Lactation Counselor

Lactation Counselor

WIC (Women, Infants and Children)

Please apply by: March 7, 2026

Hiring Range: $25.06 - $32.89 / hour

This is an exempt (salaried) position

Pay rates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity. Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salary history and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirements for the job.

“Follow Your Calling, Find Your Career”

Position Summary

Provide consultation and emotional support for pregnant women and new mothers who are currently breastfeeding or plan to do so. This position, under general supervision, is responsible for providing lactation counseling services through various channels associated with the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

Essential Functions

• Provide lactation education, counseling, support and consistent follow-up contacts with clients during pregnancy, pre and post birth, and throughout the lactation process
• Schedule client appointments; coordinate intakes and transfers; assess income and residence for WIC certification; and maintain proper chart documentation
• Obtain and document client anthropometric measures, including hemoglobin / hematocrit, and health history accurately
• Counsel program approved clients who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding
• Evaluate, log and maintain appropriate documentation of breastfeeding equipment and supply issuance
• Provide general lactation information and support to new mothers
• Educate mothers on how to prevent and handle common concerns
• Make referrals to other agencies as needed and keep accurate records of all contacts with mothers and their families
• Be available outside of normal clinic hours
• Respond in cases of urgent and/or emergent events that require public health interventions. Employees may be trained for and assigned duties unrelated to their regular work; work outside normal business hours and workdays and/or in a different work location may be required. Emergency events include, but are not limited to, communicable disease outbreaks, severe weather situations (e. g. snow or ice storms, tornados, hurricanes), natural disasters (e. g. earthquakes), fire, or power outages, and acts of terrorism.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience

• Minimum of two years of directly related experience

Education

• High School Diploma or equivalent

Combination of relevant education and relevant experience accepted?: N/A

Licenses and Certifications

• Satisfactory completion of state approved Lactation Peer Counseling Training Course (required post hire).
• May require a valid North Carolina or South Carolina Driver's License
• May require the ability to obtain and maintain a valid Mecklenburg County Operator's Permit

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred but not required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge Of

• Breastfeeding principles and practices
• Breastfeeding safety principles and practices
• Quality control principles and practices

Skills

• Delivering breastfeeding programs
• Implementing breastfeeding procedures
• Monitoring quality control issues

Abilities

• Applied Learning: Assimilating and applying new job-related information in a timely manner
• Building Trust: Interacting with others in a way that instills confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
• Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the information pro
• Patient Education/Health Promotion: Supporting, explaining, and instructing patient and patient’s family (significant other, care giver, etc.) in understanding the clinical procedures and equipment used to facilitate optimum health status; promoting the lifestyle changes required of the patient and the patient’s family to achieve optimum health status
• Patient Relations: Meeting patient and patient family needs; taking responsibility for a patient’s safety, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes; using appropriate interpersonal techniques to resolve difficult patient situations and regain patient confidence
• Planning and Organizing: Establishing courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently

Computer Skills

• Proficient in various computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite

Work Environment

• Works in an office setting with moderate noise

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer Statement

This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements or working conditions. Other duties may be assigned based on business need and the supervisor’s request. Mecklenburg County reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. Designated positions may be required to assist in emergency and/or disaster situations.