Registered Dietitian

Description

About Operation Food Search:

Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search is a hunger relief organization that provides food, nutrition education and innovative programs in order to reduce food insecurity and increase equitable access to food. We serve 200,000 people every month through a network of 330 partners in 27 counties in Missouri and Illinois. We use a combination of immediate food assistance and supportive services, while also working on long-term solutions and systemic changes to help solve the problem of hunger. 

Our Mission is to heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today and help create a hunger-free tomorrow. 

Our Vision is a region where everyone has equitable access to the food they need to lead healthy lives.

Our Goals are to:

• Meet the immediate need for food for children, individuals and families by providing high-quality nutrition through our distribution network.
• Empower long-term skills through nutrition education and by teaching how to shop and prepare healthy food on a budget.
• Champion change through advocacy, innovative programs and by addressing systemic inequities.

For more information about OFS, please visit our website at www.operationfoodsearch.org. 

Position Summary:

OFS is seeking a Registered Dietitian (RD) to join its Nutrition Team with a focus on addressing nutrition issues impacted individuals and families living on very limited resources or experiencing food insecurity, with a special emphasis on the nutrition needs of our Nourishing Healthy Starts participants. Nourishing Healthy Starts is a signature program of Operation Food Search that connects pregnant women experiencing food insecurity with essential resources, including nutrient-dense food, nutrition and cooking education, and maternal health advocacy, to improve health outcomes. The program aims to reduce food insecurity, enhance maternal and child health, improve birth weights, decrease pre-term birth rates, and build life skills that promote long-term family well-being. The Registered Dietitian will provide individual assessment and nutrition counseling, group nutrition education, determine food products provided to participants, and develop nutrition focused programming. The RD will act as a member of a multi-disciplinary team committed to facilitating and building sustainable healthy eating habits with the recognition of the social, economic, familial, and cultural factors influencing diet.

Essential Functions:

• Plan, organize, and provide evidence-based nutrition intervention and education for various populations, including participants in Nourishing Healthy Starts
• Participate in community-based curriculum development as applicable to maternal health and other initiatives as assigned
• Provide direct nutrition assessment and education for NHS participants
• Conduct cooking demonstrations and teach hands-on cooking skills in conjunction with other Nutrition staff
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary team and initiative partners to coordinate activities and participant needs
• Participate in data collection, nutrition and cooking assessment, and evaluation as applicable to Food is Medicine research protocols.
• Assist with food choices, procurement, packing, and delivery when needed.

Requirements

Education and/or Experience:

• Master's degree in nutrition/dietetics, public health, or closely related health field
• RD/RDN as verified by Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Current Missouri dietetic/nutrition license or ability to obtain license in the state of Missouri
• ServSafe® certification at Food Handler or Manager level or ability to obtain certification within three months of hire
• Additional certifications or credentials or willingness to pursue, such as: CDCES, Board Certified in Obesity and Weight Management, Board Certified Pediatric Specialist, Clinical Lipid Specialist (CLS), Maternal Health, etc.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to demonstrate cultural awareness, understanding, empathy, and humility
• Experience working with marginalized populations and those experiencing food insecurity
• Robust knowledge of health equity, and the social determinants of health, and willingness to learn and develop skills in these areas of community health and nutrition
• Knowledge about Trauma-Informed Care and its implementation
• Experience working with multi-disciplinary teams and diverse systems of care
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
• Ability to take initiative and work independently, accepting of mentoring and supervision
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to establish positive interpersonal relationships with staff and colleagues, as well as external community for networking and partnership building
• Proficient computer skills with MS Office, PowerPoint, and Excel

Special Requirements:

• Occasional travel for meetings, conferences, and community-based activities
• Flexibility in working hours for occasional special events, after-hours, or weekend activities
• Willingness to occasionally assist with other OFS duties as required or as assigned

Working Conditions and Physical Demands:

• Sedentary inside office work with limited exposure to weather conditions
• Ability to lift 30 pounds
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time, both indoors and outdoors
• Willingness to travel (up to 25%) to partner agencies, events, or meetings

Benefits – FT Positions

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• HRA and FSA
• 401K retirement plan
• Vacation and Sick time, paid holidays
• Short and Long-Term Disability Income
• Term Life and AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness support
• Potential for Student Loan Forgiveness if qualified

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.