State of Maryland

A Nutritionist V is advanced administrative and consultative work in the field of public health nutrition.  Employees in this classification are responsible for planning, coordinating, and evaluating the nutrition component(s) of statewide programs of the Maryland Department of Health.  Employees in this classification are required to exhibit administrative ability, as well as judgment and initiative as a program facilitator and systems specialist in statewide multi-programs at the program administration level of work.   Employees in this classification are responsible for planning, developing and implementing the nutritional care and education components of both generalized and specialized health programs, frequently through other personnel.  Employees in this classification may provide technical assistance to the nutrition staff of local health departments.  Employees in this classification are responsible for stimulating, promoting, and integrating generalized and specialized nutrition services into programs of local health agencies and residential facilities, and may have responsibility for planning and implementing special studies and projects to improve and evaluate nutrition services in the State.  Employees in this classification are also responsible for stimulating staff development through in-service training, staff meetings, and individual conferences.  Employees in this classification may supervise lower-level Nutritionists, graduate students and clerical staff.

Employees in this classification receive administrative supervision from program administration directors, and professional supervision from the Chief, Division of Nutrition.  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 V is differentiated from the Nutritionist IV in that Nutritionist V is responsible for the planning, coordinating, and evaluating nutrition component(s) of statewide programs of the Maryland Department of Health while 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.

Provides consultant advice in nutrition planning, programming and evaluation to one or more major statewide administrations;

Assists in the planning, development, coordination and evaluation of public health nutrition programs;

Recommends and develops policies, procedures and standards to promote and strengthen nutrition services;

Provides technical nutrition-related consultation to professional staff of local health departments, State facilities, other State agencies, and health-oriented programs of other organizations;

Plans, directs and implements special projects and studies or participates as a team member in related projects and studies;

Assesses the need for, plans, and directs continuing education and orientation programs for staff development;

Supervises the development and evaluation of nutrition materials, and may develop nutrition information materials for local and State health programs;

Plans and supervises field training and continued education for undergraduate and graduate field students, foreign exchange and other visiting health professional;

Provides orientation and in-service education in nutrition to professional staff of the State and local departments, to professional staff of other agencies and organizations and to paraprofessionals in health and consumer-oriented programs;

Supervises the maintenance of updated technical resource materials and maintains a system of sharing pertinent information with nutrition staff (State, local, city, projects, voluntary health agencies) and other professional staff;

Prepares program plans, reports, and budgets;

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, organization, 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;

Knowledge of the basic principles of personnel and budget administration;

Knowledge of the processes of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling;

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 lower-level Nutritionists and other nutrition personnel.

Education:   A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Community Health, Nutrition or Public Health.

Experience: Five years of experience providing professional dietetic or nutrition services, three years must have been in a public health or community setting and one year must have been at the administrative, consultative or supervisory level.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in Community Health, Nutrition or Public Health for two years of the required general professional nutrition or dietetic services experience.

2. Candidates may substitute education as determined by the Maryland State Board of Dietetic Practice under the licensing requirements for Nutritionists and Dietitians and six years of experience providing professional dietetic or nutrition services, three years must have been in a public health or community setting and one year must have been at the administrative, consultative or supervisory level for the required education and experience.

3. 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.