Job Description

Job Description and Duties

This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by advancing the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. As an employee of the Local Policy and Health Programs Branch, the incumbent serves as part of a team that implements local and statewide nutrition education, training and breastfeeding policies which protect and serve the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program participants and local agencies.

The incumbent works under the general direction of the Chief, Health and Nutrition Education Section, Health Program Manager II (HPM II). The Public Health Nutrition Consultant III (PHNC III) (Specialist) serves as a highly skilled nutrition and program services professional responsible for assessing the effectiveness and quality of nutrition and program services provided by WIC local agencies to pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children; and for evaluating the implementation of federal and state policies by WIC local agencies. The incumbent leads the development, coordination, implementation and evaluation of nutrition and program services to meet the needs of participants, as well as complex, comprehensive state-wide nutrition, breastfeeding training campaigns, projects, and initiatives. Travels statewide up to 25% of the time, with possible overnight stay(s).

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee’s designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

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Special Requirements

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week , and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY) . Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

A completed State application (STD. 678) and any other relevant documents (e.g., unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers Account. Please reference Job Control # 533428 and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application. Please remove any confidential information (i.e., social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareers Account at Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application.

If you are unable to submit your application electronically through your CalCareers account, please email apply@cdph.ca.gov for assistance and a CDPH Human Resources Division staff member will contact you to assist with the online application process or, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method as explained in the How to Apply section below. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

***Will also consider Temporary Authorization Utilization (TAU) appointments- Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications for the classification but do not currently have eligibility on an employment certification list by having taken and passed an examination may apply as a TAU. TAU appointments are limited to a duration of 9 months within a 12 consecutive month period. In order for a TAU appointment to become permanent, individuals must take and pass the related examination, and thereby become eligible from a certification list, within 9 months of TAU appointment. Individuals who successfully obtain eligibility prior to the expiration of the TAU appointment will not be required to re-compete in a competitive process for permanent appointment to that position.***

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

1. Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
2. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues
3. Ability to communicate effectively with staff at various levels, external agencies, and the general public
4. Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills including reviewing and editing documents

Experience In:

1. Interpreting and explaining policies, processes, and procedures to various audiences
2. Nutrition and public health fields
3. Developing, implementing, and evaluating education, training campaigns, projects and/or initiatives

Knowledge Of:

1. State and federal policies and regulations as it related to the WIC program
2. Public Health and/or health care fields with thorough knowledge of nutrition research

Project management methodology

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Supplemental Questionnaire

1. Describe your experience with development, implementation and evaluation of education or training materials.

2. Describe your experience leading a project that required coordinating with various stakeholders. Include the challenges of the project and ultimate outcome.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Other -

  Please see Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ) instructions below at end of posting . Applications received without a written response to the SQ may be rejected.

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