State of Maryland

A Nutritionist III is professional work at the administrative and consultative level in the field of community nutrition.  Employees in this classification function as Director of either a generalized community nutrition program of a small-sized or medium-sized county agency, or of a medium-sized to large-sized nutrition subprogram, such as WIC, or Maternal and Child Health, of a local agency.  Employees in this classification that function Directors of county-wide Nutrition Programs are responsible for planning, implementing, evaluating, coordinating, and revising the nutrition component of the agency’s services and programs and also collaborate with other agency personnel in the planning of a multi-agency nutrition program.  Employees in this classification that function as Directors of Subprograms are responsible for planning, coordinating, and evaluating the program for a specialized area of nutrition.  Employees in this classification exercise considerable judgment and initiative in planning and coordinating the program within the limits of established policies and in maintaining high standards of service.  Employees in this classification normally supervise lower-level Nutritionists, paraprofessionals and clerical staff.

Employees in this classification that function as Nutrition Program Directors receive administrative supervision from the Health Officer of a local health agency.  Employees in this classification that function as Directors of Subprograms receive general supervision from a higher-level Nutritionist.  Work is evaluated through conferences and written reports in terms of the overall effectiveness of the program.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Nutritionist III is differentiated from the Nutritionist II in that the Nutritionist III functions as Directors of generalized community Nutrition Programs for small-sized or medium-sized county agencies, or as Directors of medium-sized to large-sized Nutrition Subprograms while the Nutritionist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Nutritionist III is differentiated from the Nutritionist IV in that the Nutritionist IV functions as Directors of generalized community Nutrition Programs of large-sized county or multi-county agencies, or as statewide Consultants for a specialized area of nutrition.    

Plans, implements, directs, and evaluates a generalized nutrition program of a small-sized or medium-sized county health agency, or a medium-sized to large-sized nutrition subprogram involving administrative responsibilities;

Provides continuous assessment of the population’s nutritional needs and recommends or initiates appropriate action;

Provides technical consultation to professional and paraprofessional staff of the health agency and of other official and voluntary agencies;

Recommends policies and procedures to promote and strengthen nutrition services;

Plans and implements orientation and in-service education for professional and paraprofessional staff of the local health agency and other organizations;

Plans, implements, and supervises field training for undergraduate or graduate students in public health nutrition or related fields and other professional visitors;

Develops and evaluates nutrition education methodology;

Assesses the need for, prepares, and develops nutrition education materials;

Cooperates with other agencies, professional and lay groups; and coordinates the nutrition program of the local health agency with that of other agencies or programs;

Promotes the use of inter-agency referral systems and other methods to assure continuity of nutritional care;

Prepares program plans, reports, and budgets;

May conduct special nutrition programs, surveys, or studies, and participate in broad research which includes a nutrition component;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge, at the expert level, of basic and applied human nutrition in health and disease;

Knowledge of human growth and development;

Knowledge of the techniques of nutrition education and counseling;

Knowledge of meal planning;

Knowledge of food procurement, preparation, storage, and handling standards;

Knowledge of nutritional care in health programs;

Knowledge of the interrelationships of social, cultural and economic factors as  they affect food habits;

Knowledge of public health goals, practices, and administration;

Knowledge of nutritional care services and resources;

Knowledge of research methodology and evaluation;

Knowledge of survey design, methodology, and evaluation;

Knowledge of health care programs and delivery systems;

Ability to communicate effectively; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships;

Ability to plan, organize and direct a public health nutrition program;

Ability to supervise the work of students and paraprofessional nutrition personnel.

Education:   Determined by the Maryland State Board of Dietetic Practice under the licensing requirements for Nutritionists and Dietitians.

Experience: Three years of experience providing professional nutrition or dietetic services, one year of which must include experience in a public health or community setting.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master’s degree in Community Health, Nutrition or Public Health from an accredited college or university for one year of the required general experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Dietitian and Nutritionist classification or Dietitian and Nutritionist specialty codes in the Dietitian field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1.  Candidates for positions in this classification must possess a current license as a Dietitian or Nutritionist from the Maryland State Board of Dietetic Practice, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215 prior to permanent appointment.

2.  Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit E- Health Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.