with colleagues and partners.
• Teach clients about nutrition, food safety, and resource management in groups or one-on-one.
• Collect and record client responses to health questionnaires and track program outcomes.

Skills

Strong social skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Extension Nutritional Assistant

Kansas State University

About This Role

The Extension Nutrition Program, within K-State Extension, is hiring a full-time Nutrition Assistant to serve Sedgwick County. This position reports to the Sedgwick County EFNEP extension agent.

Nutrition assistants provide health education to pregnant women and families with young children who have limited financial resources. They support the goals of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP): to promote healthy lives through hands-on, relationship-driven education.

This position requires strong social skills to effectively recruit and retain program participants and develop collaborative partnerships with community agencies.

Key Responsibilities

Planning and preparation

• Work with colleagues and community partners and to plan curriculum-based health education events and activities.
• Prepare for events (for example: buying and preparing food for a cooking demonstration).
• Manage time and resources appropriately.

Teaching

• Teach clients (in groups and individual meetings) about topics like food preparation, food safety, food resource management, nutrition, and physical activity.
• Solve problems and adapt to new situations that arise while working with clients.
• Communicate and interact appropriately with clients from all backgrounds.

Reporting

• Collect and record clients' responses to health questionnaires to assess needs and behaviors.
• Submit accurate and timely records to track program activities and participants' progress on program outcomes.

Recruiting and networking

• Be aware of community resources and services that may benefit EFNEP clients.
• Build relationships with other agencies to recruit clients and expand the program.
• Encourage eligible families to enroll in EFNEP. Recruiting opportunities will include demonstrations, group presentations, individual contacts, and printed materials.

Professional development

• Attend training events, meetings and conferences to improve health and nutrition knowledge, teaching practices and record keeping skills.
• This is a grant funded position. The continuation of the position is contingent upon continuing availability of funding and need for these services.

About Us

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is a nutrition education program provided at no cost to Kansas families and caregivers of young children with limited resources. EFNEP uses education to support participants' efforts toward self-sufficiency, nutritional health and well-being. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) administers EFNEP through land-grant universities' cooperative extension programs. For more information about Kansas EFNEP go to k-state.edu/extension-nutrition-program.

• K-State Extension connects Kansans to research-based information and education that helps individuals, families, businesses and communities thrive. It is a partnership between Kansas State University and federal, state, and county governments. Through local extension offices, K-State Extension provides practical solutions and programs in areas such as agriculture, health, youth development, and community vitality. Learn more at extension.k-state.edu.

Worksite Description

This position will serve co munities in Sedgwick County. The primary office is in Wichita, KS.

This position is on-site and will require regular travel to various sites within Sedgwick County. It will also involve overnight travel for trainings (approximately 2-3 times per year).

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma (or equivalent).
• Valid driver's license, proof of vehicle insurance and reliable transportation.

Preferred Qualifications

Outstanding interpersonal skills.

Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Ability to plan and prepare nutritious family meals.

Experience working with a variety of audiences, including limited-resource individuals and families.

Knowledge of basic principles of food preparation, nutrition and food safety.

Strong time management skills and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Bilingual / Ability to communicate effectively with both English and Spanish-speaki