Nutrition Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY:

Supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Responsible for planning and collaborating with managers and staff in the Head Start/Early Head Start and California Department of Education (CDE) programs to ensure the health and well-being of all children in the programs. Responsible for planning, ongoing monitoring, and record-keeping, staff training, nutrition and food service education and services coordination.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Oversee food service contract implementation and kitchen/food production operation in centers based on CACFP/USDA/Head Start Program Performance Standards or other requirements.
2. This position requires regular, local travel to approximately 20 childcare sites throughout the East Bay area.
3. Work collaboratively with wider nutrition team on a daily basis to ensure high-functioning daily operations.
4. Perform duties of Head Cook, Assistant Cook or Nutrition Assistant for central kitchen-operated sites if/when needed.
5. Provide staff training as required by CACFP/USDA/Head Start Program Performance Standards.
6. Help inform menu development and planning and/or revision as needed.
7. Ensure proper food safety/sanitation in all site kitchens program-wide.
8. Coordinate and complete site CACFP monitoring and recordkeeping.
9. Advise staff and monitor kitchen food supply, equipment inventory, ordering, and purchasing.
10. Purchase and deliver food and equipment to program sites as needed.
11. Oversee nutrition assessment process for children in care, including completion of nutrition related screenings; providing resources and follow-up as appropriate.
12. Use ChildPlus database to track information, report and follow-up on nutrition-related activities and services.
13. Establish collaborative relationships and memoranda of understanding with food vendors to ensure relationships program needs are met continuously.
14. Participate in agency’s Health Services Advisory Committee and other health or nutrition advisory committees or meetings with staff, parents and community professionals.
15. Review and evaluate program and content area activities to ensure that all Program Performance Standards and funding terms and conditions are adhered to and conduct file monitoring reviews for all program options and centers.
16. Complete other duties as assigned.

YMCA LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

• Engaging Community
• Inclusion
• Communication & Influence
• Critical Thinking & Decision Making
• Program/Project Management
• Developing Self & Others

QUALIFICATIONS (ALSO CALLED ENTRY REQUIREMENTS OR KNOW HOW):

This section gives the minimum qualifications needed to perform the job satisfactorily.

1. Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the following disciplines: Nutrition, Dietetics, Food Science, Health Education, or a related field.
2. Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a Head Start, child development program or other CACFP/USDA nutrition program serving low-income children and families.
3. Work experience in food service and/or kitchen management administration.
4. B. and other required health clearances at the time of employment.
5. Livescan/fingerprint clearance by the Department of Justice and Community Care Licensing agencies.
6. Valid CDL and use of personal automobile including evidence of auto liability insurance coverage.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Ability to walk, stand, and sit; use fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, climb and balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and occasionally required to reach with hands or arms.
2. Must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds in weight.
3. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
4. The employee is required to work outdoors daily.
5. Mobility to quickly respond to emergencies.