NUTRITION SPECIALIST

DEFINITION

This is senior-level professional and administrative public health nutrition work.

This description may not include all of the duties, knowledge, skills, or abilities associated with this classification.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

Plans, implements, and coordinates statewide comprehensive public health nutrition programs, or plans and implements nutrition services for a specialized public health program where nutrition component is of substantial scope.

Provides consultation to administrative and program staff relative to nutritional needs and services.

Performs needs assessments, establishes long and short range goals and objectives, and prepares budget relative to assigned public health nutrition program.

Develops, coordinates, and implements core public health nutrition functions of assessment, policy development, and assurance.

Serves as a nutrition consultant, in an area of nutrition specialty to administrators, professional, and allied health staff of public health and related agencies.

Directly supervises and/or provides professional supervision and consultation to lower level nutritionists in accomplishing the goals of specialized public health nutrition programs or grant projects.

Reviews, interprets, and transmits current scientific information, epidemiological data, survey data, and/or trends analysis regarding assigned nutrition specialty area.

Plans, organizes, and conducts specialized nutrition training sessions for nutritionists and other health-related professionals.

Reviews and prepares reports, records, and correspondence related to assigned nutrition specialty area.

Establishes strategic plan and submits budget proposal relative to the assigned nutrition specialty or grant project; accounts for assigned program budget areas.

Conducts on-going nutrition needs assessment and evaluation of services to ensure that needs are met and services are compatible with overall public health program.

Develops and maintains partnerships (public/private) with groups concerned with specialized nutrition area and its impact on health.

Coordinates and integrates specialized nutritional services with departmental public health programs and other nutritional services.

Serves as a preceptor for dietetic practicums.

Exercises significant independence and initiative in the performance of responsibilities; receives general administrative direction.

Performs other related work as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

Comprehensive knowledge of current developments in pubic health nutrition and their application to statewide and/or local nutrition programs.

Comprehensive knowledge of social, cultural, and economic problems, and their impact on public health nutrition.

Comprehensive knowledge of educational materials and resources, methods, and techniques of presenting nutrition information to groups.

Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of nutrition and food, particularly in relation to health and disease.

Intermediate knowledge of research methods as applied to public health nutrition.

Ability to effectively supervise and/or direct the work of others.

Ability to analyze, evaluate, interpret, and promote a statewide public health nutritional service.

Ability to coordinate a specialized statewide nutrition service.

Ability to communicate effectively.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with professional and lay groups, other employees, and the general public.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

(The following requirements will determine merit system eligibility, experience and education ratings, and may be used to evaluate applicants for Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System positions not requiring selection from merit registers. When practical and possible, the Division of Personnel will accept substitution of experience and education on a year-for-year basis.)

Two or more years of experience as a Nutritionist III with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System.

OR

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 15 earned credit hours in Foods and Nutrition, including at least one course in diet therapy and one course in community nutrition or nutrition in life cycle; and,

Six or more years of professional experience as a dietitian or nutritionist, including four or more years in public health nutrition.

(24 earned graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university in the specified areas may substitute for one year of the required general experience. A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in the specified areas my substitute for two years of the required general experience.)

(Earned graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university after completion of the Master's degree in the specified areas may substitute on a year-for-year basis for a maximum of two years of the required specialized experience at a rate of 24 earned graduate credit hours for one year of experience.)

OR

Completion of an undergraduate curriculum in Nutrition or Dietetics in a program accredited or approved by the American Dietetic Association; and,

Six or more years of professional experience as a dietitian or nutritionist, including four or more years in public health nutrition.

(24 earned graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university in the specified areas may substitute for one year of the required general experience. A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in the specified areas may substitute for two years of the required general experience.)

(Earned graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university after completion of the Master's degree in the specified areas may substitute on a year-for-year basis for a maximum of two years of the required specialized experience at a rate of 24 earned graduate credit hours for one year of experience.)

OR

A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Public Health Nutrition, Human Nutrition, Nutrition Education, or Dietetics; and,

Four or more years of professional experience as a dietitian or public health nutritionist.

(Earned graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university after completion of the Master's degree in the specified areas may substitute on a year-for-year basis for a maximum of two years of the required experience at a rate of 24 earned graduate credit hours for one year of experience.)

OR

Registration as a Registered Dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration; and,

Five or more years of professional experience as a dietitian or nutritionist.

(24 earned graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university in Public Health Nutrition, Human Nutrition, Nutrition Education, or Dietetics may substitute for one year of the required experience. A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Public Health Nutrition, Human Nutrition, Nutrition Education, or Dietetics may substitute for two years of the required experience.)

(Earned graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university after completion of the Master's degree in Public Health Nutrition, Human Nutrition, Nutrition Education, or Dietetics may substitute on a year-for-year basis for a maximum of two years of the required experience at a rate of 24 earned graduate credit hours for one year of experience.)

(Revised 9/1/06 )