Job Description
Job ID: 27042
Agency: Department of Health
Location: Pierre, SD
Salary: $22.69 - 34.03, depending on experience
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
The South Dakota Department of Health's programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live, work and play; provide education to help people make good health decisions; prepare for, respond to, and prevent public health threats; and support efforts to enhance quality and accessibility of healthcare. Our services touch the lives of every person in the state of South Dakota.
We recognize that employees are our most valuable resource and we are committed to promoting a culture of excellence in DOH. We trust our employees to be innovative, challenge existing processes, and make the best decisions. We are interested in employing a diverse and skilled workforce that exhibits the values of leadership, accountability, communication, integrity, and teamwork. Public health is a diverse and growing field that offers many career options for people from a variety of educational backgrounds. Imagine yourself as part of a winning team that is making the lives of South Dakotans healthier and safer.
Please visit our website at http://doh.sd.gov/ and the www.sd.gov/wic for further information about the Department of Health and the WIC Program.
This opening is for a full-time Nutrition Educator (NE) with the SD Department of Health, Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) in the North Central Region. The NE works in collaboration with a healthcare team under the supervision of a Dietitian Manager.\The position provides services for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Food Program which promotes nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices and leads participants to develop a client-centered plan to meet identified needs. Functions of the position include, but are not limited to:
- nutrition and health assessments;
- interviews;
- nutrition and health education;
- breastfeeding education and support;
- linking clients to different resources;
- the NE consults with the WIC Dietitians to ensure special dietary needs of participant are met;
- counsels' high-risk participants, provides nutrition related technical assistance to team members, provides nutrition education in community settings, and works collaboratively with their local agency and region to develop nutrition, outreach, and breastfeeding goals for the population served;
- this position may provide additional Maternal Child Health services such as developmental screening and infant safe sleep education, and promotes immunizations, oral health, and other public health services;
- collaborates with community partners and providers to build effective working relationships, enhance referral pathways, and explore opportunities to partner in new and innovative ways.
Licenses and Certifications: Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Nutritional Sciences, Community Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, Dietetics, Public Health Nutrition or Home Economics or Consumer & Family Science (with emphasis in nutrition or with at least 12 hrs. of course work in Science and 12 hrs. course work in Nutrition), or a related field.
The Ideal Candidate Will Have: The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills that facilitate the establishment and maintenance of effective working relationships at the individual, group, and community levels. Will be organized, plan ahead, and set goals and priorities. Will demonstrate excellent customer service to all people served, and a commitment to maintain a positive work environment.
Knowledge of:
- motivational interviewing and client-centered counseling techniques; wellness coaching;
- principles and practices of food and nutrition sciences;
- infant safe sleep recommendations;
- breastfeeding education;
- infant/child developmental milestones.
Skills/Abilities to:
- motivate participants to make decisions/goals on how they would like to improve their nutritional status;
- provide nutrition and health information effectively via one-to-one and group settings; virtual settings (zoom, teams, telemedicine); phone and text; and/or online;
- share education at the client's level of understanding;
- prioritize and facilitate referrals within the context of multiple and complicated participant needs;
- apply federal and state regulations; policies and procedures in the functions of the position;
- work both autonomously and in a team environment, demonstrate flexibility;
- communicate effectively orally and in writing;
- demonstrate cultural competency when working with socioeconomically and culturally diverse populations;
- recognize opportunities for outreach, marketing, and partnership building;
- communicate effectively with language interpreters either in-person, by phone, or during virtual service delivery;
- multitask, prioritize complex situations and adapt to quickly shifting priorities.
Additional Requirements: To be considered, please attach your resume. This position is eligible for Veterans' Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.
NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.
The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.
The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/ . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.
Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=25
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"
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