Title: Nutritionist Senior
State Role Title: Direct Service Associate II
Hiring Range: $51,500 - $56,954
Pay Band: 4
Agency: Virginia Department of Health
Location: PENINSULA HQ
Agency Website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/hampton-peninsula/
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is dedicated to protecting and promoting Virginia's health. It is made up of a statewide central office in Richmond and 32 local health districts.
As part of the Virginia Department of Health, Hampton and Peninsula Health Districts (HPHD) are two health districts serving the residents of the Cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, and the Counties of James City and York.
The Hampton and Peninsula Health Districts are focused on four key pillars to create a sustainable and engaged workforce:
1. Workforce Development and Training
2. Culture and Climate
3. Community Engagement and Partnerships
4. Communication and Openness
Through these pillars, we aim to achieve our mission of becoming the healthiest districts in the state and better serve our communities. Apply and join the Virginia Department of Health's efforts to become the healthiest state in the nation.
We're Hiring (Flyer)
Are you interested in empowering families to make healthier choices? It’s not just about food assistance—it’s about building a foundation for lifelong wellness.
We have two positions that will supervise nutrition staff in clinics and coordinate all WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and other nutritional program components throughout the district. Responsibilities include providing work direction and ensuring quality assurance. The role involves performing nutrition assessments, evaluating patient needs, and preparing written care plans. Counsel patients based on their individual needs, follow up to resolve any issues, document care, and if applicable, complete the nutrition portion of the billing form. Additionally, this position coordinates professional, paraprofessional, and technical support staff training. Other related administrative tasks may also be assigned.
Please note that this is a restricted position funded solely by the USDA WIC Grant, which is set for a one-year period ending September 30, 2025. The availability of funding will be reviewed before the grant expiration date and periodically thereafter. Continued employment is contingent upon the ongoing availability of the grant.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) requires all Health Care Personnel (HCP) to provide documentation of immunizations or evidence of immunity for the following diseases: hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. Additionally, a one-time dose of the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is required, regardless of the time since the last tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccination was administered. Tetanus-diphtheria (Td or Tdap) boosters should be received every 10 years. HCPs must also receive the current year's seasonal influenza vaccination.
The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401(a) Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave.
The successful candidate may receive a one-time lump sum of annual leave.
VDH offers Nutritionists who qualify an opportunity to apply for a WIC Dietetic Internship. You must be a full-time employee of the Virginia Department of Health to qualify for the program. Contractors or part-time employees are not eligible. To learn more, please read here: Checklist for DI eligibility final
Minimum Qualifications
• Knowledge of nutritional programs, policies & procedures; current therapeutic diets, principles of nutrition, nutrition standards & application to public health
• Skills in use of electronic health records; counseling techniques including motivational interviewing & participant centered approaches
• Ability to supervise, schedule & evaluate personnel; assess clinic flow for efficiency & effectiveness; promote breastfeeding; perform comprehensive nutrition assessments; identify nutrition risks & develop individual care plans; communicate in a professional manner; work effectively as a member of a team with diverse participants
• Must meet requirements for use of title Dietitian/Nutritionist as authorized by Code of VA 54.1 – 2731. View link to verify requirements: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter27.1/section54.1-2731/
Additional Considerations
• Registration by Commission on Dietetic Registration
• Obtain certification as Competent Professional Authority within (6) months of hire
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position.
Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.
It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.
If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.
As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!
Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.
Contact Information
Name: HPHD Human Resources
Phone: 757-594-8045
Email: HPHD.HR@vdh.virginia.gov
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.