Nutrition Coordinator - Head Start Program

Overview

The Nutrition Coordinator is responsible for providing child and maternal nutrition support services for enrolled children, their families, and staff. In conformance with Head Start Performance Standards, provide nutrition support services to ensure adherence to USDA/CACFP regulations. Provide nutrition information and support to parents, children, and staff.  Maintain and develop cooperative relationships with CHSofNJ families, staff, vendors/agencies, and service providers.

Work Location: 635 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey 

Travel throughout Trenton to Head Start classrooms/sites.

Full-Time: 35 Hours per week

Salary: $76,000.00/per year

Benefits:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexibility Spending Account, Life and LTD Insurances, 403(b) plans; PTO

Responsibilities

Essential Job Responsibilities and Performance Indicators:

• Work with health manager to review medical history, growth assessments, food allergies, and special meal requests documented in children's health records.
• Ensure completion of nutrition and lead assessments for all children and pregnant women at enrollment.
• Monitor children's nutritional risks, including lead exposure, iron-deficiency anemia, and growth assessments, and provide support and referrals for children at risk.
• Coordinate spring growth assessments for children and monitor children's progress and outcomes.
• Maintain contact with classroom and home-based staff to assure the timely observation and intervention of dietary/feeding concerns.
• Maintain accurate up to date, and timely health records according to HS Performance Standards and program procedures, with adequate provisions to protect the privacy and confidentiality of health information.
• Ensure classroom staff, food handling staff and site supervisors have appropriate paperwork on food allergies and special diets.
• Provide nutrition counseling with parents, and staff as requested.
• Participate in Parent Meetings as requested to provide group food/nutrition/food safety education.
• Help plan and participate in Parent Orientation Night(s) and annual health fair(s).
• Foster links with various community provider agencies to assist with nutrition needs within the program.
• Provide nutrition education, support, and referrals for all families of children with a Body Mass Index (BMI) above the eighty-fifth percentile and create healthy eating/healthy living goals as part of their Family Partnership Agreement.
• Coordinate one-on-one nutrition consultation with parents of children at high nutritional risk.
• Provide developmentally appropriate nutrition activities/experiences for families including through online/virtual content.
• Assist with home-based socialization meal planning accommodations for children who require special dietary modifications.
• Provide breastfeeding support, education, or referrals for pregnant women as needed.
• Provide nutrition service compliance training to staff annually and as needed.
• Maintain knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and update service area plan accordingly.
• Participate in Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC).
• Provide additional support to the health services team as needed.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Work experience with multicultural populations.
• Ability to write reports and correspondence, and read and interpret documents.
• Knowledge of various software programs such as MS Word, Excel, Power-Point, and Publisher. ChildPlus software or equivalent a plus.
• Ability to effectively engage and communicate with community members and groups, managers, regulatory agencies, and families both individually and in group settings.
• Ability to organize and manage time effectively.
• Ability to talk at community meetings to represent, lead, advocate, educate and/or negotiate on behalf of Head Start programs.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Educational and Certification Qualifications:

Master’s degree in nutrition and Dietetics or related field, RDN or CN. CPR/First Aid Certified. Current registration with Commission on Dietetic Registration (preferred)

Experience Qualifications:

Three (3) years’ experience in child and maternal nutrition or a combination of education and related experience totaling three years.

Salary : $76,000