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Who we are.We protect lives.The Georgia Department of Public Health is the lead agency entrusted by the people of Georgia to proudly protect lives and promote healthy lifestyles in diverse communities statewide. We are committed to preventing disease, injury, and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing the State of Georgia for responding to disasters.

What we offer.As a member of the Georgia Department of Public Health team, you will join a passionate group of individuals who are dedicated to making an impact. No matter your role, you will individually contribute to protecting the lives of all Georgians while receiving a wide range of benefits, so you can:

• Make a Professional Impact- Build your career where it matters and protect lives in the community where you live, work, and play
• Enjoy Workplace Flexibility- Experience flexibility in how you work so you can be your best self for you and Georgia Residents
• Work witha Dynamic and Diverse Team- Collaborative and inclusive way of working where employees share ideas and leverage collective strengths
• Achieve Career Longevity- Countless opportunities for continuous learning/development that support a long-term career
• Take Part in a Hands-on Working Culture- Unique culture of active engagement and problem-solving, no matter your role
• Feel Pride in Where you Work- Be part of making an impact in public health alongside dedicated people just like you

As theNutrition Operations Program Specialistwithin the WIC Unit at the Georgia Department of Public Health,you will join a dedicated group of public health professionals that help support the overall mission and vision of protecting lives of Georgian residents in a variety of ways.

This job is funded by a federal grant and is subject to available grant funds

Job Responsibilities

Job Summary: Reporting to the Georgia Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Operations Program Manager, responsible for providing subject matter expertise (SME) related to nutrition policies and practices to provide technical support and development of procedures, guidelines and tools related to nutrition services delivered at the local agencies; reviews local district and clinic operations to evaluate compliance with state and/or federal guidelines. In addition to generalist nutritional support, serves as a statewide SME lead as needed for a variety of functional areas: Food Package and Design, Special Formula Management, Nutrition Education and Risk Assessment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides general technical support for nutrition-related activities related to the WIC program to district and local agencies as requested.
• Assists with reviews and updates of the WIC Procedures Manual based on changes to state and/or federal guidelines to ensure effective and evidence-based delivery of nutrition activities.
• Conducts program reviews of local WIC agencies to assure compliance with federal regulations and state policies of Georgia WIC and develops summaries outlining areas of strength and opportunities for improvement needed by the local agency to comply with state and federal regulations.
• Collaborates and supports the development of Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) for state office and local agency activities.
• Serves as an instructor in various nutrition education programs and as a preceptor to dietetic interns as needed.
• Serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for eWIC activities related to nutrition services and leads the development of WIC nutrition education training programs.
• Provides professional coverage for the Nutrition Operations Unit for all specialty areas as needed when assigned SME is not available.
• Serves as the SME as needed on the areas described below:

Fo d Package and Design

1. Responsible for updating the Georgia WIC Authorized Food List Shopping Guide / Approved Product List (APL) including; working with WIC Vendor team, food manufactures and other stakeholders to identify WIC eligible foods, evaluating and approving food items, and working through a state committee to make updates to the states APL.
2. Manages work with contractors (Graphics design and web developers) to support revisions of the APL, WIC participant training video updates, printing and distribution of materials.
3. Updates the States APL as required.
4. Assist with the development and implementation of relevant guidelines that support the WIC food package.
5. Monitor food package design quality and analyzes utilization patterns of WIC food benefits.
6. Charis the WIC Food Package Committee.

Special Formula Management

1. Coordinates state level special formula ordering process and system for special formulas and Nutritionals.
2. Coordinates updates to the states WIC Formula Resources Web Page.
3. Works with the WIC Vendor Unit to monitor and track special formula cost containment activities.
4. Manages and supports WIC Nutrition Contracts as assigned such as Infant Formula Rebate, Emory Genetics, Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Childrens and others.
5. Chairs the WIC Special Formula Committee.

Nutrition Education / Risk Assessment

Chairs the Nutrition Education Task Force and Nutrition Education Committee.

Coordinates Nutrition Education Contracts: Department of Public health Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta WIC Contract.

Coordinates activities related to the states online participant self-directed nutrition education system.

Maintains the states approved education materials list including review and approval of new materials as well as supporting review of locally created nutrition education materials to ensure consistency in message, appearance, and format.

Manages Local Agency Nutrition Services Plan (NSP) activities.

• Conducting a needs assessment to identify strengths and weaknesses, including staffing, staff competencies, and Nutrition Services Standard Self-Assessment.
• Establishes goals, measurable objectives, and action steps in line with the WIC State Plan goals for the local agencies to report on and provide future education plans.
• Assess progress toward attainment of NSP goals and objectives from year to year.
• Work with designated personnel to evaluate effectiveness.

Provides WIC staff at least one statewide Value Enhance Nutrition Assessment (VENA) training yearly and create opportunities for Georgia WIC CPAs to receive at least 12 hours of nutrition specific continuing education yearly.

Coordinates required activities to update National Nutrition Risk Criteria based on annual federal policy changes, including updates to Georgias Nutrition Risk Criteria Handbook, and Nutrition and Health Screening questions in the GA-WIC Management Information System.

Serves as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) with the WIC Education Team to ensure effective statewide implementation and training of the Nutrition Care Process (ADIME) for staff, as deemed necessary.

Coordinates with Public Health Title V Block Grant Activities statewide as directed.

Manages state level training trac