Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for WIC Nutritionist

🎯 Role Definition

The WIC Nutritionist provides participant-centered nutrition assessment, education, breastfeeding support, and program management to eligible women, infants, and children. This role ensures compliance with USDA WIC regulations, delivers culturally competent counseling, manages caseloads, documents certifications, and partners with community providers to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Nutritionist Assistant / WIC Clerk
Entry-level Public Health Nutritionist
Community Health Worker or Maternal & Child Health Aide

Advancement To:

Senior WIC Nutritionist / Lead Nutritionist
WIC Program Coordinator or Supervisor
Public Health Nutrition Program Manager

Lateral Moves:

Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Coordinator
Community Nutrition Educator
Maternal & Child Health Case Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive nutrition screenings and nutritional risk assessments for pregnant, postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five, including review of medical history, dietary intake, anthropometrics, hemoglobin/hematocrit results (or referrals), and social determinants that impact nutrition security.
Certify and recertify WIC participants in accordance with federal, state, and local WIC policies: determine eligibility, verify documentation, complete certification interviews, and document eligibility decisions in the WIC management information system.
Develop individualized, evidence-based nutrition care plans and nutrition education goals with participants using motivational interviewing and client-centered counseling techniques to support behavior change and improved health outcomes.
Provide one-on-one breastfeeding counseling and lactation support, including latch assistance, troubleshooting common breastfeeding problems, creating breastfeeding plans, and making referrals to IBCLCs and community lactation resources when appropriate.
Deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate nutrition education sessions and classes for groups and individuals on topics such as infant feeding, complementary feeding, maternal nutrition, healthy eating on a budget, and food package use.
Monitor growth and development by accurately measuring weight, length/height, head circumference, calculating growth percentiles, plotting on growth charts, and interpreting the results to adjust nutrition plans and referrals.
Prescribe and manage individualized WIC food packages per participant needs, clinical conditions, and program policy (including modified packages for allergies, medical conditions, breastfeeding, and cultural preferences).
Screen participants for food insecurity, developmental concerns, postpartum depression indicators, and other social needs; make timely referrals to community resources (SNAP, TANF, Early Intervention, public health nursing, mental health) and coordinate care with community partners.
Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant documentation of participant encounters, certification records, nutrition education contacts, and follow-up actions in the WIC electronic record system to support audits and program evaluation.
Participate in quality assurance and continuous quality improvement initiatives, including chart audits, peer review, caseload monitoring, and implementation of corrective action plans to maintain program fidelity and performance targets.
Train, mentor, and supervise WIC support staff, nutrition aides, and volunteers on nutrition education techniques, certification procedures, screening processes, and culturally responsive communication.
Conduct outreach and community engagement activities to increase program enrollment and retention: attend community events, coordinate with clinics and community-based organizations, and develop referral pipelines with prenatal clinics, pediatric practices, and social service agencies.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (public health nurses, social workers, pediatricians, obstetric providers) to coordinate care plans for high-risk participants and ensure continuity of services across systems.
Administer and document nutritional counseling for special populations served by WIC (e.g., high-risk pregnancies, multiples, preterm infants, infants with failure-to-thrive, participants with chronic disease or developmental disabilities).
Maintain confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA and state privacy laws while handling participant records, consent forms, and sensitive health information.
Ensure clinic operations align with program policies by scheduling appointments efficiently, triaging walk-ins, managing caseloads, and supporting remote/telehealth certification and education when offered.
Participate in the program’s vendor management tasks as needed — educate vendors on authorized foods, support compliance visits, and report suspected vendor noncompliance to program leadership.
Prepare accurate program reports and performance metrics (participation rates, certification timeliness, breastfeeding initiation and duration rates, missed appointment rates) and provide data for state reports and grant documentation.
Support emergency preparedness and response activities relevant to WIC services (e.g., disaster food assistance coordination, remote benefit issuance, alternative certification processes).
Keep current with nutrition science, USDA WIC policy updates, and local public health guidance by attending trainings, webinars, and conferences; implement up-to-date protocols and education materials into practice.
Facilitate special projects and pilot programs (e.g., nutrition incentives, produce prescription programs, virtual breastfeeding support groups) designed to improve participant access, nutrition outcomes, and program efficiency.
Assist with procurement and inventory of nutrition education materials, breastfeeding supplies (e.g., breast pumps when applicable), and clinic supplies; ensure distribution and tracking align with program policies.
Handle participant complaints, complex cases, and escalations diplomatically and professionally; document actions taken and work with managers to resolve systemic issues.
Participate in internal and external audits, compliance reviews, and accreditation processes; prepare documentation and implement corrective actions to address audit findings.

Secondary Functions

Support program evaluation by compiling de-identified data for research partners and internal performance reviews.
Assist in the development and revision of nutrition education curricula, multilingual handouts, and digital content to increase accessibility and SEO visibility for community resources.
Contribute to grant proposals, funding reports, and community needs assessments by providing programmatic input and outcome data.
Represent the WIC program at interagency planning meetings, coalition tables, and public health campaigns to strengthen referral networks and population-level nutrition strategies.
Provide cross-coverage for other clinic functions when needed, such as front-desk intake, basic eligibility screening, and vaccine screening coordination.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Clinical nutrition assessment and counseling skills specific to maternal, infant, and early childhood nutrition.
In-depth knowledge of WIC program regulations, USDA nutrition policy, WIC food packages, certification criteria, and state-specific WIC management information systems.
Breastfeeding counseling competencies (counseling skills, knowledge of breastfeeding physiology); IBCLC or CLC certification preferred for advanced lactation support.
Proficiency with electronic health records and WIC MIS systems (data entry accuracy, secure data handling, basic reporting).
Ability to perform accurate anthropometric measurements and interpret growth charts (WHO/CDC growth standards).
Experience developing individualized nutrition care plans, modified food packages, and referrals for medical nutrition therapy.
Competence in delivering group education sessions, lesson planning, and curriculum adaptation for diverse literacy levels.
Basic data collection and reporting skills: creating spreadsheets, tracking program metrics, and interpreting caseload trends.
Familiarity with public assistance programs and community referral systems (SNAP, Medicaid, Early Intervention).
Language skills or bilingual fluency (e.g., Spanish-English) and ability to access/coordinate translation services for LEP participants.

Soft Skills

Empathetic, nonjudgmental counseling style with strong motivational interviewing and behavior-change facilitation skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with participants, families, clinicians, and community partners.
Cultural humility and ability to provide respectful, culturally responsive care across diverse populations.
Strong organizational and time-management skills to manage caseloads, documentation, and outreach activities simultaneously.
Problem-solving and critical thinking to triage high-risk cases and coordinate multidisciplinary responses.
Team collaboration and supervisory skills to train and support staff while upholding program quality standards.
Keen attention to detail and commitment to compliance, confidentiality, and ethical practice.
Resilience and adaptability to work in fast-paced clinics, remote environments, and changing policy contexts.
Public speaking and presentation skills for community outreach and staff training.
Conflict resolution and de-escalation skills when addressing participant concerns or clinic challenges.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, Public Health, Community Health, or a closely related field; or state-accepted equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education:

Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) credential OR formal certification as a WIC Nutritionist per state requirements.
Additional certification in lactation support (IBCLC, CLC) and public health credentials (CPH) are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Nutrition and Dietetics
Public Health / Community Health
Maternal & Child Health
Family & Consumer Sciences
Social Work (with nutrition-focused coursework)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of professional experience in community nutrition, maternal-child health, WIC programs, or public health nutrition.

Preferred:

2+ years of direct WIC or maternal-child nutrition experience.
Experience with breastfeeding counseling and working with high-risk clinical populations.
Demonstrated experience in outreach, program compliance, and use of WIC MIS/EHR platforms.

Certifications required or preferred (depending on agency): RD/RDN, WIC Nutritionist certificate, CPR/First Aid, IBCLC/CLC (preferred), HIPAA training, and state-required background checks.