Nutrition Assistant

King County; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

King County is seeking a Nutrition Assistant for WIC services at our Midway and Federal Way Public Health Centers. You will assess eligibility, provide nutrition education, and work with Registered Dietitians and nurses to support families.

The role emphasizes customer service, cultural responsiveness, and the ability to teach classes or conduct outreach in group and individual settings, including handling interpreters as needed.

Qualifications

• WIC program knowledge and eligibility assessment.
• WIC nutrition education and counseling required.
• Ability to work with interpreters and diverse clients.

Responsibilities

• Gather and assess information for health/nutrition risk and program eligibility.

Skills

Customer service

ESL communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Public Health - Seattle & King County has 2 exciting opportunities for Nutrition Assistants at our WIC clinics in the Midway and Federal Way Public Health Centers.

The Nutrition Assistant will provide services to clients participating in the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program, assess eligibility, and provide nutrition education to individuals and families - both through individual appointments and in a group or classroom setting.

The Nutrition Assistant works closely with Registered Dietitians, Public Health Nurses, Social Workers, Community Health Workers in the Maternity Support Services and Infant Case Management (MSS/ICM) programs, and with community partners.

The successful candidate will exhibit excellent customer service skills, can develop and maintain positive relationships with our clients from various cultures, and communicate effectively with English as a Second Language (ESL) clients with the assistance of an interpreter.

The candidate will also exhibit flexibility in managing tasks such as teaching classes, providing administrative support, and assisting with certification appointments.

Background

Temporary opportunity. Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) positions are "at-will" positions but are eligible for benefits. This TLT is currently anticipated to last 1 year. However, funding sources for this work remain uncertain and dependent upon decisions actively being made at both the federal and local levels.

As a result, the end date of this position may be adjusted based on those decisions. The County and the Department continue to work to secure long term funding source.

This vacancy can also be filled as a Special Duty opportunity. For Special Duty Assignment interest, you must be a Career Service, Career Service Exempt or other regular (non-temporary) employee in King County who has completed their initial County probation. You must have supervisor approval prior to taking a Special Duty Assignment.

This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months.

This position will remain open until filled with the first review of applications occurring around October 5,2026. The first round of interviews is anticipated to take place on October 19 and 20, 2026. Candidates are encouraged to apply early for consideration in the initial round of interviews.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world.

It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

Typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, and hours can vary based on operational need, currently predominately 8:00 am - 5:00 pm; occasional Saturday or evening hours may be required to meet business needs. Non-Exempt and subject to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (overtime eligible).

Work Location

This position will be based out of both the Federal Way Office located at 33431 13th Place S, Federal Way, WA 998003 and the Midway Office located 26401 Pacific Highway S, Des Moines, WA 98198. This position may also work at various King County Public Health Centers and satellite offices based on business need using a reliable source of transportation. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

• Gather and assess information for determining health and nutrition risk factors, program eligibility, client education, and referrals
• Provide group nutrition education and individual nutrition education, which includes lactation support
• Obtain and document anthropometric measurements for infants, children and adults, which includes obtaining blood samples for hemoglobin testing
• Respond to telephone inquiries – screen, schedule, and interview diverse clients to determine the appointment type and appropriate provider
• Document client information and services, and manage appointment schedules in various electronic records, including Cascades and Epic, to support both the WIC and MSS/ICM programs.
• Provide direct customer service to a diverse clientele, providing WIC services, issuing and educating on the use of WIC benefits, determining appointment types
• Conduct WIC outreach and program tasks, such as generating end-of-day reports and client letters
• Participate in WIC-related committees, including lactation promotion activities, clinic health and information fairs, and the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program
• Order and maintain program supplies and educational materials
• Participate in quality assurance activities
• Complete annual WIC trainings, and continuing nutrition and lactation education requirements
• Use Microsoft Outlook and other electronic communication tools to coordinate work, and training requirements
• Ability to work with a variety of computer programs, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Suite – Teams, Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Ability to lift and lower a child weighing up to 35 pounds onto a surface more than 4 feet high with or without accommodation
• Ability to work with interpreters in multiple languages.

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (Minimum)

• Ability to complete the Washington State WIC paraprofessional competencies within 6 months of hire
• Ability to obtain a Washington State food worker card
• A current BLS for Healthcare Providers with AED certification before hire
• Ability to apply nutrition and health promotion knowledge/practices in working with clients from diverse backgrounds to make positive changes in health behaviors
• Demonstrated ability to provide direct client services in a health care setting
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills related to basic cooking and food demonstration techniques
• Ability to understand various perspectives and listen to others without conveying judgment.
• Excellent problem solving, priority setting, and organizational abilities.
• Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner.

The most competitive applicants will have the following experiences and qualifications (Desired)

• One or more years working in a community-based health setting.
• Experience working with pregnant, postpartum and lactating individuals; experience working with infants and children up to the age of five years.
• Demonstrates regular and consistent work attendance.
• Demonstrates effective communication and team collaboration skills.
• Bilingual in high need languages such as Spanish, Dari, Pashto, French, and Russian.
• Working knowledge of basic nutrition theory and practice, medical terminology, asepsis practices, and universal precautions

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

This position is represented by PROTEC17