Specialist - Child Nutrition

Child Nutrition Specialist

The Child Nutrition Specialist supports school districts, private schools and residential childcare institutions to maintain high standards of quality in food production, sanitation and safety practices as part of all Federal Child Nutrition programs in Region 3. The Specialist conducts training and provides technical assistance to organizations that contract with the Service Center, and also maintains program budgets, reporting information, and program files according to Texas Department of Agriculture guidelines.

They are responsible for coordinating and sponsoring regional trainings in all areas of program operations for the Child Nutrition staff.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Institutional Management, Food Service, Business, Nutrition, Family and Consumer Science, Public Health, Education or related field
• Three years of experience in management of school or institutional food service operations preferred
• Up to 50% travel required including out-of-town and other ESC regions

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience as a Child Nutrition Director
• Three years training experience with Adults

Essential Functions:

• Coordinate and sponsor regional trainings in all areas of program operations for Child Nutrition Program professionals.
• Provide training and technical assistance to contracting entities as specified in TDA contract Statement of Work
• Collaborate with other ESC regions to ensure equitable availability of training specialists across the state for all training events
• Train on Administrative Review for all ESC Specialists/Review training schedule to include ESC/TDA AR Review
• Collaborate with other regions to facilitate the implementation of statewide training
• Attend required state staff meetings scheduled by TDA
• Attend and participate in special committees and work groups as directed by TDA
• Maintain program budgets, reporting information, and CE files according to TDA guidelines
• Travel to CEs for in-person visits weekly
• Demonstrate behavior that is professional, ethical and responsible.
• Keep informed of and comply with federal and state laws, Texas Department of Agriculture policy, and ESC board policy and procedures.
• Articulate and support the ESC mission and instructional philosophy.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

The ideal candidate will have/be:

• Ability to comprehend both verbal and written complex directives, guidance, and instructions
• Ability to communicate complex information to diverse groups
• Ability to adapt well to changing priorities and direction
• Skill to manage conflict well
• Skill in project management
• Knowledge in federal nutrition programs
• Knowledge of current research into effective practices and current trends in Child Nutrition Programs
• Knowledge of menu planning and quantity food production
• Knowledge of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points-Based Food Safety Plan
• Ability to meet needs of adult learners
• Ability to work one-one with Child Nutrition Directors of various experiences
• Ability to objectively evaluate data and provide pertinent feedback
• Ability to use any formal training to enhance job performance and/or personal development
• Ability to demonstrate effective trainings skills in differentiation strategies

All positions at ESC 3 are defined as security-sensitive. Security-sensitive positions are those which require employees to be entrusted with the certain types of data, whether electronic or in paper form. Those data elements, as defined by the ESC 3 Data Classification and Handling Policy may include, but not limited to:

• Sensitive Personal Information (SPI)
• Personally, Identifiable Information (PII)
• Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Family Educational Records (FERPA Data)
• Federal Tax Information (FTI)

• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act)

It is the employees on-going responsibility to safeguard this type of data and to report any instance of lost or stolen data.