Supervising Public Health Nutritionist - County of Orange

SUPERVISING PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST

In addition to performance-based merit increases, this position is scheduled to receive a salary range increase on the following date:
 
Effective June 27, 2025 – 4.00% increase
 

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

• Bilingual pay: Qualified employees who meet the criteria found (page 18) shall receive an additional forty $0.40 cents per hour for all hours paid.

This recruitment is open to the public for a minimum of five (5) business days and will remain open on a continuous basis until 11:59 p.m. (PST) on the day the needs of the County are met. Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

 

This recruitment is being held to establish an Open eligible list to fill current and future vacancies within the Health Care Agency. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

THE AGENCY

The County of Orange, Health Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the leadership of the Agency Director, a dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five (5) service areas - Strategy and Special Projects, Mental Health and Recovery Services, Correctional Health Services, Medical Health Services and Public Health Services - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.  

THE DEPARTMENT

Through assessment, policy development and assurance, Public Health Services provides a wide range of services aimed at reducing death and disability by reducing the transmission of communicable diseases, preventing and lessening the impact of chronic diseases, and ensuring healthy and safe environments.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Nutrition Services currently has one (1) vacancy for Supervising Public Health Nutritionist (SPHN).   The Supervising Public Health (PH) Nutritionist has primary responsibility for the implementation of nutrition programs and regulations per Federal and State requirements.  The incumbent will be responsible for the operational supervision of two (2) to three (3) field teams in a designated geographic area, address client concerns and work in clinics as needed.  The incumbent will be expected to perform clinic duties as needed.

The incumbent will have operational supervision which includes monitoring and training personnel, resolving client and staff/partner issues and conducting routine quality assurance activities. There will be caseload/workload management and developing plans for caseload improvement. This position will also have a key role in the planning, initiation and evaluation of future nutrition projects by assessing the knowledge, practices and opportunities in the community to improve access and provision of services.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate will be a Registered Dietitian with a minimum of five (5) years of supervisory and/or program collaborative experience.  Two (2) or more years of experience working in a Women, Infants and Children program and/or public health nutritional setting is highly preferred. In addition, the ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities in the following competencies:

• Technical Knowledge | Technical Experience

• Maintaining normal, therapeutic and public health nutrition programs including current research and the food system
• Providing nutrition care and services to populations and individuals at each stage of life and for a range of clinical and socio-economic conditions
• Developing and implementing population-based community interventions to guide individual clients to choose healthier diets
• Incorporating public health functions and essential public health nutrition services; community nutrition assessments, and program, personnel, fiscal and data management skills
• Applying, planning, managing, and evaluating techniques to public health nutrition programs and/or individual client needs
• Assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating activities, projects and programs in order to meet defined public health measures
• Monitoring nutrition policies, procedures, protocols and quality improvement systems and contract deliverables, to assure consistency, effectiveness and compliance
• Interacting with mid and high level managers and government officials, directors, community leaders and other health professionals, educators and the public

• Supervision | Leadership

• Building and leading teams and processes
• Collaborating with internal and external units to accomplish teamwork
• Facilitating and demonstrating team work and cooperation
• Applying conflict resolution skills by using an effective leadership style to inspire and motivate staff and strategic partners
• Reporting on team progress/partnerships to upper management as needed

• Analytical Thinking | Judgment

• Ensuring accountability for contract and program deliverables
• Managing workload effectively, following directions and meeting program deadlines
• Operating clinics and programs with a high level of autonomy and independence
• Providing critical and relevant information to program management in a timely manner
• Being adaptable and flexible while maintaining a focus on program quality of care and service

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Click here to learn more about the minimum qualifications for the Supervising Public Health Nutritionist classification as well as the physical and mental requirements and the environmental and working conditions.

PHYSICAL & MENTAL REQUIREMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Requirements

Must have the body mobility to walk, climb stairs, reach, bend, twist, reach overhead and stoop; stamina to sit for a prolonged period of time (up to one hour); strength to lift and carry or push and pull objects such as boxes of materials and supplies, which may weigh up to 25 lbs.; hearing for normal conversations, ability to work in diverse environments; and the ability to drive a car.

Environmental Conditions

Will be required to work in clinic or community environment; may work with individuals who have a communicable disease; may be assigned to evenings and/or weekends.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer) 
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

Structured Oral Interview (Weighted 100%)
Applicants will be interviewed and rated by an oral interview panel of job knowledge experts. Each applicant's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the applicant's qualifications for the job.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures. 
 
Eligible List 
Once the assessment process has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.