County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general direction, to plan, organize and direct a nutrition program in the Health Care and the Social Services Agencies; to consult with Agency and program personnel; to provide supervision and technical assistance to Nutritionists and unit staff, and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Senior Nutritionists assist in program planning, review and evaluation functions of the nutritional aspects of the program to which assigned, and are responsible for developing, updating, teaching and supervising nutrition program staff.

The Senior Nutritionist is distinguished from the lower level class of Nutritionist II in that the former has a more extensive range of responsibility for planning, monitoring, and evaluating the nutrition components of health programs. The Senior Nutritionist is also responsible for providing technical guidance and supervision to other Nutritionists and unit staff.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Develops long-range goals and specific objectives for a nutrition program and related programs with nutrition components.

2. Conducts needs assessment for nutrition services and nutrition education programs; coordinates implementation and evaluation of demonstration projects.

3. Provides supervision and/or technical guidance to nutritionists and unit staff.

4. Designs and coordinates field training programs for undergraduate and graduate nutrition students, dietetic interns, and volunteer peer educators.

5. Assists community groups in the development of standards for nutrition programs and in securing funding for these programs.

6. Interprets and explains nutrition programs and research findings to governmental agencies and community groups; participates in program departmental, countywide and state planning processes.

7. Designs, prepares, conducts, and updates in-service nutritional education programs for Agency staff and community groups.

8. Reviews and prepares pamphlets and other nutrition informational aids for dissemination to the community.

9. Prepares administrative and technical reports, informational publications, program documentation, policies, procedures, and other written materials.

10. Provides direct nutrition services to clients such as: counseling, nutrition educational classes and community outreach.

11. Oversees the maintenance of the electric pump logs; ensures that pump logs are updated on a monthly basis.

12. When assigned to WIC, may be responsible for clinic operation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

The equivalent of two years full-time experience as a Nutritionist II in the Alameda County classified service.

Or II

Experience:

The equivalent of four years full-time professional experience in public health nutrition or dietetics, one year of which must have included program planning and evaluation. Supervisory experience is highly desirable.

Substitution:

Possession of a Master’s degree in Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, Dietetics, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

Licenses and Certificates:

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
Possession of a current Registered Dietician (RD) certification or Registered Dietician Nutritionist (RDN) certification and good standing with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Current principles and practices of nutrition, including nutritional requirements for diverse age, cultural or socio-economic groups.
• Human nutrition and its relationship to health and disease.
• Anatomy, physiology, chemistry and biochemistry as it relates to nutrition.
• Accepted educational methods in health and recent research on nutrition.
• Community resources in public health nutrition.
• Methods used to develop and direct technical, educational, and consultative programs and services in nutrition.
• Methods used to develop and implement policies and procedures to attain nutrition goals.
• Principles of effective administrative/financial management and work organization.
• Techniques of program planning and evaluation.
• Methods of policy analysis.
• Methods of data collection and analysis.
• Management and supervision.
• Computer applications related to the work.

Ability to:

• Plan and organize.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing with attention to linguistic and cultural proficiency.
• Provide leadership.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationship with others.
• Manage, assign, review and evaluate the work of unit staff.
• Train unit staff in work assignments/procedures.
• Exercise independent judgment within established policies and guidelines.
• Understand and incorporate the Agency and Department’s core values and ethical standards of practice into all interactions with individuals, organizations and communities.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

LB:lm-h Revised: 7/85
Old doc: 0548h
New doc: 5794
ys/7/01
CSC Date: 7/24/85
DB:pf Rev. 9/23/02
CSC Date: 10/23/02
CC:pf Rev. 5/24/04
CSC Date: 7/21/04
LC: jf Revised 8/16/17
CSC Date: 9/13/17

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.