Nutrition Program Consultant

State of North Carolina; North Carolina; Remote; USD 58,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid vacation

Paid parental leave

Job summary

The Agency Dept of Health and Human Services is seeking a Regional Nutrition Consultant (NS) based in North Carolina to provide policy guidance and technical support for WIC and related nutrition programs across counties. The role includes quality assurance, monitoring, and educational outreach.

Travel statewide is required, with supervision under the Lead Regional Nutrition Consultant, to ensure effective program delivery and nutrition education for women, infants, and children.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in nutrition or public health nutrition from an accredited program.
• Credential as Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide consultation and technical assistance to local health agencies on WIC program policy.
• Support quality assurance of nutrition programs through monitoring, evaluation and data analysis.
• Travel statewide and provide training and education to local health agency staff.

Education

Master's degree in nutrition or public health nutrition

RD or RDN credential

Job description

Agency Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

Child and Family Well Being

Job Classification Title

Nutrition Program Consultant (NS)

Position Number

60040830

Grade

MH14

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

This position is for a Regional Nutrition Consultant, home-based in a county served by the position including Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey. This position provides consultation and technical assistance to local health agencies on program policy for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and supports quality assurance of nutrition programs through program monitoring and evaluation. Statewide travel and occasional overnight travel are required. This position reports to the Lead Regional Nutrition Consultant. This position is part of the Division of Child and Family Well‑Being (DCFW). DCFW focuses on supporting whole child and family health and well‑being for North Carolinians with several sections including nutrition programs (WIC, SNAP and Child and Adult Care Food Program), health & prevention services for children and youth, children’s behavioral health programs, and early intervention programs. The WIC Nutrition Services Unit is a part of the Community Nutrition Services Section (CNSS) of DCFW in the Department of Health and Human Services. CNSS works to reduce food insecurity for North Carolina’s families and children. The Section includes the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The WIC Program provides targeted nutrition intervention to supplement diets, nutrition education (including breastfeeding promotion and support), and referrals to health and other social services. WIC is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). County health departments, community and rural health centers, and community action agencies provide WIC Program services to North Carolina women, infants and children in all 100 counties across the state. The WIC Nutrition Services Unit oversees and administers the WIC Program by:

• developing program policy, procedures, and implementation guidance related to participant and clinical services
• developing program efforts to promote, protect and support breastfeeding
• supporting quality assurance of nutrition programs through policy, monitoring, evaluation, and data analysis
• coordinating programmatic and nutrition training for local health agency staff and staff of public and private entities
• developing nutrition education and outreach resources that promote breastfeeding, healthful eating and physical activity in women, children, youth, and families
• providing consultation, education, and technical assistance to local health agencies and other public and private community agencies
• managing the NC Nutrition and Epidemiology Surveillance Systems (NC‑NESS) and other surveillance and evaluation efforts

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they have the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The following Management Preferences are not required, but applicants that possess these skills are preferred:

• Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of normal and therapeutic nutrition and its relationship to growth, chronic disease, principles and practices of behavior change, nutrition needs across the lifespan with a special focus on woman and children, program planning, implementation and evaluation, and public health service delivery.
• Considerable knowledge of education techniques and the use of media in the delivery of education.
• Experience with interpreting, understanding and translating research findings into education information, communicating clearly and effectively orally and in writing, and to prepare and present educational and training materials to professional and lay groups.
• Skills in planning, designing and developing educational programs, planning programs and intervention strategies, public speaking, organizing work, working with individuals and on a team.
• Skilled in problem solving techniques. Must analyze, interpret, recommend and implement policy and procedure guidelines. Mastery of the process and practice of consultation. Well‑developed skills in education/training techniques as applied to adult education and various group process techniques.

Salary Range

$58,265 -$87,396

Recruitment Range

$58,264 - $77,856

Position is funded through federal funds.

Posting closes at 11:59 p.m. the night before the end date.

About The Division of Child and Family Well-Being:

The Division of Child and Family Well‑Being works to promote healthy and thriving children in safe, stable and nurturing families, schools and communities. The division includes complementary programs that primarily serve children and youth to improve their health and well‑being.

Compensation and Benefits:

• The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits.
• Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high‑quality, low‑cost benefits on a pre‑tax basis).
• Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave.
• Paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.
• Visit the website for State Benefits.

Supplemental Contact Information:

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. For more information about DHHS:

DHHS uses the Merit‑Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 303, our agency supports second‑chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice‑involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Master's degree in nutrition or public health nutrition from an appropriately accredited institution and holds the credential of Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD or RDN) with the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and three years of program administration or supervisory experience.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Veterans’ and National Guard Preference

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application, if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.
• Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.

ADA Accommodations:

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities, or known limitations covered by the PWFA, are provided with reasonable accommodation. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the person indicated below.