Nutrition Education Specialist-Tempe

Mountain Park Health Center; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Mountain Park Health Center is seeking a Nutrition Education Specialist for the WIC program in Tempe, AZ. The role emphasizes greeting and assisting participants, providing nutrition education, and ensuring proper documentation of services and referrals.

The position requires a high school diploma or equivalent and a valid driver’s license, with preferred experience in WIC and IBCLC certification. Bilingual Spanish is a plus. Travel to multiple locations is expected.

Qualifications

• Must have High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Must have a valid Driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Greet and assist all individuals who present to the WIC department.
• Maintain and organize laboratory equipment to meet quality standards at start and end of day.
• Provide nutrition education and breastfeeding support tailored to participant needs.
• Document nutrition services provided and referrals in HANDS.
• Schedule group education for eligible participants and coordinate referrals.
• Travel to multiple locations during shift and perform other duties as assigned.

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Brief Description

The primary job responsibility of the Nutrition Education Specialist is to greet and initiate exceptional patient service to all stakeholders, fulfill job expectations and task assignments efficiently and effectively.

The primary job responsibility of the Nutrition Education Specialist is to greet and initiate exceptional patient service to all stakeholders, fulfill job expectations and task assignments efficiently and effectively.

Essential Functions

• Successfully completes of required training.
• Greets and assists all individuals who present to the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) department.
• Cleans, maintains, sets up, and organizes the laboratory equipment to meet local and state quality assurance standards at the beginning and end of the day.
• Explains the mission of the WIC Program, the eligibility requirements, process for the services provided, voter registration process, rights and responsibilities, programs we refer, and other basic information.
• Determines what type of appointment(s) is/are needed and schedules appointment(s) in HANDS.
• Ensures the Separation of Duties by completing income verification and other approved tasks within the scope of work.
• Performs all the work required to administer and provide WIC services to eligible participants according to the Arizona WIC Program Policies and Procedures Manual (WIC PPM).
• Documents required data in HANDS and inputs accurate information.
• Answers basic questions, and initiates assistance for other requests outside of their scope.
• Transfers in-state and out-of-state clients in person and by video.
• Completes accurate height, length, and weight measurements, and hemoglobin values to help determine WIC eligibility.
• Provides nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support that is responsive to the identified needs/interests of each participant.
• Provides follow‑up breastfeeding support to participants.
• Provides mandatory and appropriate additional referrals reflecting the needs of the individual WIC participants.
• Documents nutrition services provided, including referrals and follow‑up to referrals.
• Ensures that screening and referrals for lead testing and immunizations using a documented immunization record is performed.
• Provides participant‑centered nutrition and breastfeeding support services to WIC participants and offers Mountain Park Health Center (MPHC) approved resources and incentives.
• Facilitates goal setting for behavioral change and follow‑up on goals set.
• Provides breastfeeding support and promotes a culture of breastfeeding.
• Promotes breastfeeding to WIC participants and provides breastfeeding education and support and refers to and promotes the Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program, when appropriate.
• Prescribes and tailors a food package appropriate to the participant's nutritional risk(s), category, and preferences and issues food benefits as set forth in the WIC PPM.
• Provides program participants with information about available health and social services to which the participant could be referred. The participant shall be provided with written information regarding community services and referrals in accordance with the WIC PPM and MPHC referral procedures.
• Provides information, check for understanding, and document training to participants on program rules, regulations, WIC approved foods, use of eWIC cards, and food benefit use and redemption.
• Schedules group education for eligible participants.
• Offers and provides nutrition information.
• Utilizes the hardware, software, and training provided by the Arizona WIC Program to operate the Contractor's portion of the WIC Computer Data System (HANDS).
• Completes all data elements required in HANDS as outlined in the WIC PPM.
• Document the Nutrition Discussion Contact with the appropriate note after each service.
• Maintains integrity of the program by keeping confidential information secure.
• Maintains security and inventory of food benefit supplies.
• Attends meetings, training, and conferences as required.
• Issues and receives breast pumps at the clinic.
• Travels to multiple locations during shift.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Position Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Valid Driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in WIC
• IBCLC Certification
• Bilingual Spanish