ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND Grade 21

CLASS SPECIFICATION

NUTRITIONIST

DEFINITION OF CLASS:

This is journey level professional nutrition work planning, implementing and evaluating the nutrition education component of any of a variety of public health programs in order to provide consultation and education services to various client groups, and to educate and train health and human service professionals and the community. Contacts are with Health Department personnel, staff members of other County agencies, and target community groups for the purpose of providing subject matter advice and training based on the nutritional area of expertise, and planning and coordinating preventive health nutritional practice presentations. This class of work may entail some public service/assistance, but it is incidental to the primary focus of the work performed.
Important aspects of the work involve planning and implementing nutrition education activities in target communities to reduce the risks of heart disease and cancer, and recruiting and training community health advocates to deliver nutritional education in their neighborhoods. An employee in this class, working under the supervision of a higher level professional, independently performs work in accordance with established Health Department policies and procedures, and applicable Federal and State program regulations and guidelines. Guidelines are not completely applicable to the work performed, and a Nutritionist employs ingenuity and resourcefulness in adopting different approaches or methods. Complexity of the work is derived from the need to determine what specific target groups need to know, and what to do in order to improve their nutrition status and reduce health risks. The impact of the work performed will be improved health and disease prevention/reduction through improved diet in target populations. Work is performed in an office or community-based indoor facility, and no special measures are necessary to control environmental conditions or safeguard against injury. The work of the Nutritionist class is primarily sedentary.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)

Plans and implements the nutrition education component of any of a variety of programs.
Develops nutrition-oriented neighborhood coalitions and plans activities in order to promote, implement, and support community health prevention programs.
Recruits and trains community health advocates to deliver nutritional education in their neighborhoods.
Develops, and reviews and approves appropriate nutrition education materials to be used by target groups.
Facilitates community groups to identify nutrition education needs in target communities.
Monitors and evaluates delivery of nutrition education to clients by community health advocates.
Performs related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience:
Three (3) years of experience in the field of nutrition.
Education:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition or Dietetics.
Equivalency:
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Considerable knowledge of foods and nutrition theories and practices.
Considerable knowledge of human growth, development, and changes that occur with aging.
Knowledge of nutritional care in health programs.
Knowledge of the principles of public health.
Knowledge of the techniques of nutrition education.
Ability to teach nutrition principles and practices.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, and with community groups of varying cultural and economic backgrounds.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to interpret and implement Federal and State regulations for a nutrition program.
Ability to attend meetings or perform other assignments at locations outside the office.

LICENSE:

Possession of a valid license to practice dietetics issued by the Maryland State Board of Dietetic Practice. Possession of the nationally recognized Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) or Certification for Nutrition Specialist (CNS) will be accepted in lieu of the Maryland State Dietetic License for applicants applying for a Nutritionist position with the County; however, possession of the Maryland State Dietetic License is mandatory at time of appointment.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:

Individuals appointed or promoted to this class will be required to serve a probationary period of six months, during which time performance will be carefully evaluated. Continuation in this class will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.

MEDICAL PROTOCOL: Medical History Review.

Class Established: February 1976
Revised: September 1977
May 1978
June 1986
Corrected: July 1986
Revised: July 1990
February 1994(M)
December 2007