Working Title: Vendor Food Specialist

Job Class: Planner Principal State

Agency: Health Department

• Who May Apply : This vacancy is open for bids and for all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bidders will be considered through 05/16/2024.

• Date Posted : 05/10/2024

• Closing Date : 05/23/2024

• Hiring Agency: Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)

• Division/Unit : Child and Family and Health (CFH)

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : Yes / up to 25%

• Salary Range: $30.55 - $45.02 / hourly; $63,788 - $94,001 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - Minnesota Association of Professional Employees / MAPE

• FLSA Status : Non-Exempt

• Telework Eligible : Yes

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/)

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in coordination with the Child and Family Health Division is seeking a Vendor Food Specialist. The person in this role researches and maintains WIC allowed foods and determines and inputs the maximum allowable costs of WIC foods. Duties include working with the WIC - Management Information Systems (MIS), the WIC Approved Product List (APL) along with other data systems. Responsibilities in this role include, but are not limited to:

• Detailed work of planning and projecting foods and costs in the food manufacturer industry.

• Foundation in nutrition and/or food science.

• Planning, analysis, critical thinking and problem solving sufficient to guide management in programmatic decisions and policies essential to successful food delivery.

• Provide stakeholders with a comprehensive view of food products available that meet USDA regulations and Minnesota requirements for WIC.

• Responsible for monitoring maximum pricing of WIC foods and defining agency policies.

• Uses a Tableau reporting system with highly complex data to interpret.

• Visiting retail grocery stores to find food items that meet WIC federal requirements.

• Create detailed spreadsheets including new food items per changing federal regulations.

This position will adjust food offerings and maximum pricing of WIC foods sold at the 950 WIC stores throughout the state. Work involves employee knowledge and critical thinking to separate the vendors by peer groups (size, location, only access point for food) to ensure USDA cost containment measures are met. 70,000 households participating in WIC along with 800 WIC local agency staff, and State staff rely on the accuracy of the available WIC food products in the Minnesota retail environment.

This position is telework eligible for residents of Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Position location will be determined by the top candidate and will be based out of a Minnesota Department of Health office location. Position schedule will be based on the business needs of the unit and supervisory discretion.

Minimum Qualifications

To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume/application clearly describes your experience in the areas listed below and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held. Only applicants whose resumes clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of these minimum qualifications will be considered for this position.

Three (3) years of experience in food and nutrition, public health nutrition, nutrition science, or related field. Experience must include two (2) years of building, manipulating, and analyzing computer data in Excel and other computer programs similar to Tableau or similar visualization software.

Qualifications to be further assessed during the interview process:

• Knowledge of USDA Supplemental Nutrition Program regulations.

• Experience interpreting federal and state regulations.

• Experience with food industry, specifically food manufacturing, labeling and pricing.

• Knowledge or experience with the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.

Preferred Qualifications

• Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) or Bachelors or Masters in Nutrition or Food Science.

• High level analytical skills and critical thinking.

A master's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, including Dietetic Technicians (DTR) health science degrees, Public Health, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, or related degree may substitute for eighteen (18) months of experience; Bachelor's degree may substitute for twelve (12) months of experience; and associate's degree may substitute for six (6) months of experience.

Additional Requirements

• This position requires successful completion of a background check and employment reference check.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.