Careers

Description:

Summary

 

Public Health - Seattle & King County is seeking a Nutrition Assistant to provide services at our WIC clinics as a part of our North Regional Team. The Nutrition Assistant will provide services to clients participating in the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program, assess eligibility, and provide nutrition education to individuals and families - both through individual appointments and in a group or classroom setting. The Nutrition Assistant works closely with Registered Dietitians, Public Health Nurses, Social Workers, Community Health Workers in the Maternity Support Services and Infant Case Management (MSS/ICM) programs, and with healthcare workers from community partners.

 

The successful candidate will exhibit excellent customer service skills, have the ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with our clients from various cultures, and communicate effectively with English as a Second Language (ESL) clients with the assistance of an interpreter. The candidate will also exhibit flexibility in managing tasks such as teaching classes, providing administrative support, and assisting with certification appointments.

 

Background

The Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program is for pregnant individuals, new and breastfeeding moms, and children under age 5. WIC supports mothers and children through healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and connections to additional resources and programs like First Steps.

 

Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months. 

 

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation’s history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

 

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

 

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

 

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

 

Work Schedule

Typical work schedule: workdays and hours will vary based on business need, currently between 8:00am-6:00pm Monday through Friday. Workdays and hours will be determined at time of hire, may vary based on client service needs, and may include some early morning, evening, and weekend hours. This position may work at various sites throughout King County, depending on business need. This is a Non-Exempt position and is subject to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible.

 

Work Location

This is a North Regional B position and will serve multiple sites throughout North and East King County and parts of Seattle, with a base site at Eastgate Public Health Center at 14350 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue. The candidate must have the ability to work and travel to sites throughout North and Central King County and drive a King County-issued car.

 

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. 

 

Job Duties

 

• Provide direct customer support and WIC services to diverse families, issue benefits and provide support on how to use WIC benefits.
• Gather and assess information to determine program eligibility, health and nutrition risk factors, and needs of families.
• Provide client education and support, provide and follow up on referrals.
• Provide individual and group nutrition education, including breast/chestfeeding support.
• Obtain and document anthropometric measurements for infants, children and adults, including obtaining blood samples for hemoglobin testing.
• Respond to telephone inquiries – screen, schedule, and interview diverse clients to determine client needs.
• Schedule appropriate appointment type with appropriate provider.
• Document client information and services, manage appointment schedules in Cascades computer system.
• Conduct WIC outreach and program tasks, such as generating reports and client letters.
• Participate in WIC-related committees, including breast/chestfeeding promotion activities, clinic health and information fairs, and the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.
• Order and maintain program supplies and educational materials.
• Participate in quality assurance activities.
• Complete annual WIC trainings and continuing nutrition and breast/chestfeeding education requirements.
• Use Microsoft Outlook, Teams and other electronic communication tools to coordinate work and training requirements.
• Ability to lift and lower a child weighing up to 35 pounds onto a surface more than 4 feet high with or without accommodation.

Skills/Eligibility:

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

 

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (Minimum):

• Deep knowledge and commitment to racial equity and social justice principles and practices.
• Ability to complete the Washington State WIC competencies within 4 months of hire.
• Ability to obtain Washington State Medical Assistant-Registered or Phlebotomist certification within 30 days of hire in order to perform hemoglobin/hematocrit testing for WIC participants.
• Ability to obtain a Washington State food worker card.
• A current CPR BLS for Healthcare Providers with AED certification before hire.
• Experience working with a variety of computer programs, including, but not limited to Microsoft Suite – Teams, Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to apply nutrition and health promotion knowledge/practices in working with clients from diverse backgrounds to support healthy families.
• Knowledge or ability to learn basic nutrition theory and practice, medical terminology, asepsis practices, and universal precautions.
• Ability to provide direct client services in a health care setting.
• Knowledge or ability to learn skills related to basic cooking and food demonstration techniques.
• Ability to understand various perspectives and listen to others without conveying judgment.
• Excellent problem solving, priority setting, and organizational abilities.

 

The most competitive applicants will have the following experiences and qualifications (Desired): 

• Bilingual in Spanish, or other language spoken by most WIC clients.
• A working knowledge of nutrition theory and practice.
• Experience or training providing WIC in a clinic setting.
• Experience providing nutrition education to diverse populations.

How to Apply:

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.