Nutrition Assistant

Position Summary:

Nutrition Assistant is a part-time role on Children's Aid's Go!Healthy SNAP-Ed team working approximately 10-15 hours per week (approximately 2-3 days) year-round. The Nutrition Assistant works in close collaboration with Community Nutritionists to host nutrition education and cooking workshops for youth and adults at Children's Aid sites. The ideal candidate will have experience in nutrition and/or food education and engaging directly with diverse groups of youth and/or adults in community settings such as schools. They will be a self-starter who is passionate about food and nutrition and delivering engaging workshops that help underserved populations initiate healthy behavior change.

Essential Duties:

• Assist with group nutrition and cooking workshops for youth and adults at Children's Aid partner schools and community centers by:
  • Prepping recipe ingredients, cooking supplies, and equipment for food demonstrations.
  • Facilitating group activities and discussions around healthy behavior change.
  • Maintaining an appropriate and clean inventory of all program equipment.
  • Engaging directly with participants to aid in their learning and build excitement for workshop topics.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with the Go!Healthy team and other Children's Aid staff.
• Create content for participant communication according to the program's communication strategy.
• Attend SNAP-Ed trainings and team meetings, and generally support the Go!Healthy mission.
• Must abide by privacy laws, including HIPAA, etc.
• In-person collaboration is an essential function of the job.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Undergraduate or graduate coursework in nutrition, dietetics, community and behavioral health, health education, public heath, or nursing.
• A high school diploma or Associate's degree and at least two years of experience teaching nutrition, food education, or culinary classes may be considered in place of the education requirement.
• At least one year of experience working in food service, education or community food, including volunteering.
• Evidence of cooking skills including knife safety and following recipes, and ability to teach those skills to others.
• Experience leading or assisting with teaching youth and/or adults in a group setting, preferably on nutrition and cooking lessons.
• Knowledgeable about community nutrition and common barriers to healthy eating.
• Able and willing to travel to Children's Aid sites in Washington Heights, Harlem, and the Bronx.
• Prior experience working with diverse communities.

Key Competencies:

• Passion for promoting community health and well-being, especially in low-income and high-needs NYC neighborhoods.
• Excited about engaging with workshop participants and supporting them in achieving their healthy cooking, eating, and behavior goals.
• Demonstrated interest in local, seasonal food, culturally responsive cooking, and increasing access in urban communities.
• Eagerness to learn about food's intersections with health equity, including common barriers to healthy eating.
• Ability to communicate with supervisors and team members, including timely responses to emails and engaged participation in trainings and meetings.
• Responsive to feedback and able to adapt to new situations with a positive attitude.
• Loves working in a team and values cultivating a strong team dynamic.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement