Food Programs Evaluation Specialist , Food Programs Evaluation Specialist Trainee ; NY HELPS

Duties Description

The New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Office of Education Policy is seeking candidates for a Food Programs Evaluation Specialist 1 position in the Office of Child Nutrition. This Office is responsible for providing technical assistance and performing field inspections of School Food Authorities (SFAs), sponsors, and residential childcare institutions participating in the School Breakfast Program (SBP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to ensure compliance with State and federal regulations, including the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

Under the direction of a Food Programs Evaluation Specialist 2, duties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Independently conduct comprehensive administrative reviews of child nutrition programs;
• Plan, develop, implement, and evaluate child nutrition programs to support the mission of State and federal programs;
• Demonstrate a professional knowledge and understanding of State and federal regulations and interpret regulations for schools and school districts;
• Develop, implement, and disseminate written guidance, policy and program agreements for child nutrition programs to ensure compliance with rules and regulations;
• Independently schedule and prepare materials for administrative school reviews and field inspections;
• Review and monitor implementation of corrective action plans, generate follow‑up correspondence, and conduct unannounced school visits;
• Propose recommendations for withholding funding, imposing special conditions on contractors and sponsors and termination of programs;
• Assist in the design of program and compliance reviews and procedures;
• Ensure uniform program monitoring and compliance review efforts statewide;
• Administer electronic or manual recordkeeping and reporting instruments and generate reports as needed;
• Conduct comprehensive nutritional analyses to ensure menus meet appropriate age and grade nutrition requirements;
• Evaluate and assess compliance with cost principals, audit requirements and Civil Rights requirements;
• Monitor program payments for accuracy and timeliness;
• Recommend necessary follow‑up actions associated with claims and correspond with Reimbursement Unit to report irregularities; and
• Assist in the administration of grants, data collection and special program initiatives, as needed.

NY HELPS

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non‑competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non‑competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination.

Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

• Six years of nutrition or food program compliance experience by providing oversight and technical assistance to schools and other providers of the various programs granting funding to and creating specifications for food programs aimed at children and agencies.
• An associate degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; and a doctorate may substitute for six years of experience.

• Four years of nutrition or food program compliance experience by providing oversight and technical assistance to schools and other providers of the various programs granting funding to and creating specifications for food programs aimed at children and agencies.
• An associate degree may…