Dietitian

POSITION:                            DIETITIAN

LOCATION:                                   SUMNER HEAD START, 215 BASSETT ST., SYRACUSE          

RESPONSIBLE TO:                        NUTRITION COORDINATOR

STARTING PAY RANGE:               $26.00 - $30.00 PER HOUR

SCHEDULE:                                   FULL-TIME, 52 WEEKS PER YEAR

QUALIFICATIONS:

·        Master’s degree or Master’s eligible in Nutrition Science and Dietetics or equivalent.

·        Must demonstrate Essential Practice Competencies as outlined by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

·        Registered Dietitian (R.D.) or R.D. eligible.

·        Certified Dietitian/Nutritionist Certification (CDN) desired.

·        Food service operation and management experience desirable.

·        Community Nutrition experience desirable.

·        Experience working with children birth to five and pregnant women desirable.

·        Valid NYS Driver License, reliable transportation, and ability to travel to various sites.

·        Working knowledge of basic personal computer applications.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assist the Nutrition Coordinator in the planning and administration of quality food service operations, food and nutrition education, and nutritional health follow-up for children birth to five, pregnant women, and their families, in accordance with Head Start Program Performance Standards.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.     Assist the Nutrition Coordinator in interpreting nutrition assessment data, providing nutrition counseling for families, and in other ways promoting good nutrition habits among children and families. 

2.     Assist staff working with children who have feeding problems or special nutritional needs. 

3.     Be familiar with individual child and adult nutritional needs, preferences, and special dietary requirements, including feeding recommendations for infants (e.g., breastfeeding, introduction of solids) and young children (e.g., food allergy or intolerance, portion size, BMI) per Head Start Health Services Competencies Tool.

4.     Assist the Nutrition Coordinator in the development and implementation of the nutrition content area plans, policies, and procedures including long and short range program planning.

5.     Assist the Nutrition Coordinator in the development and implementation of program quality control and improvement activities including ongoing Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) monitoring, on-site visitation, program review, consultation, and follow-up training and technical support.

6.     Assist the Nutrition Coordinator in preparing monthly and annual reports for the nutrition 

     content area as necessary.

7.     Assist additional duties as needed in the absence of the Nutrition Coordinator.

8.     Plan and design nutritionally sound meals, menus and meal plans in collaboration with the Nutrition Coordinator and Production Kitchen staff.

a.      Plan and develop parent menus, Head Start (HS) cycle menu, Early Head Start (EHS) cycle menu.

b.     Provide Try-me newsletter, S2H activities, and other nutrition education materials to classroom staff, children and parents. 

9.     Assist the Nutrition Coordinator in conducting/reviewing nutrition screenings to identify children who may require a nutrition assessment. Work with nutrition coordinator, nurses, teachers, family workers and other center and home-based staff to address nutritional concerns of children.

10. Assist Nutrition Coordinator with management of special diet needs to ensure children 

 with food allergies and special diets receive the appropriate foods.

a.      Assist Nutrition Coordinator in reviews of special diet documentation from site nurses.

b.     Communicate with the Nutrition Coordinator and Pickard production staff to create menus and provide special diets for children with food allergies and/or dietary restrictions.

c.      Create daily special diet sheets and revise as needed in collaboration with Nutrition Coordinator.

d.     Assist Nutrition Coordinator with maintaining a list of products, recipes, ingredients used for HS/EHS meals.

11. In coordination with the Nutrition Coordinator, provide nutrition education, nutrition consultation, technical support and training.

a.   Assist Nutrition Coordinator in providing initial and ongoing technical assistance, training and orientation of nutrition staff on operational procedures, nutrition policies, food safety, CACFP.

b.  Assist Nutrition Coordinator in providing nutrition education, resource materials,

    and training for all program staff. (continued)

c.   Assist Nutrition Coordinator in planning, coordinating and promoting food and  

    nutrition education activities in classrooms, on home visits, and for parents.

d.  Provide, if necessary and in consultation with nutrition coordinator, direct one-on-

   one nutrition consultation with enrolled families and/or pregnant women in the

   home or on-site.

e.   Assist Nutrition Coordinator in creating educational materials such as in-house

   newsletter articles and presentations on nutrition and health topics.

f.    Utilize social media skills in accordance with agency policies to communicate

    nutrition information to diverse multicultural audiences.  

12.       In conjunction with the Nutrition, Health, and Disabilities Coordinators and the Child Behavior Specialist, participate in the organization of the Health Services Advisory Committee. Utilize the committee in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the nutrition program in accordance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards.

13.       Assist the Nutrition Coordinator in working jointly with other content area coordinators in developing and implementing program-wide policies, procedures and activities.

14.       Follow a continuous plan of personal and professional growth, utilizing a variety of training opportunities and learning experiences.

15.       Assure non-federal share (in-kind) hours by assisting in activities that support nutrition education or other educational activities for children and families.

16.    Perform other duties as they relate to the team-approach of the Head Start philosophy.

17.       Maintain confidentiality of all child records and all matters relating to families.

18.       Adhere to relevant health and safety policies and procedures.

EOE/AA/M/F/D/V

The information contained herein is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for, the performance of this job. It is not construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, essential functions, responsibilities or requirements.