Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

South Dakota AG; South Dakota; Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

South Dakota Department of Health seeks a Registered Dietitian/Licensed Nutritionist to support the WIC program in the OFNS. The role delivers nutrition services, case management, and education to participants across the state, with supervision and collaboration for high‑risk nutrition care.

Travel to satellite sites is required; some on‑site and remote service delivery are possible. A master’s degree and RD eligibility are essential, with licensure in SD or timely licensure anticipated.

Qualifications

• Must be licensed as a Nutritionist in SD or eligible within one year of employment.
• Master's degree in human nutrition, public health nutrition, clinical nutrition, nutrition education, or foods and nutrition preferred.
• Registered Dietitian with CDR or obtain registration within 365 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Determine participant eligibility, including identity, income, residency, and nutritional risk.
• Provide nutrition support and education to individuals and groups.
• Conduct nutrition education and health assessments.
• Provide breastfeeding education and support; promote immunizations and child health initiatives.
• Build relationships with community partners to enhance referrals and services.

Skills

Motivational interviewing

Nutrition education

Communication skills

Cultural competency

Education

Master's degree in nutrition/public health nutrition

Dietetic internship approved

Registered Dietitian (CDR) or eligibility

Tools

Zoom

Teams

Telemedicine

Job description

Job ID: 38172

Agency: Department of Health - Division of Family and Community Health

Location: Statewide

Salary: $28.73-$33.28 Hourly, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: I

Closing Date: 11/3/26

This is a Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly position with the Department of Health - Division of Family and Community Health. For more information on the Department of Health, please visit https://doh.sd.gov/ .

The South Dakota Department of Health's programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live, work and play; provide education to help people make good health decisions; prepare for, respond to, and prevent public health threats; and support efforts to enhance quality and accessibility of healthcare. Our services touch the lives of every person in the state of South Dakota.

We recognize that employees are our most valuable resource and we are committed to promoting a culture of excellence in DOH. We trust our employees to be innovative, challenge existing processes, and make the best decisions. We are interested in employing a diverse and skilled workforce that exhibits the values of leadership, accountability, communication, integrity, and teamwork. Public health is a diverse and growing field that offers many career options for people from a variety of educational backgrounds. Imagine yourself as part of a winning team that is making the lives of South Dakotans healthier and safer.

The South Dakota Department of Health values flexibility in the workplace. Part of that flexibility includes the ability to work from home. Working from home is a meaningful way to meet individual needs, wants, and desires when it comes to balancing the entire team’s home and work lives. That balance is something we value while allowing most positions the opportunity to work remotely up to 3 days a week. Working from home is a privilege and is subject to review depending upon the position.

Please visit our website at http://doh.sd.gov/ for further information about the Department of Health and the WIC Program sd.gov/WIC.

This opening is for a full-time position with the South Dakota Department of Health for a Registered Dietitian/Licensed Nutritionist (RD/LN) in the Office of Family Nutrition Services (OFNS). This role supports the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Food Program in the west region of the state. The RD/LN will work under the supervision of the Dietitian Manager to deliver vital nutrition services that directly impact family and community health. This position will provide participant case management, approve special formula requests, consult with healthcare providers, and conduct quality assurance reviews for high-risk nutrition cases. Travel for meetings and on-site visits to maintain caseloads will be required.

Additional functions of the position include, but are not limited to:

• determine participant eligibility, including identity, income, residency, categorical and nutritional risk;
• provide nutrition support and education;
• conduct nutrition education and health assessments;
• provide breastfeeding education and support;
• link clients to appropriate health and social resources;
• offer nutrition related technical assistance to team members;
• deliver nutrition education in community settings;
• collaborate on setting nutrition, outreach, and breastfeeding goals for the population served;
• provide maternal and child health services, including developmental screenings, infant safe sleep education, and promotion of immunizations, oral health, and other public health initiatives;
• build and maintain collaborative relationships with community partners and providers to enhance referrals and explore innovative partnership opportunities.

Work hours extending beyond the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday and on Saturdays may be required. Travel will be required to satellite sites and overnight stays may be required for service delivery, trainings, or meetings. Lifting may be required to do anthropometric measurements of infants and children. This position will be a combination of in-person and remote, and may provide virtual services from a state office location.

Licenses And Certifications

Must be licensed as a Nutritionist in South Dakota or eligible for licensure within one year of employment.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

Master's degree required in human nutrition, public health nutrition, clinical nutrition, nutrition education, community education or foods and nutrition preferred.

Dietetic internship or similar Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics approval required.

Must be a Registered Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) or obtain registration with 365 days of hire.

Knowledge Of

• motivational interviewing skills;
• principles and practices of food and nutrition sciences;
• breastfeeding education;
• infant/child developmental milestones.

Skills

• provide nutrition and health information effectively one‑to‑one, in groups, virtually (Zoom, Teams, telemedicine), by phone, text, and online;
• share education at the client’s level of understanding;
• apply federal and state regulations, policies, and procedures;
• communicate effectively;
• communicate effectively with interpreters in person, by phone, or during virtual service delivery;
• demonstrate cultural competency when working with socioeconomically and culturally diverse populations.

Abilities

• motivate participants to make decisions and set goals to improve their nutritional status;
• prioritize and facilitate referrals within the context of multiple and complicated participant needs;
• work autonomously and in a team environment;
• recognize and facilitate opportunities for outreach, marketing, and partnership building;
• multitask, prioritize complex situations, and adapt to quickly shifting priorities.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E‑Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration

Telephone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"