Position Summary

Under the direction of the Director of Learning Support Services, the Nutrition Education Specialist II will work with county and district school staff to implement nutrition education programs and promote regular physical activity in qualifying schools and county-based programs.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Nutrition Education Specialist II will collaborate with multiple programs, partners and districts to support Districts’ Wellness Policy goals with an emphasis on nutrition education through Harvest of the Month programming for classrooms, as well as physical education in a variety of settings which may include classrooms and afterschool.

Supervision Received and Exercised

This position is under the general supervision of the Director of Learning Support Services.

Examples of Duties

• Organizes and assists teachers with implementation of nutrition education within the classroom;
• Plans and conducts nutrition education to parent groups upon request;
• Designs and conducts professional development opportunities on nutrition education topics;
• Disseminates program information to appropriate groups and individuals;
• Provides technical assistance to school districts in developing federally mandated school wellness policies;
• Evaluates and adapts nutrition education materials for classroom instruction, as needed;
• Writes and prepares informational, statistical and narrative reports;
• Supports community efforts toward nutrition education and physical activity promotion by collaborating with community groups/coalitions;
• Confers with Director of Learning Support Services regularly to report and discuss the status of program objectives and activities;
• Serves as a resource to the Nutrition Education Specialist I when creating nutrition content for program curriculum, materials and activities;
• Attends program related meetings and conferences as needed.

Qualifications (aka Employment Standards)

Education and Experience

Must have certification as a Registered Dietitian and a minimum of two (2) years experience working in the field of nutrition education. Previous experience working in an educational setting is desirable, but not required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles of nutrition and their application to the well being of school age and pre-school children;
• California Department of Education Health Framework guidelines as they pertain to the nutritional needs of public school students;
• Applicable federal and state regulations, guidance and resources related to school wellness policies;
• Appropriate nutrition education curricula and instructional materials;
• Typical computer word processing and graphics display programs

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
• Research, design and make oral presentations to small and large groups;
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs for adults and children;
• Establish and maintain effective, positive and cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work;
• Maintain records, compile and verify data;
• Work effectively in the absence of supervision;
• Adapt to changing work demands;
• Manage task priorities to meet deadlines;
• Work effectively under varying degrees of stress

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• Sit, stand, and/or move about for extended periods;
• Visual acuity to read and write printed materials and computer screens;
• Hearing and speech abilities for ordinary and telephonic conversations;
• Lift and move materials weighing up to 50 pounds;
• Hand-eye-arm and finger dexterity.

Working Conditions (Work Environment)

The Nutrition Education Specialist II provides services in the office, as well as in various sites throughout the county, sometimes serving multiple sites in a single workday. This position may require transporting food and materials during inclement weather. The Nutrition Education Specialist II may be required to adjust work hours in a reasonable manner to accommodate program needs.

Other Requirements

• Must be fingerprinted and a satisfactory Department of Justice records check must be received by HCOE prior to employment.
• TB testing and/or risk assessment will be required upon employement;
• Must pass a pre-employment physical (if applicable);
• May be required to obtain first aid and CPR certificates within the first 6 to 12 months of employment;
• May be required to drive with or without students; some positions may require a California driver’s license, proof of insurance and possible participation in the DMV PUll Notice Program once employed.

Range 17
Updated 11/8/2023
Formerly approved 9/22/05
PC approved 11/14/2023