NUTRITIONIST 3 - 10132026-81655

Tennessee Department of Health; Cookeville (TN); On-site; USD 49,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Tennessee Department of Health seeks a Nutritionist 3 to lead WIC program management across a multi-county region in Cookeville, TN. The role emphasizes training, quality assurance, and coordination of nutrition services, including breastfeeding support as needed.

The position requires active Registered Dietitian status, with two years of nutrition experience, preferably in WIC, and a master’s degree in nutrition or public health. A valid driver license is also required.

Qualifications

• Active RD registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and two years of professional nutrition work experience, preferably with WIC.
• Masters degree in human nutrition, dietetics, or public health with evidence of RD registration.
• Possession of active RD registration required at time of appointment and maintained during employment.

Responsibilities

• Provide program management for the WIC clinics within the assigned multi-county region.
• Monitor documentation and processes for quality assurance and audits; maintain staff records and inventory logs.
• Manage regional inventory including supplements, incentives, and education supplies.

Skills

Nutrition program mgmt

WIC experience

Staff training

Community needs

Education

RD active RD registration

Master's in nutrition/public health

Tools

Computer

Electronic Scale

Job description

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 10/13/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Job Information

Opening Date/Time 10/13/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Closing Date/Time 10/19/2026 11:59PM Central Time

Salary (Monthly) $4,098.00 - $5,129.00

Salary (Annually) $49,176.00 - $61,548.00

Job Type Full-Time

City, State Location Cookeville, TN

Department Health

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, PUTNAM COUNTY

A Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) screening will be conducted prior to employment.

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Current registration as an active status Registered Dietitian (RD) with the Commission of Dietetic Registration and experience equivalent to two years of professional nutrition work, ideally within the WIC program.

OR

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree in human nutrition, dietetics, or any public or community health field dealing with applied human nutrition; and possession of proof of registration in active status as a Registered Dietitian (RD) with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Necessary Special Qualifications

Possession of proof of registration in an active status as a Registered Dietitian (RD) with the Commission of Dietetic Registration is required at time of appointment and must be maintained during employment in the Nutritionist 3 job classification. A valid motor vehicle operator's license is required.

Overview

The Nutritionist 3 classification provides programmatic management for the WIC clinics associated with a specific multi-county region. This role is responsible for providing training for regional WIC staff, evaluating nutrition services, assessing community needs at a regional level, and may be assigned to direct supervision of nutrition and breastfeeding personnel. This class differs from that of Nutritionist 2 in that an incumbent of the latter assesses community needs at a county or district level and report to an incumbent of this class. This class differs from that of Nutritionist 4 in that an incumbent of the latter is the central office coordinator of nutrition services or programs.

Responsibilities

• Provides programmatic management specific to the WIC (Women, Infants, & Children) program for the clinics associated with their specific region.
• Responsible for quality assurance by monitoring program documentation and processes to ensure adherence to policies and program guidelines. Maintains staff records of on-boarding, trainings, required meetings and inventory logs per program guidelines needed for State and Federal audits.
• Manages regional inventory related to clinic needs such as supplements, incentives, education supplies, and equipment.
• Develops and implements staff training, including in-service training, orientation, mentoring, and ongoing support for clinic staff.
• Leads implementation of the Nutrition & Breastfeeding Service Plan, monitoring data and community needs to support state goals for nutrition and breastfeeding promotion. Provides breastfeeding promotion and support as appropriate.
• Monitors clinic staffing needs and assists when needed by providing direct services to WIC participants. Maintains knowledge of community resources to provide referrals and resources to participants.
• Participates in the recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and promotion process to fill staff positions. Evaluates and/or recommends staffing patterns for provision of nutrition services.
• Develops systems and ideas to contribute to or enhance the delivery of quality nutrition services. Serves as the nutrition expert on multi-agency committees by providing technical nutrition information and advice.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies

• Customer Focus
• Manages Complexity
• Communicates Effectively
• Collaborates
• Manages Conflict

Knowledges

• Customer and Personal Service
• Biology
• Sociology and Anthropology
• Psychology
• English Language

Skills

• Active Learning and Listening
• Service Orientation
• Time Management
• Complex Problem Solving
• Speaking

Abilities

• Written Comprehension
• Speech Clarity
• Speech Recognition
• Number Facility

Tools & Equipment

• Computer
• Desk Telephone
• Cell Phone
• Printer (Scanner/Copier/Fax)
• Electronic Scale

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

• Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.