Public Health Nutritionist Supervisor

The Louisiana Department of Health is dedicated to fulfilling its mission through direct provision of quality services, the development and stimulation of services of others, and the utilization of available resources in the most effective manner.

LDH serves as a model employer for individuals with disabilities.

About this position:

This position is located within the Louisiana Department of Health / Office of Public Health / Region 8 - Parish Health   /  Ouachita Parish.

Announcement Number:  OPH/AS/196901

Cost Center:  3262109008

Position Number(s):  55879

This vacancy is being announced as a Classified position and will be filled as a Probationary appointment.

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

Public Health Nutritionist Supervisor/Registered Dietitian (RD)

The incumbent of this position will serve as a Public Health Nutritionist Supervisor /Registered Dietitian (RD) within the Bureau of Regional and Clinical Operations in Louisiana Public Health Northeast Region (Region 8). This RD will work within clinic(s) throughout the region providing services for the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The Northeast Region services the parishes of Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, and West Carroll. WIC services are provided to approximately 7,000 participants in eleven (11) public health units across the Region.

The duties and responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to:

•    Provide supervisory support and oversight to lower level Public Health Nutritionists, Health Educators, and/or Nutrition Educators, including contract staff.

•    Conduct nutritional assessments of WIC participants, determine nutritional risk, counsel according to nutritional risk, and prescribe food packages according to individual need(s) and program allowances.

•    Serves as a High Risk Nutritionist for the WIC Program.

•    Performs anthropometric measurements and laboratory testing independently.

•    Approves exempt formula prescriptions/medical documentation forms and assures formula requisition is timely.

•    Maintains knowledge of infant formula and other nutritionals offered to WIC participants on the Louisiana WIC formulary.

•    Develops and maintains a relationship with area service providers in order to appropriately communicate the needs of WIC participants served.

•    Orders exempt formula for WIC participants

•    Oversees the formula inventory system for assigned locations. Provides recommendations and adjusts as needed.

•    Serves as preceptor for eligible dietetic interns working toward RD credentials and licensure and provides a thorough and engaging dietetics rotation on community nutrition, breastfeeding and maternal child health.

•    Monitors and approves nutrition assessments and clinic notes completed by the Public Health Nutritionist 1, who is operating under a provisional license (if applicable).

•    Provides breastfeeding education and support.

•    Provides training classes to clients to demonstrate appropriate breast pump use.

•    Directs and supervises staff in performing all outreach activities in community area(s) assigned to increase awareness of nutrition services provided by Parish Health Units (PHU) and contract WIC clinic sites.

•    Provides supervision to staff in coordinating management evaluation (ME) activities.

•    Manages overall clinic flow to ensure adequate staff coverage and smooth operation at all times.

•    Collaborates with other program supervisors to provide wrap-around services to WIC participants including other health and social services programming.

•    Refers participants to other Office of Public Health (OPH) and community resources, including dentist, immunization, physician, Early Steps, and other referrals as appropriate.

•    Stays abreast of local community assistance programs/offerings in order to make recommendations for preventative care for family units participating in the WIC program and other OPH services.

•    Assists with the duties of the Public Health Nutritionist Manager (Regional Nutritionist) in his/her absence.

•    Manages the performance and development of direct reports.

•    Completes Performance Evaluation System (PES) documents as required for direct reports.

•    Manages and certifies time and attendance, ensuring direct reports are maintaining a productive work schedule, coding time correctly, and requesting leave according to appropriate policy and procedure.

•    Counsels, develops and monitors supervisory plans, and recommends disciplinary action where appropriate.

•    Assists the Public Health Nutritionist Manager (Regional Nutritionist) in coordination of all aspects of food service and nutrition departments in area Special Needs Shelters and General Population Shelters during times of emergency.

•    Completes all required trainings, including annual emergency operations training, and is available during times of crisis in accordance with LDH all-hazards response policy (LDH Policy 65.2).

•    Travels to WIC sites throughout the Region to provide services as needed and when required.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

• Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.*

A resume upload will NOT populate your information into your application. Work experience left off your electronic application or only included in an attached resume is not eligible to  receive credit.

For further information about this vacancy contact:

Angela Selders

 angela.selders@la.gov

LDH/HUMAN RESOURCES

BATON ROUGE, LA 70821

 225 342-6477

This organization participates in E-verify, and for more information on E-verify, please contact DHS at 1-888-464-4218.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Possession of a regular Louisiana Dietitian/Nutritionist License plus three years of professional level experience in public health nutrition or dietetics in a clinical or hospital setting.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

A master's degree in nutrition, dietetics, food and nutrition, food systems management, institutional management, public health, public administration or management will substitute for one year of the required experience.

A Ph.D. in nutrition, dietetics, food and nutrition, food systems management, institutional management, public health, public administration or management will substitute for two years of the required experience.

Advanced degrees will substitute for a maximum of two years of the required experience.

NOTE:

Any college hours or degree must be from an accredited college or university.

FUNCTION OF WORK:

To serve as a licensed nutritionist responsible for implementing nutrition services through the supervision of nutrition staff in a parish health unit.

LEVEL OF WORK:

Supervisor.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Broad from a Public Health Nutritionist Manager. Other reporting relationships may be approved by SCS.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Direct over lower-level Public Health Nutritionists and nutrition support staff. Other reporting relationships may be approved by SCS.

LOCATION OF WORK:

Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health.

JOB DISTINCTIONS:

Differs from Public Health Nutritionist 3 by the presence of direct supervisory responsibilities.

Differs from Public Health Nutritionist Manager by the absence of responsibility for managing Nutrition Services in a region.

EXAMPLES BELOW ARE A BRIEF SAMPLE OF COMMON DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS JOB TITLE. NOT ALL POSSIBLE TASKS ARE INCLUDED.

Implements all OPH nutrition programs in a health unit.

Assesses staffing needs and recommends staffing patterns to the Public Health Nutritionist Manager.

Supervises the budgetary allocation for nutrition programs for the parish health unit.

Interprets state policy and procedures regarding the federally funded Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and other nutrition programs.

Coordinates and conducts WIC management evaluations for the parish health unit to assure compliance with federal regulations, makes recommendations, evaluates need for follow up, and completes written reports.

Participates in the employment, orientation, training, and supervision of Public Health Nutritionists and nutrition support staff.

Evaluates the job performance and productivity of subordinates through observation, record review, and written reports.

Supervises the development of nutrition care plans, nutrition assessments, and nutrition interventions.

Plans community nutrition needs assessments targeting nutrition and physical activity risks for chronic diseases.

Participates in coalition formation with community leaders, businesses, parents, and other professionals to mobilize the community to improve dietary habits and increase physical activity.

Participates in professional continuing education to maintain competency and licensure.

Identifies areas of need in assigned parishes and plans, prepares, conducts and evaluates in-service training for OPH staff on a full range of nutrition topics and programs.