Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist
$34.00 hourly
- Elder Services of Berkshire County
- Pittsfield, MA, United States
- Sep 19, 2026
Job Description
*Job Overview*
The Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist is responsible for nutrition-related needs encompassing menu review and nutrient analysis, nutrition education and counseling, food safety inspections, program support, and staff training. This position serves two agencies and requires *site visits across Berkshire and Franklin Counties and the North Quabbin area.* The ideal candidate is passionate about nutrition, committed to serving older adults, and skilled in both direct care and community education.
*Responsibilities*
* To meet the needs of the agency, responsibilities include but are not limited to:
*1. Safety & Compliance*
* Conduct food safety and sanitation inspections twice yearly at each Dining Center, Luncheon Club, and at the Home Delivered Meal (HDM) kitchens.
* Monitor certification of Choke Saver and ServSafe for each site.
* Conduct once-yearly food safety and sanitation inspection of the caterer's Boston-based kitchen to ensure compliance with state regulations; perform follow-up inspections as necessary.
* Conduct site visits and inspections for broader program compliance across service areas.
*2. Menus & Nutrient Analysis*
* Create, review, and/or edit monthly menus HDM and Congregate meals based on Standards and Policies for the Massachusetts Elderly Nutrition Program.
* Enter menu information into the statewide Computrition software program.
* Analyze the nutritional value of all HDM and Congregate meals using Computrition.
* Evaluate the nutritional content of therapeutic and other special meals provided by caterers.
* Support menu planning across program sites to ensure high nutritional standards are met.
* Perform nutrient analysis and maintain accurate, timely reports.
* Send monthly menus to meal sites and media.
*3. Education & Community Outreach*
* Prepare and submit an annual nutrition education plan to the AGE state nutritionist.
* Conduct two nutrition education programs per year at each dining center and luncheon club; all presentations must include a lesson plan and evaluation component.
* Deliver nutrition education to community members and staff at local venues throughout the Berkshire community.
* Develop and submit lesson plans, handouts, and evaluation tools.
* Write or revise and edit a monthly nutrition education column for the back of the printed HDM menu.
* Write or revise and edit newspaper articles for _The Good Life_ and contribute articles to the Berkshire Senior newspaper.
* Serve as the agency's primary resource on nutrition-related topics.
*4. Counseling & Direct Care*
* Review and approve therapeutic meal requests for consumers.
* Counsel prospective consumers with life-threatening allergies.
* Conduct nutrition assessments and provide nutritional counseling through:
* Home visits
* Telehealth (video)
* Phone consultations
* Enter results into the Wellsky A&D database.
*5. Training & Staff Development*
* Lead ongoing trainings for staff and volunteers on nutrition-related topics.
* Support quality improvement practices within the Nutrition Department.
*6. Administrative*
* Attend meetings and conferences designated by the Nutrition Program Director, including the Executive Office of Aging and Independence (AGE) quarterly nutritionist group meetings.
* Prepare monthly activity reports and other reports as requested.
* Perform other related duties as assigned by the Nutrition Program Director, other supervisory staff, or a member of the management team.
*Requirements*
* *Education & Licensure:*
* Registered Dietitian (RD) credential
*Experience & Skills:*
* Familiarity with food service operations and principles of food safety/sanitation
* Experience in nutrition education and counseling
* Knowledge and experience in meeting the nutritional health needs of seniors preferred
* Strong communication skills (written, verbal, and interpersonal)
* Commitment to working with older adults and understanding aging-related needs
* Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
* Excellent organization and attention to detail
* Self-motivated with strong initiative and leadership skills
* Experience with team collaboration and relationship-building
* Familiarity with quality improvement practices
* Proficiency in Microsoft Office and database systems (e.g., Computrition, Wellsky A&D)
* Reliable transportation required
*Supervision*
The Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist reports to the Nutrition Program Director.
*Essential Functions*
*Physical:*
* Visual, speaking, auditory, and mobile capacity necessary
* Capacity to see a computer screen, read written material, and drive a car
* Capacity to hear and speak on the telephone
* Capacity to communicate verbally with consumers, caregivers, supervisors, and managers
* Capacity for fine manipulation in the frequent use of office equipment (computers, copy machines, fax machines, telephones, calculators, etc.)
* Capacity to drive in all weather to visit consumers in their homes
* Capacity to navigate uneven terrain in all weather
* Capacity to climb stairs
* Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time
* Occasional reaching, grabbing, twisting of hand and wrist, and pushing and pulling of objects
* Occasional bending, squatting, and twisting to perform work functions
* Occasional capacity to lift up to 25 pounds
*Mental:*
* Ability to understand and/or interpret complicated program instructions and laws
* Capacity to maintain confidentiality of all documentation and client communications according to HIPAA standards
* Capacity to learn complicated computer software
* Capacity to deal rationally and calmly with varying personalities
* Capacity to work well in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment
*Environmental:*
* Work is split between indoor office work and traveling outdoors to meetings, trainings, and consumers' homes
* Must be able to tolerate odors and pollutants including but not limited to smoke, air fresheners, pet dander, personal odors, etc. from a variety of in-home conditions
* Must be able to tolerate by-products of office machine operation
* Must be able to tolerate heat and cold of seasonal changes and indoor temperatures
* Bachelor's degree in nutrition, public health nutrition, or a related field and at least 1 year of community nutrition experience; *OR* Associate degree in nutrition or related field and at least 2 years of community nutrition experience
* ServSafe certification
Pay: From $34.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
License/Certification:
* Registered Dietitian License (Required)
Work Location: On the road
The Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist is responsible for nutrition-related needs encompassing menu review and nutrient analysis, nutrition education and counseling, food safety inspections, program support, and staff training. This position serves two agencies and requires *site visits across Berkshire and Franklin Counties and the North Quabbin area.* The ideal candidate is passionate about nutrition, committed to serving older adults, and skilled in both direct care and community education.
*Responsibilities*
* To meet the needs of the agency, responsibilities include but are not limited to:
*1. Safety & Compliance*
* Conduct food safety and sanitation inspections twice yearly at each Dining Center, Luncheon Club, and at the Home Delivered Meal (HDM) kitchens.
* Monitor certification of Choke Saver and ServSafe for each site.
* Conduct once-yearly food safety and sanitation inspection of the caterer's Boston-based kitchen to ensure compliance with state regulations; perform follow-up inspections as necessary.
* Conduct site visits and inspections for broader program compliance across service areas.
*2. Menus & Nutrient Analysis*
* Create, review, and/or edit monthly menus HDM and Congregate meals based on Standards and Policies for the Massachusetts Elderly Nutrition Program.
* Enter menu information into the statewide Computrition software program.
* Analyze the nutritional value of all HDM and Congregate meals using Computrition.
* Evaluate the nutritional content of therapeutic and other special meals provided by caterers.
* Support menu planning across program sites to ensure high nutritional standards are met.
* Perform nutrient analysis and maintain accurate, timely reports.
* Send monthly menus to meal sites and media.
*3. Education & Community Outreach*
* Prepare and submit an annual nutrition education plan to the AGE state nutritionist.
* Conduct two nutrition education programs per year at each dining center and luncheon club; all presentations must include a lesson plan and evaluation component.
* Deliver nutrition education to community members and staff at local venues throughout the Berkshire community.
* Develop and submit lesson plans, handouts, and evaluation tools.
* Write or revise and edit a monthly nutrition education column for the back of the printed HDM menu.
* Write or revise and edit newspaper articles for _The Good Life_ and contribute articles to the Berkshire Senior newspaper.
* Serve as the agency's primary resource on nutrition-related topics.
*4. Counseling & Direct Care*
* Review and approve therapeutic meal requests for consumers.
* Counsel prospective consumers with life-threatening allergies.
* Conduct nutrition assessments and provide nutritional counseling through:
* Home visits
* Telehealth (video)
* Phone consultations
* Enter results into the Wellsky A&D database.
*5. Training & Staff Development*
* Lead ongoing trainings for staff and volunteers on nutrition-related topics.
* Support quality improvement practices within the Nutrition Department.
*6. Administrative*
* Attend meetings and conferences designated by the Nutrition Program Director, including the Executive Office of Aging and Independence (AGE) quarterly nutritionist group meetings.
* Prepare monthly activity reports and other reports as requested.
* Perform other related duties as assigned by the Nutrition Program Director, other supervisory staff, or a member of the management team.
*Requirements*
* *Education & Licensure:*
* Registered Dietitian (RD) credential
*Experience & Skills:*
* Familiarity with food service operations and principles of food safety/sanitation
* Experience in nutrition education and counseling
* Knowledge and experience in meeting the nutritional health needs of seniors preferred
* Strong communication skills (written, verbal, and interpersonal)
* Commitment to working with older adults and understanding aging-related needs
* Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
* Excellent organization and attention to detail
* Self-motivated with strong initiative and leadership skills
* Experience with team collaboration and relationship-building
* Familiarity with quality improvement practices
* Proficiency in Microsoft Office and database systems (e.g., Computrition, Wellsky A&D)
* Reliable transportation required
*Supervision*
The Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist reports to the Nutrition Program Director.
*Essential Functions*
*Physical:*
* Visual, speaking, auditory, and mobile capacity necessary
* Capacity to see a computer screen, read written material, and drive a car
* Capacity to hear and speak on the telephone
* Capacity to communicate verbally with consumers, caregivers, supervisors, and managers
* Capacity for fine manipulation in the frequent use of office equipment (computers, copy machines, fax machines, telephones, calculators, etc.)
* Capacity to drive in all weather to visit consumers in their homes
* Capacity to navigate uneven terrain in all weather
* Capacity to climb stairs
* Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time
* Occasional reaching, grabbing, twisting of hand and wrist, and pushing and pulling of objects
* Occasional bending, squatting, and twisting to perform work functions
* Occasional capacity to lift up to 25 pounds
*Mental:*
* Ability to understand and/or interpret complicated program instructions and laws
* Capacity to maintain confidentiality of all documentation and client communications according to HIPAA standards
* Capacity to learn complicated computer software
* Capacity to deal rationally and calmly with varying personalities
* Capacity to work well in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment
*Environmental:*
* Work is split between indoor office work and traveling outdoors to meetings, trainings, and consumers' homes
* Must be able to tolerate odors and pollutants including but not limited to smoke, air fresheners, pet dander, personal odors, etc. from a variety of in-home conditions
* Must be able to tolerate by-products of office machine operation
* Must be able to tolerate heat and cold of seasonal changes and indoor temperatures
* Bachelor's degree in nutrition, public health nutrition, or a related field and at least 1 year of community nutrition experience; *OR* Associate degree in nutrition or related field and at least 2 years of community nutrition experience
* ServSafe certification
Pay: From $34.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
License/Certification:
* Registered Dietitian License (Required)
Work Location: On the road