Job Specification Details

Key leadership position within the Division of Family and Child Health’s WIC Program. Provides planning, consultation, policy, managerial, and supervisory work at a professional level for the Department of Health, involving the development, implementation, and evaluation of activities aimed at improving health outcomes for at-risk pregnant individuals and young children.

Serves on the Division's senior management teams and participates in Division-wide policy and management decisions.

Duties are performed with significant latitude for independent judgment and professional expertise, including formulation of program goals, policies, and quality standards as well as oversight of state program operations and development and revisions to the WIC management information system application, grant development and administration, and staff supervision and human resources activities.

Supervision is exercised over professional and technical staff.

Work is performed with significant independence under the direction of an administrative supervisor.

All employees of the Agency of Human Services perform their respective functions adhering to four key practices: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships and results orientation.

Directs and oversees adherence to USDA Federal Regulatory standards within the State WIC Program and through services provided by local Health Department WIC staff. Ensures that WIC staff have the tools they need to provide quality services through policy leadership, strategic planning, professional development, and overall WIC program management. Develops and fosters collaborative relationships with state agencies, local and regional partners, and non-governmental organizations to develop and implement program activities. Communicates and collaborates with internal and external partners to advance the core mission of the Department and the work of the division. Communicates the division’s core mission to unit staff and supports them in advancing this work. Responds to emerging events such as natural disasters and WIC-related product recalls to ensure continuation of WIC program services across the state. Directs, coordinates, and provides oversight to professional and technical staff, develops individual component work plans that support overall operations and program objectives, including assigning and monitoring work, conducting performance evaluations, and promoting compliance with personnel policies and procedures. Develops new initiatives to enhance program services, implements system-wide improvement in the WIC program to ensure consistent and uniform best practice across the state, and improves efficiency and maximizes use of resources. Monitors program activities, analyzes data and reports, and assists the Director in managing human resource activities of the unit. Oversees Vendor Management and Cost Containment Program, including supporting the vendor manager on vendor authorization, store monitoring, fraud and abuse detection, investigations, disqualifications, monetary claims, recovery of misused funds, and program evaluation. Manages food funds reporting and oversees forecasting food cost trends, tracking of actual costs and caseload data; monitors WIC caseload and food benefit redemption to meet federal performance targets without exceeding federal food grant. Monitors nutrition services and administrative expenditures to assure compliance with federal and state reporting and financial management requirements and assists in development of state and federal budgets.     Participates with the Mountain Plains User Group (MPUG) that includes the 9 states that use the same MIS to provide WIC Program services and to ensure that current nutrition standards and vendor/food management requirements are reflected in the application. Acts as a program lead for Mountain Plains User Group Executive Steering Committee; participates in calls, meetings and work groups. Oversees operations and provides input into the maintenance, enhancement and technology upgrade of the WIC MIS, and actively engages in user acceptance testing and assists in implementation of new or changed business workflows.     Oversees food delivery, quality improvement, and evaluation components of the WIC program. Supports and maintains relationship with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) provider, including contract management. Develops grant requests for technology projects and participates in WIC outreach campaign initiatives. 

Duties are performed primarily in a standard office setting. Considerable interaction will occur with medical care providers, advocacy groups, and other public and private organizations. Some travel may be necessary for which private means of transportation should be available. Some work outside of normal office hours may be anticipated and some out-of-state travel may be required.

Considerable knowledge of the principles, theories and practices of public health, nutrition and public administration.

Considerable knowledge of health promotion and public education core methods including coalition development, data collection, formative evaluation, and targeting priority populations.

Expert knowledge of WIC Program Federal Regulations.

Considerable knowledge of FCH-WIC population and social, cultural and economic determinants of health.

Considerable knowledge of optimal infant, maternal and early childhood nutrition.

Considerable knowledge of social, cultural, and economic issues as they apply to public health nutrition.

Expert knowledge of the principles and practices of program planning and evaluation.

Considerable knowledge of management principles and practices.

Skill in presenting ideas with clarity and persuasion, both orally and in writing, to professional and lay audiences and to the media.

Considerable skill in supervising professional and technical staff and ensuring staff accountability.

Ability to plan, implement, direct, and evaluate complex programs.

Ability to secure support and cooperation from health care providers, academic institutions and advocacy groups.

Ability to set personal and program priorities and goals; be self-directed and work with minimal supervision in an atmosphere of competing priorities.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Demonstrated ability to implement public health interventions and/or systems change in a culturally competent way.

Ability to apply a culturally competent lens in the design, collection and analysis of data.

Demonstrated ability to promote and support the diversity and cultural competency commitments of the department.

Ability to provide leadership and accountability within the framework of the four key practices of the Agency of Human Services: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships, and results orientation.

Considerable knowledge of system applications, technical requirements/specifications, and industry terminology.

Master’s degree in public health, Public Administration, nutrition, or a closely related Human Services field AND two (2) years or more of experience in public health that includes one (1) year in a supervisory or administration role.

OR

Bachelor’s degree in public health, Public Administration, nutrition, or a closely related Human Services field AND four (4) years or more of experience in public health that includes one (1) year in a supervisory or administration role

Registered Dietitian or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN)

Project management and quality assurance experience

Candidates must pass any level of background investigation applicable to the position. In accordance with AHS Policy 4.02, Hiring Standards, Vermont and/or national criminal record checks, as well as DMV and adult and child abuse registry checks, as appropriate to the position under recruitment, will be conducted on candidates, with the exception of those who are current classified state employees seeking transfer, promotion or demotion into an AHS classified position or are persons exercising re-employment (RIF) rights.