Public Health Dietitian - (207452)

In accordance with the Vision, Purpose, and Values, and strategic direction of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (Island Health), patient and staff safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone; as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Reporting to the Population and Public Health (PPH) Manager or designate and working in the community setting, the Public Health Dietitian uses a population health approach to assess, promote, protect, and enhance health and the prevention of nutrition-related diseases.

Travel is a requirement of this position. Transportation arrangements must meet the operational requirements of the Vancouver Island Health Authority in accordance with the service assignment and may require the use of a personal vehicle.

QUALIFICATIONS: Education, Training And Experience

Bachelors Degree required in Food Sciences, Nutrition and/or Dietetics. Registered Dietitian (RD) designation required with current practicing registration. Two years of recent relevant experience with a focus on community development work, health promotion, nutrition education, project management, and interdisciplinary partnering. Valid BC Driver's License.

Skills And Abilities

• Understanding of the principles and values of health promotion (healthy public policy, supportive environments, strengthen community action, develop personal skills, reorient health services) and basic health promotion (enable, mediate, advocate).
• Understanding of food security, food systems and sustainable food practices as they relate to and influence population health.
• Demonstrates understanding of the role of policy and how food and nutrition public policy is developed in Canada.
• Understanding of food and nutrition surveillance and monitoring as it relates to planning, policy analysis, program/project evaluation, advocacy and research.
• Understanding of the processes and roles of partnership, collaboration, and community development.
• Ability to enable, mediate and advocate to improve the health and wellbeing of the population through food and nutrition strategies.
• Competence in public speaking, group facilitation, collaboration and advocacy.
• Awareness of social determinants of health and their impact on health outcomes.
• Ability to work in accordance with cultural safety and trauma/resilience informed practices.
• Ability to work independently, demonstrating initiative, and with limited supervision while maintaining collaborative relationships with community stakeholders.
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team, utilizing interpersonal and team skills.
• Commitment to continued professional development as required by the employer.
• Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with healthcare professional partners (PPH, Island Health staff, Ministry of Health, etc.) and external partners (community agency staff, municipalities and regional districts, school district staff, etc.).
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of dietetics in a client-centered approach to promote health when working with interdisciplinary public health staff, schools and community partners.
• Ability to use computers and software applications.
• Physically and emotionally able to perform the duties required of this position.