Senior Nutritionist (DOH/PHD#28246)

New Mexico Department of Health; Hobbs (NM); On-site; USD 57,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The New Mexico Department of Health, through the WIC Program, seeks a qualified nutritionist to assess eligibility, provide nutrition education, and coordinate food assistance for at-risk women, infants, and children. The role focuses on breastfeeding support, education, and referrals to services.

Responsibilities include clinic-based assessments, enrollment documentation, and follow-up on referrals, with travel to clinics as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a social, community, health, education, or nutritional field and two years of related experience.
• Equivalent education/experience totaling six years may substitute for the required education and experience.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.

Responsibilities

• Screen applicants to determine eligibility by income, residency, and nutritional risk.
• Provide nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support.
• Prescribe food packages and develop individual care plans as needed for high-risk participants.
• Refer participants to health and social services and document services provided.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Communication skills

Nutrition counseling

Education

Bachelor's degree in nutrition/health/science/education

Tools

WIC computer system

MyWIC apps

Job description

Posting Details

This is a continuous posting and may be used for ongoing recruitment. Applicant lists may be screened more than once.

Salary

$27.37 - $41.06 Hourly $56,931 - $85,396 Annually This position is a Pay Band C7

Posting Details

The New Mexico WIC Program, Department of Health and Family Health bureau safeguards the health of nutritionally at-risk low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infant, children and seniors by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, nutrition information for health eating, health counseling, breastfeeding support, nutrition classes, cooking classes, and referrals to health care providers and social services.

Why does the job exist?

To screen applicants to determine eligibility by assessing income, residency, and nutritional risk. Prescribes food packages. Provides group and one-on-one nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support that is responsive to the identified needs/interests of each participant. Identifies the need for individual care plans and implements them for high-risk participants. Refers participants to other health and social services and provides appropriate follow-up to referrals. Documents nutrition services provided, including referral and follow-up to referrals.

How does it get done?

Supports program operations by meeting caseload goals in performing clinic duties, traveling to clinics to perform services, outreach to health fairs and other programs to increase caseload, and provide customer service to applicants/participants. May provide intake/certification process of an applicant/participant including observation form, health assessment, breastfeeding women/infant evaluations, breastfeeding women/infant/child midpoint assessments; anthropometrics (heights, weights, hemoglobin), and immunization status by asking applicant/participant. Facilitate Nutrition Education classes using "Facilitators of Change" - Participant Centered Services (PCS) design. May provide clinical nutrition assessments and/or prescribe food packages. Provides group and one-on-one nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support that is responsive to the identified needs/interest of each participant. Identifies the need for individual care plans and implements them for high-risk participants. Refers participants to other health and social services and provides appropriate follow-up to referrals. Documents nutrition services provided, including referral and follow-up to referrals.

Who are the customers?

Qualified Pregnant, Breastfeeding and Post-partum women, infants and children - up to the age of five (5) years.

Ideal Candidate

The ability to communicate in both English and Spanish is highly valued; commitment to New Mexico WIC Mission to improve the health of eligible women, infants and children; strong communication skills - written and verbal - to educate participants and collaborate with colleagues and community partners; Cultural competence is crucial to understand the diverse cultures of a varied population; organizational skills needed to efficiently manage participant files, documents and clinic schedules; problem-solving skills to identify nutritional issues and develop effective strategies to help participants adopt healthy habits and healthy behaviors; proficient technical skills using WIC specific computer system and MyWIC apps; and a willingness to stay updated on nutrition research and incorporate new knowledge into daily practice.

Minimum Qualification

Bachelor's degree in a social, community, health, education, or nutritional field and two (2) years of experience as it pertains to the essential duties and responsibilities of the classification. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling six (6) years may substitute for the required education and experience.

Employment Requirements

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to visual/video display terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer and phone usage. Extended periods of driving and the ability to lift up to fifty (50) pounds may be required. Potential exposure to communicable diseases and moderate office noise, heat, cold, and smells. Incumbent may be required to respond to Public Health emergencies during non-traditional work hours. Some travel with occasional overnight stay may be required.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement and all terms/conditions of that agreement apply and must be adhered to.