Appalachian Regional Healthcare

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Community Wellness Dietitian

Job Locations US-KY-Lexington
Requisition ID
2026-39675
# of Openings
1
Category
Health Professional
Community
System Lexington
Position Type
Regular Full-Time
Department
Community Development
Shift
Day Shift

Overview

The Community Wellness Dietitian is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating community-based nutrition and culinary initiatives that promote healthy lifestyles and prevent chronic disease across ARH's service region. This position develops and delivers engaging nutrition education, cooking classes, teaching kitchen experiences, and Food is Medicine programming for children, adults, workplaces, schools, and community organizations. The role collaborates with multidisciplinary teams and community partners to expand Food Is Medicine initiatives, support grant-funded programs, develop educational resources, and evaluate program outcomes. In addition, the Community Wellness Dietitian serves as a community ambassador for ARH by building partnerships, representing the organization at outreach events, and advancing innovative programs such as Creative Kitchen, Nourish to Flourish, mobile teaching kitchens, and other initiatives that improve nutrition access and community health throughout Appalachia. Unlike traditional clinical dietitian positions, this role focuses on improving community health through education, culinary medicine, healthy cooking classes and demonstrations, school programming, workforce wellness, and Food Is Medicine initiatives. This position will work closely with community partners, schools, healthcare providers, and ARH's Community Health & Impact team to improve population health across Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia.

Special Instructions

Position is hybrid, covering system-wide initiatives and events.

Responsibilities

Community Nutrition Education

  • Plan and deliver engaging nutrition education programs for children, adults, seniors, and community groups.
  • Develop age-appropriate curriculum for schools, community organizations, worksites, and healthcare outreach.
  • Conduct nutrition seminars, workshops, and presentations throughout ARH's service region.
  • Develop educational materials that reflect the culture and needs of Appalachian communities.

Culinary Medicine & Teaching Kitchens

  • Design and lead interactive cooking classes.
  • Coordinate and facilitate programming within ARH Teaching Kitchens.
  • Operate cooking demonstrations aboard ARH's Mobile Teaching Kitchen.
  • Develop recipes emphasizing affordability, accessibility, and chronic disease prevention.
  • Teach food preparation, meal planning, grocery budgeting, and healthy cooking skills.

Food Is Medicine Programming

  • Support implementation of Food Is Medicine initiatives including Produce Prescription, medically tailored nutrition programs, healthy food incentive programs, and nutrition education.
  • Collaborate with physicians, diabetes educators, community health workers, and other healthcare professionals.
  • Assist in program development, evaluation, and grant-funded initiatives.
  • Help design innovative community-based nutrition interventions.

Program Development

  • Create new nutrition and wellness initiatives responsive to community needs.
  • Evaluate program effectiveness using participant feedback and outcome measures.
  • Assist with grant writing, reporting, and program evaluation.
  • Develop educational resources, recipes, videos, and digital content.

Community Engagement

  • Represent ARH at community events, health fairs, conferences, and partner meetings.
  • Build relationships with schools, Extension offices, nonprofits, food pantries, farmers markets, employers, and community organizations.
  • Participate in coalition meetings and collaborative initiatives.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications

Education

  • Bachelor's degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, or related field required.
  • Master's degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Health Promotion, or related field preferred.
  • Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) credential required.
  • Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist or eligible for licensure required.

Experience

  • Two (2) or more years of experience in community nutrition, public health, wellness programming, or health education required.
  • Experience teaching cooking classes required.
  • Experience with community-based health initiatives preferred.
  • Experience managing grants or community programs preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Valid driver's license required.
  • Ability to travel throughout Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia required.
  • Passion for improving community health.
  • Strong public speaking and presentation skills with the ability to engage audiences of all sizes.
  • Ability to simplify and effectively communicate complex nutrition concepts.
  • Experience working with both children and adults.
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Self-motivated, innovative, and creative educator.
  • Proficient in developing and delivering engaging educational programs and community outreach initiatives.

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