Registered Dietitian - Nutrition Administrator

The Registered Dietitian/Nutrition Administrator is responsible for the administration of high quality nutrition services as well as specialized food services within ABCD Head Start & Children’s Services, including staff and parent training, menu planning, meal planning and dietary counseling. The Registered Dietitian/Nutrition Administrator must ensure that services provided are developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate and that those services are able to support each child’s growth and school readiness.

The Dietitian/Nutrition Administrator must collaborate with parents as partners in health and well-being of their children as well as medical practitioners when applicable.

The Dietitian/Nutrition Administrator is responsible for promoting the mission of ABCD Head Start & Children’s Services; building an understanding of the program by communicating this mission to the center-base and child care partner staff and families and in the community at large.

All ABCD Head Start/Early Head Start and Children’s Services personnel who are paid to care for, or work with, children are MANDATED BY LAW to report all suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 119 §§ 51A – 51G. Any staff member who suspects child abuse or neglect of a child must inform his or her supervisor immediately.

The responsibilities of a particular position supports the Head Start/Early Head Start and family child care programs. The specific corresponding funding allocation will be documented on the personnel payroll authorization or change of status form.

All communications are potentially sensitive and are subject to Head Start's policy on confidentiality.

• Provide ongoing guidance and support for all related nutrition services provided to children, pregnant women and families enrolled in the program.
• Guide and lead the development and implementation of a menu and recipes that provides a variety of nutritional and appetizing foods to meet the needs of all children and families served, while considering their cultural backgrounds and individual needs.
• Supervise and evaluate the Food Service Administrator and Nutrition Interns.
• Assess the nutritional status and needs of children and pregnant women as well as provide training and counseling on diet modifications.
• Identify new and/or recurring nutrition needs of enrollees and monitor the implementation of individual meal plans and diet modification.
• Obtain and provide information to staff about major community nutritional issues that affect the children and families served, through the Community Assessment, Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) and local health departments.
• Actively work with staff and other agencies to remedy problems identified.
• Develop and monitor the provision of special diets for children with documented food allergies or other feeding problems or special nutritional needs, consulting with children’s doctor and parents as necessary.
• Ensure children with disabilities who are in need of adaptive feeding techniques or utensils are provided with necessary resources.
• Assist in identifying and monitoring vendors for food services and equipment.
• Provide training and technical assistance to staff on maintaining records of the Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP) as needed.
• Monitor and assess information collected on children and pregnant women, these include but are not limited to blood work, heights, weights, and nutrition questionnaire.
• Provide training and technical support to staff in assessing nutritional needs, creating meal plans and diet modifications as needed.
• Assist in the oversight of the kitchens and equipment within ABCD Head Start occupied facilities.
• Participate in community nutrition and health services related projects, work groups and initiatives which may be assigned.
• Conduct ongoing monitoring of individual meal plans and diet modifications, evaluate the information collected, share results and make recommendations accordingly.
• Assist in the preparation of the application…