NUTRITION PROG COORD (WIC PROGRAM)/ PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST NUTRITION PROGRAM COORDINATOR (WIC PROGRAM)

Code: 07363 Local Non-Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction, plans, organizes, directs, and supervises the operation of a special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children (WIC); organizes and implements the program in order to provide supplemental food, nutrition, education, and access to health care for women, infants, and children; does other related duties.

Under direction, organizes, plans, and conducts nutrition programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Manages and supervises the day to day operations of the WIC Program.
• Organizes, directs, and coordinates a comprehensive nutrition program.
• Explains the purpose and operation of the WIC Program to staff, participants, and related health participants, to potential eligible persons, especially those with high risk health care problems and nutritional needs.
• Establishes and manages projects, existing plans and budgets.
• Directs the management of caseload in accordance with the WIC program's monthly caseload management plan.
• Implements the project to assure maximum service to participants.
• Supervises the referral of participants to other health care providers as necessary.
• Supervises the screening of possible participants for eligibility according to federal guidelines.
• Directs the conducting of hearings for local recipients threatened with termination or discontinuation with the WIC program.
• Supervises and coordinates the issuing of food vouchers.
• Gives suitable assignments and instructions to individuals and groups and supervises their work.
• Collects data and evaluates the effectiveness of the nutrition program.
• Works with participating supermarkets in controlling the proper use of vouchers.
• Maintains a cooperative relationship with agencies concerned with the nutritional program.
• Supervises the acquisition, storage, and distribution of necessary supplies and equipment.
• Plans and implements an effective nutrition education program.
• Prepares a variety of reports as required.
• Maintains fiscal and program records.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Organizes, plans, and conducts a nutrition program or nutrition programs for a public agency.
• Evaluates nutrition programs and recommends policies, standards, and services to meet the needs of the people served and the objectives of the program.
• Advises health and other agencies on nutritional phases of their program.
• Instructs individuals and groups in the basic principles of nutrition, basic food requirements for attainment and maintenance of good health, and the influence of proper nutrition on normal growth and development.
• Analyzes, evaluates, and interprets the results of community nutrition surveys.
• Organizes and carries out community programs designed to prevent and control dietary deficiency diseases.
• Through individual or group conferences, instructs public health nurses, social workers, and others in the dietary aspects of prenatal care, child health, adult health, and chronic diseases and aging including specific information on available food, current food costs, food habits of specific cultural groups, and interpretation of special diets.
• May give assignments and instructions to subordinate personnel connected with the nutrition program and supervise performance of their work.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with local health agencies, community groups, and other agencies interested in the problems related to food and nutrition.
• Integrates nutrition services with related community programs.
• Assists in joint planning among voluntary and official health agencies to promote effective use of nutrition and diet counseling staff.
• May assist members of the local health agency in surveys and inspections of food services in facilities that provide such services.
• Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and detailed statistical and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Maintains essential records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Possession of a bachelor's degree in nutrition, community nutrition, food and nutrition, community dietetics, dietetics, or home economics from an accredited college or university.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Public Health with a major in Nutrition or possession of a Master's degree in Nutrition.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience in managing or supervising a public health, nutritional and/or health education program.

One (1) year of experience in dietetics or nutrition.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than the employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Appointees may be required to possess certification as a Registered Dietician by the Commission Dietetics Registration of the American Dietetic Association.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the purpose, procedures, and problems encountered in the administration of a specially funded program for target populations.
• Knowledge of the methods, procedures, and problems involved in mobilizing resources and facilities to service a target population.
• Knowledge of cultural, social, and economic problems of low income families as they relate to public health nutrition.
• Ability to enlist the interest and cooperation of community organizations.
• Ability to plan work effectively and to communicate and present ideas.
• Ability to speak well in public or at group meetings.
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with individuals, groups, and other health professionals.
• Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and informative reports.
• Ability to develop effective work methods, to give suitable assignments and instructions to groups and individuals, and to provide them with needed advice and assistance when difficult and unusual problems arise.
• Ability to direct the keeping of all related records and files.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficient to perform the duties of the position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known disability. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• LG - MCK 12/10/99
• This job specification is for local government use only.
• PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST
• Knowledge of principles and practices of modern nutrition and dietetics and of foods and food requirements.
• Knowledge of modern public health administration and public health objectives in the field of human nutrition.
• Knowledge of principles and methods of nutrition education and their application and adaptation to specific situations.
• Knowledge of social and economic problems as they apply to public health nutrition.
• Ability to plan, develop, and carry out a nutrition program.
• Ability to develop work programs, give assignments to individuals and groups, and evaluate the performance of their work.
• Ability to act as a consultant and advisor on foods and human nutrition and to interpret the public health program.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative work relationships with individuals and groups.
• Ability to plan and participate in community meetings and conferences.
• Ability to collect and prepare appropriate educational materials and visual aids.
• Ability to compose correspondence.
• Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative, statistical, and other reports and studies containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODES: LG- CAH 3/3/97
• This job specification is for local government use only.
• TITLE CODE FOR DUAL TITLE: LG -
• This job specification is for local government use only

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Possession of a Master's degree in public health nutrition, community nutrition, nutrition, nutrition and dietetics, home economics, nutrition education, food and nutrition, public health, administration, or management may be substituted for one (1) year of the above experience.

The definition and examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.