Nutrition Assistant Level I/II

Sacramento County; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Sacramento County is looking for a Nutrition Assistant to provide nutrition education to eligible participants in programs like WIC. The role involves interviewing individuals—especially women, infants, and children—to assess their nutritional needs and provide guidance and referrals.

Candidates need a high school diploma or GED and ideally, prior experience in a related field. Excellent communication skills are a must, along with a valid California Driver License.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• One year of full-time experience in community nutrition or public aid program.
• Completion of coursework in nutrition or related field acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Provide nutrition education and assistance to participants.
• Interview and assess women, infants, and children.
• Evaluate nutritional needs and offer support.

Skills

Nutrition education

Communication skills

Customer service skills

Basic arithmetic

Ability to analyze situations

Education

High school diploma or GED

1 year full-time experience in nutrition or healthcare

Tools

Office software (Word, Excel)

Databases

Job description

The Position

Under close supervision, positions in the Nutrition Assistant class provide nutrition education and assistance to qualifying participants. Incumbents interview and/or assess women, infants, and children to determine eligibility for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program. They assess nutritional status and provide education, counseling, referrals, and other information to program participants.

Examples of Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of

• Applicable laws, rules and regulations related to the WIC Program
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and other specialized applications related to area of assignment
• Basic arithmetic (i.e., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, percentages, ratios, and fractions)
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Principles of effective customer service
• Principles of nutrition
• Interviewing, counseling and teaching techniques
• Types of available community resources
• The problems, needs, attitudes and behavior patterns of physically, socially, educationally, or economically disabled or disadvantaged people
• Proper food handling, food safety and sanitation practices

Ability to

• Establish and maintain cooperative, effective working relationships with participants, WIC staff, other agencies and the general public
• Communicate clearly and concisely in English, both verbally and in writing
• Communicate effectively with people from a variety of social, cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action
• Effectively organize and prioritize work assignments
• Keep accurate and orderly records
• Perform basic mathematical computations accurately and rapidly.
• Maintain confidential information
• Interpret and apply applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations
• Apply customer service skills, including the identification of customer needs and follow up to ensure customer commitments have been met
• Accurately gather information to assess nutritional needs and progress
• Present information clearly and effectively in a group setting
• Formulate and make recommendations to clients regarding behaviors which impact nutrition
• Use community resources to assist clients
• Understand and accept differences in attitudes toward health and diet resulting from medical, financial, cultural and other factors
• Use computers and related equipment as necessary for job assignments
• Think critically; understand and follow complex instructions and procedures

Employment Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• A high school diploma or GED
• AND ONE year of full‑time experience in a community nutrition or public aid program or healthcare facility
• OR Completion of 12 semester (18 quarter) units from an accredited college or university in nutrition, health, food science, child development, or family and consumer sciences

Note: If the word “experience” is referenced in the minimum qualifications, it means full‑time paid experience unless the minimum qualification states that volunteer experience is acceptable. Part‑time paid experience may be accumulated and pro‑rated to meet the total experience requirements.

Note: If the minimum qualifications include an educational or certificate/license requirement, applicants must submit proof of requirements with the application. Failure to submit proof of requirements may result in disqualification from the examination. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

General Qualifications

Criminal History and Background Checks

The County may access criminal history information on candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of appointment for this class consistent with the provisions of Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 82‑602, Personnel Policies, and applicable federal and state laws. The County shall not consider for employment any candidate who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that relates to or impacts the candidate’s ability to perform the job duties of this class unless it is determined that mitigating circumstances exist. For purposes of accessing criminal history information, the candidate will be fingerprinted. A subsequent arrest notification may be obtained.

The County may also conduct a background check on the candidate prior to appointment to a position within this class. The background check may include personal and professional reference checks, credit history checks where authorized by Labor Code section 1024.5, Social Security Number verification, professional license/registration verification, military service information and driving history. Information obtained in the course of this background check will be considered by the appointing authority in the selection process. In obtaining such information, the County will comply with applicable consent and disclosure practices in the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act.

License Requirement

A valid California Driver License, Class C or higher, shall be required at the time of appointment. Failure to obtain or maintain the appropriate California Driver License, or comply with state and federal requirements for utilization, may constitute cause for personnel action in accordance with Civil Service Rules or applicable bargaining agreement. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to disability will be reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis.

Child and Elder Abuse Reporting

Persons selected for employment must, as a condition of employment, sign a statement agreeing to comply with Section 11166 and 11160 of the California Penal Code relating to child and elder abuse reporting.

Physical Requirements

• Perform extensive computer work for extended periods of time using a keyboard, mouse, and monitor
• Have sufficient vision to read small print
• Communicate with participants for prolonged periods of time throughout the day
• Weigh and measure infants/children
• Bend, stoop, kneel, squat, turn, twist, lift, and reach at or above shoulder height
• Lift, carry, push or pull items up to 25 pounds

Individuals who do not meet these requirements due to disability will be reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis.

Working Conditions

• Perform duties at alternative worksites and or high‑crime areas of the community
• Work in a fast‑paced, high‑stress environment
• Work with persons exhibiting signs of distress, hostility, anxiety, frustration or irritation, substance dependent or mentally ill persons and/or confrontational interpersonal situations
• Answer/make a high volume of telephone calls and/or work in a call center environment

Probationary Period

Six (6) months.

Equal Opportunity Employment

We are a proud equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability for any phase of the hiring process, please contact our Disability Compliance Office at [e-mail] or 916‑874‑7642.