Position Information
Nourishing lives, one family at a time. Join the County of Sonoma Department of Health Services as Bilingual (English/Spanish) Nutritionist - Extra Help!Starting salary up to $48.15/hour Plus, an additional $1.15/hour bilingual premium NOTE: Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum degree requirement for eligibility to take the registration examination for dietitians changed from a bachelor's degree to a graduate degree. All other didactic and supervised practice eligibility requirements remain the same. For more information on registration eligibility visit the Commission on Dietetic Registration .
About the Position As a Nutritionist, you will play a vital role in providing nutrition education and counseling to participants in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. Your responsibilities will include conducting nutrition assessments, creating care plans utilizing the Web Information System Exchange (WIC-WISE) database, and promoting healthy lifestyles for women who are pregnant, new mothers, and young children. Additional responsibilities include:
- Conducting nutrition assessments and counseling at any of our four WIC locations: Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Petaluma, or Guerneville. Appointments may be done in person, over the phone, or via a virtual platform.
- Developing and implementing nutrition education materials and nutrition education classes
- Collaborating with healthcare professionals and community partners and providing referrals to other health-related programs and social services
- Maintaining accurate participant records and documentation
- Staying updated on nutrition research and best practices
The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills and a desire to work with people from diverse and underrepresented demographics. They will be able to work both independently and as part of a team. They will also possess an exceptional work ethic and demonstrate empathy and self-awareness. Additionally, they will have:
- Current registration as a Registered Dietitian or Dietitian Nutritionist(RD/RDN) with the Commission of Dietetic Registration**
- Passion for promoting maternal and child health
- Knowledge of WIC program regulations and guidelines
- Substantial knowledge of nutritional needs for infants, children, and women who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding
**While not required at the time of application submission, certification must be obtained within 6 months of employment. For more information regarding eligibility for registration requirements please visit the Commission of Dietetic Registration website
Commission on Dietetic Registration (cdrnet.org)
Basic conversational English/Spanish proficiency is required for this position. Applicants who do not indicate that they possess this skill will not be considered for this recruitment. An examination will be conducted prior to employment to confirm skill level.
EXTRA-HELP EMPLOYMENT Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Temporary, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most employee benefits such as long-term disability insurance coverage; accrual of vacation; participation in the County retirement program; or eligibility to take promotional examinations.
Temporary, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of one calendar year. These employees must be off of work for three months before they can be re-employed on an extra help basis. Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.
This recruitment is being conducted to fill Bilingual (English/Spanish) Nutritionist - Extra Help position in the Department of Health Services. Bilingual positions require English and Spanish skills at the basic (conversational) level. Applicants who wish to be considered for a bilingual position must indicate their level of skill in the required supplemental questionnaire. An examination will be conducted prior to employment in a bilingual position to confirm the level of skill in this area. Bilingual premium pay is $1.15/hour for basic bilingual skills.
The Civil Service title for this position is Nutritionist.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Any combination of education and/or training which would provide an opportunity to acquire the above knowledge and abilities. A typical way to qualify is: Possession of a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with a major in food, nutrition, dietetics or a closely related field and completion of an internship in a program accredited by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level, including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Registration: Current registration as a Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration or eligibility for registration. Must obtain registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration within the six month probationary period.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Considerable knowledge of: the principles, techniques and practices of sound nutrition and dietary patterns; the educational methods and skills used in training others in the principles of nutrition and the manner in which the principles are applied to various phases of public health programs; the dietary requirements of various age and occupational groups, expectant mothers, and others with specialized food requirements; modern principles and techniques necessary for effective supervision.
Working knowledge of: the analytical and statistical research methods used in nutritional investigation and dietary studies; modern office practices, administration and recordkeeping; current sociological and economic problems pertaining to community health nutrition.
Ability to: apply methods and techniques used in nutrition investigation and dietary studies; plan, organize and conduct training programs on nutrition; supervise and assign the work of others in a manner conducive with effective operations and high morale; establish and maintain rapport with the community, other professionals and other staff; prepare clear and concise reports; analyze situations effective and implement an appropriate course of action.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.Responses to supplemental questions are used to evaluate your qualifications. Please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications.The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An
Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications for the position will be placed on an extra-help employment list and referred to the department. The department may contact candidates from the employment list who possess the most appropriate job-related qualifications for further consideration.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLY Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: BH
HR Technician: RR
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off : Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan : Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution towards the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit.For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU).A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.
Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .
IRS 457 Plan : Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical : County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
Closing Date/Time: Continuous
