Senior Nutrition Assistant (Bilingual English/Spanish)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program of the Department of Human Services is hiring a bilingual Senior Nutrition Assistant to provide critical WIC-related nutrition services and eligibility assessment to WIC program’s clients and families in compliance with local, state and federal regulations. This position provides support to clients seeking services from USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children with limited English proficiency.  

To learn more, please visit: Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program – Official Website of Arlington County Virginia Government

Specific duties include:

• Providing nutrition services, education and assessment to low-risk parents and children on a one-on-one basis or in a large group setting;

• Determining WIC program financial and residential eligibility and explaining WIC policies and procedures to clients; 

• Assisting in assessing the nutritional risks of clients by obtaining anthropometric and hemoglobin values, and health and lifestyle histories; 

• Referring clients to medical and social services; 

• Developing individualized nutrition and breastfeeding care plans based on assessment of nutritional risks.

• Serving as the County’s WIC Designated Breastfeeding Expert and Breastfeeding Coordinator to include counseling mothers and infants with complex breastfeeding situations;

• Participating in emergency preparedness and other community outreach activities;

• Providing literacy and language communication appropriate to meet the needs of a diverse population;

• Supporting and managing breastfeeding peer counselors to monitor caseloads and difficult cases as needed; and

• Providing other related support duties related to program administration.

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; and

• Ability to present to diverse audiences, specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities

Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity and awareness of factors which impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs.

Minimums:

• High school diploma, GED Certificate, or equivalent;

• Considerable experience working with complex lactation challenges, providing training/adult education, and providing direct human services in a health care setting and experience providing WIC services to WIC eligible families; and

• Bilingual ability in both English and Spanish.

Licenses:

• Possession of State certification as WIC Competent Professional Authority (CPA) by the Virginia Department of Health WIC Program; and
• Certification that indicates completion of specialized training in lactation management and care, e.g. International Board of Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), or Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS).

Substitution: College cours