Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist

Catawba County -
Hickory, NC

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Job Details

Full-time
$67,403.61 a year
13 hours ago

Benefits

Wellness program
Health savings account
Paid holidays
Disability insurance
Health insurance
Dental insurance
401(k)
Flexible spending account
Tuition reimbursement
401(k) 5% Match
Employee assistance program
Vision insurance
Gym membership
Flexible schedule
Life insurance

Qualifications

Community health & wellness
Record keeping
Spanish
Community partnership development
Pediatric nutrition counseling
Maternal and child health programs
Electronic health records (EHR) management
Bachelor of Science
Community nutrition program support
Care documentation
English
Mid-level
Master's degree
Nutrition
Medical scheduling
Master's degree in nutrition
Registered Dietetic Technician
Overseeing care coordination
Professional development support
Bachelor's degree
Care plan development
Women's health and reproductive patient care
Maternal and child health education
Organizational skills
Dietetics
Registered Dietitian
Community relationship building
Infant care
Care coordination
2 years

Full Job Description

New as of 01/01/2026:

Your well-being matters from the start — benefited new hires are eligible for up to 40 hours of advanced annual leave and 40 hours of advanced sick leave.

Position Description

Catawba County Public Health is seeking a dedicated nutrition professional to join the WIC program, providing nutrition assessments, counseling, and care coordination for participants throughout pregnancy and early childhood. This position may be filled as either a Registered Dietitian or a Nutritionist, depending on qualifications.

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) supports the health of pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five through nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and access to healthy foods. This role serves as a key nutrition resource for WIC participants, departmental staff, and community healthcare partners.

SALARY/COMPENSATION INFORMATION:

Registered Dietitian: $62,424.51 - $78,030.64
Nutritionist: $53,922.88 - $67,403.61
Salary is negotiable dependent upon qualifications

Responsibilities

Conduct nutrition assessments, interpret lab results, and develop individualized nutrition care plans for WIC participants, including high-risk cases
Provide nutrition counseling and education to participants and caregivers on a range of maternal, infant, and child nutrition topics
Complete thorough, timely documentation in the electronic medical record system
Coordinate care and communication between WIC, physicians' offices, and other healthcare and community partners
Manage WIC prescriptions for non-contract formulas and eligible supplemental foods
Support clinic operations, including scheduling, benefit issuance, and income screening as needed
Participate in community outreach and education, including health fairs, schools, and other public venues
Serve as a preceptor and mentor for dietetic interns and new nutrition staff
Maintain current knowledge of nutrition and dietetics guidelines through ongoing professional development
Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Registered Dietitian

Master's Degree in Dietetics, Public Health Nutrition, or Nutrition; OR
Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics, Public Health Nutrition, or Community Nutrition, and 2 years of nutrition experience; OR
Bachelor’s degree in any field, plus Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) credential with the Commission on Dietetics Registration, and 2 years of nutrition experience; OR
Graduation from a Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education – approved Didactic Program in Dietetics, and 2 years of nutrition experience; OR
Registered Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetics Registration

Nutritionist

Master's Degree in Dietetics, Public Health Nutrition, or Nutrition; OR
Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics, Public Health Nutrition, or Community Nutrition, and 2 years of nutrition experience; OR
Bachelor’s degree in any field, plus Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) credential with the Commission on Dietetics Registration, and 2 years of nutrition experience; OR
Graduation from a Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education – approved Didactic Program in Dietetics, and 2 years of nutrition experience; OR
Registered Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetics Registration

Additional Requirements

Strong time management and organizational skills to manage a fast-paced clinic environment
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to counsel diverse populations in a clear and practical manner
Ability to work independently and exercise sound professional judgment
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and community partners
This is considered light to medium work; lifting up to 35 pounds

PREFERENCES:

Applicants who are bilingual in English/Spanish are encouraged to apply

As of 7/1/2025:
You will find that Catawba County has one of the best benefits packages around. Our Human Resources staff are dedicated to keeping in touch with trends in benefits on both a local and national level, listening to employees' suggestions regarding benefits, and continually reviewing to ensure our benefits package is of good quality and meets the needs of both our employees and our organization.
Available benefits include:

Health Care

Health: For a small bi-weekly premium, employees may choose between a traditional (co-pay) health plan and a high deductible health plan coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Coverage may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), or family.
Dental Insurance: At no cost to full-time employees, the County covers preventive, routine, and non-routine care. Coverage for the same benefits may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), and family. In addition, a $2,000 benefit toward orthodontia coverage is provided for children up to age 19.
Vision Care: Coverage is available, at group rates, for employee and dependents,with 2 plan options to choose from.
Supplemental critical care and accident insurance plans: These optional coverage plans are available at a nominal cost.
Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax accounts that can be used to pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses.

Employee Wellness

Employee Health Clinic (EHC): An employee medical clinic, available to all County employees, which operates 40 hours a week. Services provided include acute care, first aid, evaluation and care for workers' compensation injuries, pre-employment screenings, health education, and behavioral health referrals. Services are offered both in person and through telehealth. Acute care is available to employee’s children ages 3-17, regardless of health insurance coverage, and for employee’s adult children (ages 18-26) or employee’s spouse if covered on the county’s health insurance.
Wellness: The County recognizes the importance of our health and well-being. We maintain a very proactive and effective Wellness Program, including reimbursement and discounts for gym membership, incentives for physical activity, on-site nutrition counseling, free exercise opportunities, wellness education, and more.
Employee Assistance Program: Counseling services are available to all County employees and immediate family members in the home. Services are provided in a private and confidential setting (in-person or virtually). The County provides coverage for the first six visits.

Work Life Balance

Annual Leave:Full-time employees earn from 10-24 days annually based on years of service. Service credit from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
- To help new employees settle in, up to 40 hours of annual leave is advanced upon hire, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
Sick Leave:Full-time employees earn one day (8 hours) of sick leave per month. Sick leave from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
- New hires are advanced up to 40 hours of sick leave, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
Holiday Leave: Throughout the year, 11 days of paid leave are provided in recognition of holidays.
Flexible work schedules.
Time off for activities that support our local schools.
Continuing educational assistance.
Discount tickets to recreational venues.
Employee appreciation days/activities.
Tax-free flexible spending account to pay for dependent care.

Financial Security

Local Governmental Employees Retirement System: For employees assigned to work 20 hours per week or more in a benefitted position, participation in this program is automatic. Employees contribute 6% of their salary, which is tax-deferred. After (5) years of creditable service, you become fully vested in the retirement system. Employees may also take advantage of individual and group retirement counseling through the Human Resources department.
401K: The County provides a 2% contribution plus an additional 1% match (up to 3% total contribution by the County). Our sworn law enforcement officers receive a flat 5% contribution to their 401k.
Other Tax Deferred Programs: Other tax-sheltering programs are available through IRS Code 125 (Cafeteria Plan), and a 457 supplemental retirement plan (Deferred Compensation).
Longevity Pay: After 5 years of creditable service, employees receive an annual longevity payment that is paid every year thereafter. This lump sum payment rewards employees for their length of service to Catawba County. The amount is based on years of service.
Life Insurance: Death benefit equal to one times the employee’s annual salary, with a minimum coverage amount of $25,000. Optional supplemental life insurance coverage is also available for both employee and dependents through payroll deduction at group rates.
Short Term Disability: Available at no cost to employees, benefits are available after a 55-day waiting period.
Long Term Disability: Available through payroll deduction at group rates.
Eligibility for membership and financial services at State Employees Credit Union (SECU)/Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU).

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