OPT Nutritionist Jobs
Nutritionist jobs on OPT are available across hospitals, outpatient clinics, corporate wellness programs, and public health agencies. Most roles require a bachelor's or master's degree in nutrition or dietetics, and many employers will sponsor H-1B visa after your OPT period. STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on your specific degree classification.
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INTRODUCTION
Sea Mar Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington State. Sea Mar proudly serves all persons without regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, or sexual orientation, and regardless of ability to pay for services. Sea Mar's network of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services. We are recruiting for the following position:
Sea Mar is a mandatory COVID-19 and flu vaccine organization.
Position Summary
Full-time Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) needed to work in our outpatient family medical clinic in Tacoma and Puyallup. This is a Medical Nutrition Therapy position. While in this position, the RD will work closely with the Primary Care Providers (PCP), Health Educator, MSS/WIC, Care Coordinator and other clinical team members in an outpatient setting. The RD is responsible for food and nutrition counseling and will provide patient risk assessment and nutrition services to pediatric, teen and adult patients referred by PCP.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Maintains complete and up-to-date charts (documenting counseling session as specified by program guidelines in legible form), and statistical program records but not limited to: Misys EMREHR records, WIC/CIMS Flow sheet, WIC diet records, certification sheets weight/height grids, diet evaluation sheets, infant birth outcomes, appointment schedules and encounter forms.
- Establishes and maintains professional working relationships with team members and other Sea Mar staff. Serves as a liaison between Nutrition and/or WIC and other clinic and community services and makes referrals as appropriate.
- Provides Medical, MSS, and patient nutritional assessment and nutrition counseling. Facilitates appointment time through scheduling and following up on failed appointments according to protocol, coordinates services with other health professionals, and cooperates with other departments. Documents assessment, treatment, and plan of action from counseling session in Medical record according to protocol.
- Compares information collected to program criteria to accurately determine WIC eligibility and nutrition risk factors.
- Determines appropriate food package, explains nutrient content of WIC foods, identifies contracted food vendor, issues manual or computerized food vouchers and documents check issuance.
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION:
- Bachelors or Master’s degree in Nutrition from an accredited university.
- Completion of accredited dietetic internship program or Coordinated Undergraduate Program in Dietetics. Registered Dietitian (RD) credential and Certified Dietitian in the state of Washington required at time of hire.
EXPERIENCE AND REQUIRED SKILLS:
- 1 year experience in an outpatient nutrition setting is desired, but not required.
- Experience in a community nutrition setting with an interest in eating disorders, weight management and diabetes education desired.
- Ability to deal patiently and empathetically with multicultural clientele, even under stressful conditions, is required.
- Bilingual in Spanish/English preferred - please mention your language abilities in your application materials. Ability to perform responsibilities with minimal supervision is essential.
WHAT WE OFFER:
Sea Mar offers talented and motivated people the opportunity to work in a dynamic and growing community health organization. Working at Sea Mar Community Health Centers is more than just a job, it’s a fulfilling career with opportunity for advancement. The fringe benefits surpass most companies. For example, Full-time employees working 30 hours or more, receive an excellent benefit package of:
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Prescription coverage
- Life Insurance
- Long Term Disability
- EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
- Paid-time-off starting at 24 days per year + 10 paid Holidays.
We also offer 401(k)/Retirement options and an exciting opportunity to work in a culturally diverse environment.
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply, please send resume, cover letter and completed Sea Mar application via email to Nutrition Program Manager at marisolthomas@seamarchc.org For more information or questions about the position, email marisolthomas@seamarchc.org.
LOCATION
Hourly Rate: $33.40
Annual Salary: $69,472.00
Posted 1/16/2025
External candidates may apply after 1/21/2025
This position is represented by Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU).
Sea Mar is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Nutritionist
Target healthcare systems with established sponsorship track records
Large hospital networks and integrated health systems regularly sponsor nutritionists for H-1B visas. Focus your search on employers with 500 or more employees, as they have dedicated HR and immigration infrastructure to support work authorization transitions after OPT.
Clarify your RD credential status early in conversations
Employers often conflate Registered Dietitian licensure with nutritionist roles. If you hold or are pursuing RD credentials, communicate this clearly. Licensed clinical roles are easier to classify as specialty occupations, which strengthens both your OPT employment and future H-1B eligibility.
Check whether your degree qualifies for the STEM OPT extension
Some nutrition and dietetics programs carry STEM-designated CIP codes, which unlock a 24-month OPT extension. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before accepting an offer, as this significantly changes your employment timeline and sponsorship negotiation leverage.
Frame your role as a specialty occupation when discussing immigration
Nutritionist positions require a specific degree in a defined field, which meets the specialty occupation standard needed for H-1B sponsorship. Prepare a brief explanation of how your degree directly applies to your job duties to help HR teams understand the sponsorship case.
Pursue state licensure or RD credentialing during your OPT period
Many states require licensure to practice as a clinical nutritionist. Completing licensure during OPT demonstrates professional commitment and makes you a stronger H-1B candidate, since USCIS views licensed healthcare roles as inherently specialty occupations with clearer petition pathways.
Approach public health agencies and university nutrition programs
Government health departments and university wellness or research programs frequently hire OPT nutritionists and have experience with work authorization. These employers often offer structured sponsorship timelines, which reduces uncertainty around the H-1B filing window following your OPT authorization period.
Nutritionist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a nutritionist on OPT without being a Registered Dietitian?
Yes. OPT work authorization is tied to your degree field, not to professional licensure. You can work in nutrition-related roles that align with your degree without holding an RD credential. However, clinical positions in hospitals or outpatient settings often require state licensure or RD status, so verify the specific role requirements before applying.
Do nutritionist jobs qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your program's CIP code. Some nutrition and dietetics degrees are classified under STEM-designated fields, which makes graduates eligible for the 24-month extension. Others are not. Check with your Designated School Official to confirm your program's CIP code before assuming STEM eligibility, as this significantly affects how long you can work on OPT.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor nutritionists for H-1B after OPT?
Large hospital systems, integrated health networks, corporate wellness companies, and public health agencies are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for nutritionists. These employers have legal and HR infrastructure built for immigration sponsorship. You can browse verified OPT-friendly nutritionist employers on Migrate Mate, which filters for companies with sponsorship experience.
How does a nutritionist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
A nutritionist position qualifies as a specialty occupation when it requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field, such as nutrition, dietetics, or food science, as a minimum entry requirement. If the role requires that specific academic background, USCIS generally accepts it as a specialty occupation. Roles with vague degree requirements can complicate the petition, so job description language matters.
Can I do a supervised internship or clinical rotation on OPT as part of a dietetic internship program?
Yes, supervised practical experience that is directly related to your degree field is permitted under OPT. If you are completing a dietetic internship as part of your path to RD credentialing, it can qualify as OPT employment as long as it meets USCIS requirements for OPT work authorization. Confirm the arrangement with your DSO and ensure the internship program can verify the training is field-related.