Senior Nutritionist - WIC Department

Job Summary:

The Senior Nutritionist is a member of the local program management team responsible for the administration and management of all nutrition services and health care aspects of the program, which provides services to over 7,000 low income women and children in Lawrence, Methuen, Andover and North Andover.

Essential Functions/Key Responsibilities:

• Plans, supervises and evaluates the nutrition component of the program to ensure compliance with federal regulations and state policies, including all procedures for: determination of nutritional risk; nutrition and breastfeeding counseling and education; nutrition appointment schedule; follow-up nutrition education; food package prescriptions; health and social service referrals; nutrition care plans; and documentation of nutrition services.
• Develops local program nutrition procedures based on state WIC policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Recruits, hires (with Program Director), trains (with The Learning Center staff), and provides ongoing supervision for program nutritionists and nutrition assistants.
• Mentors staff to ensure the provision of effective nutrition services and education to families.
• With Program Director, defines staff responsibilities, work schedules, participant service hours, and participant flow.
• Supervises nutrition assistant staff in the completion of required activities to obtain CPA I and II status, within established timeframes.
• Ensures that nutrition staff have up-to-date knowledge and skills by ensuring that nutrition staff obtains 10 CEU credits annually, and, with Program Director, conducting annual nutrition staff reviews.
• Establishes schedules for follow-up nutrition education (individual and group).
• Plans, develops, reviews, monitors, and evaluates delivery of nutrition education; implements new strategies to enhance services.
• Oversees the planning, provision and evaluation of nutrition education associated with Farmers' Market.
• Attends WIC Nutritionist Work Group and Business Meetings and other required meetings at The Learning Center.
• Acts as nutrition liaison between GLCAC and the local health care community.
• Works with and supervises the Breastfeeding Coordinator to develop, implement and evaluate breastfeeding promotion and support activities, including the Mother-to-Mother Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program.
• Works with the Program Director and Community Coordinator to develop outreach and referral networks, and provide training, as needed, to community agencies and health care providers.
• Regularly visits and communicates with healthcare providers.
• Performs other duties as needed, including: certifying high-risk women, infants and children; providing nutrition education and referrals; assisting in program administration; and assisting with other program-sponsored activities.

Skills & Qualifications:

• One of the following:
  1. Master's degree in public health nutrition, nutrition, foods and nutrition, or nutrition education, and one year of post-graduate community nutrition experience.
  2. Registered Dietitian with one year of post-graduate community nutrition experience.
  3. Bachelor's degree in public health nutrition, nutrition, or nutrition education, and two years of post-graduate community nutrition experience.
• Experience in program planning and administration.
• Demonstrated leadership and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent communication skills.
• At least one year of experience in counseling.
• Licensure with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Dietitians and Nutritionists preferred. Registration with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, desired.
• Sensitivity to the needs of the participant population.
• Interest in nutrition and in maternal and child health.
• Available to work at least one Saturday a month.
• Ability to speak Spanish.
• Must have a suitable CORI & SORI completed within the first 30 days of employment.

Supervisory Responsibility:  Yes

Travel:   Travel between program sites and to regular off-site trainings and meetings is required. Must have own transportation and must have a current valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator’s license or equivalent from other state. 

Physical Demands: This job regularly requires the employee to sit, walk and stand as well as use hands repetitively to handle or operate standard office equipment. The employee is occasionally required to kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment: This job operates with a hybrid model with opportunities to work 2 remote days and 3 days in-office per week. GLCAC operates a professional office environment with standard office equipment, such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, fax machines.