WIC is looking to hire a career service Nutrition Assistant to join the Midway Public Health team in Des Moines. 
The Nutrition Assistant will provide services to clients participating in the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program, assess eligibility, and provide nutrition education to individuals and families - both through individual appointments and in a group or classroom setting. The Nutrition Assistant works closely with Registered Dietitians, Public Health Nurses, Social Workers, Community Health Workers in the Maternity Support Services and Infant Case Management (MSS/ICM) programs, and with healthcare workers from community partners.
  
 The successful candidate will exhibit excellent customer service skills, have the ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with our clients from various cultures, and communicate effectively with English as a Second Language (ESL) clients with the assistance of an interpreter. The candidate will also exhibit flexibility in managing tasks such as teaching classes, providing administrative support, and assisting with certification appointments.

Commitment to Racial Equity and Social Justice
 As the only jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
 
Applicants should be committed to working with diverse populations throughout King County to provide excellent customer service to a broad range of cultures, in accordance with the King County Equity and Social Justice Ordinance and the King County Strategic Plan.

• Gather and assess information for determining health and nutrition risk factors, program eligibility, client education, and referrals.
• Provide group nutrition education and individual nutrition education, which includes breastfeeding support. 
• Obtain and document anthropometric measurements for infants, children and adults, which includes obtaining blood samples for hemoglobin testing. 
• Respond to telephone inquiries – screen, schedule, and interview diverse clients to determine the appointment type and appropriate provider. 
• Document client information and services, and manage appointment schedules in various electronic records, including Cascades and Epic, to support both the WIC and MSS/ICM programs. 
• Provide direct customer service to a diverse clientele, providing WIC services, issuing and educating on the use of WIC checks, determining appointment types.
• Conduct WIC outreach and program tasks, such as generating end of day reports and client letters.
• Participate in WIC-related committees, including breastfeeding promotion activities, clinic health and information fairs, and the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. 
• Order and maintain program supplies and educational materials. 
• Participate in quality assurance activities. 
• Complete annual WIC trainings, and continuing nutrition and breastfeeding education requirements. 
• Use Microsoft Outlook and other electronic communication tools to coordinate work, and training requirements. 
• Ability to work with a variety of computer programs, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Suite – Teams, Word, Excel, and Outlook 
• Ability to lift and lower a child weighing up to 35 pounds onto a surface more than 4 feet high with or without accommodation

• Ability to complete the Washington State WIC paraprofessional competencies within 6 months of hire. 
• Ability to obtain Washington State Medical Assistant-Registered or Phlebotomist certification within 30 days of hire in order to perform hemoglobin/hematocrit testing on WIC participants.
• Ability to obtain a Washington State food worker card. 
• A current BLS for Healthcare Providers with AED certification before hire.
• Ability to apply nutrition and health promotion knowledge/practices in working with clients from diverse backgrounds to make positive changes in health behaviors.
• Working knowledge of basic nutrition theory and practice, medical terminology, asepsis practices, and universal precautions.
• Demonstrated ability to provide direct client services in a health care setting. 
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills related to basic cooking and food demonstration techniques. 
• Ability to understand various perspectives and listen to others without conveying judgment. 
• Excellent problem solving, priority setting, and organizational abilities.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. 

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play. 

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

(New) Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement 
As of October 18, 2021, most* King County employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  If hired, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination by October 18th.   People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.  Employees may make requests for a reasonable accommodation based on a medical disability or for sincerely held religious beliefs.  Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.
This directive applies to employees in the Executive branch*, the Assessor’s Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the Executive Office.  

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Who May Apply
This position is open to all qualified candidates. We are currently recruiting for 1 full-time Career Service position. This is FLSA non-exempt and eligible for overtime. 
 
Application Process: 
The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• An electronic application through www.kingcounty.gov/jobs or www.governmentjobs.com (use the "Apply" link) including work history and position duties.
• Responses to supplemental questions.

• The selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities, work location, and working hours.