What are the responsibilities and job description for the Child Nutrition Program Coordinator – Operation Backpack and SFSP position at Operation Food Search?
Description
Description
About Operation Food Search
Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search is a hunger relief organization that provides food, nutrition education and innovative programs in order to reduce food insecurity and increase equitable access to food. We serve more than 200,000 people every month through a network of more than 600 partners in 24 counties in Missouri and Illinois. As Missouri’s largest independent food bank, we use a combination of immediate food assistance and supportive services, while also working on long-term solutions and systemic changes to help solve the problem of hunger.
Our Mission is to heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today and help create a hunger-free tomorrow.
Our Vision is a region where everyone has equitable access to the food they need to lead healthy lives.
Our Goals Are To
Position Summary
The Child Nutrition Program Coordinator will primarily coordinate the operation and implementation of the Operation Backpack program. During the summer months, this position will also coordinate and execute the Summer Food Service Program and work to support any additional child and family meal initiatives.
Essential Functions
Program Facilitation
Education and/or Experience:
Description
About Operation Food Search
Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search is a hunger relief organization that provides food, nutrition education and innovative programs in order to reduce food insecurity and increase equitable access to food. We serve more than 200,000 people every month through a network of more than 600 partners in 24 counties in Missouri and Illinois. As Missouri’s largest independent food bank, we use a combination of immediate food assistance and supportive services, while also working on long-term solutions and systemic changes to help solve the problem of hunger.
Our Mission is to heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today and help create a hunger-free tomorrow.
Our Vision is a region where everyone has equitable access to the food they need to lead healthy lives.
Our Goals Are To
- Meet the immediate need for food for children, individuals, and families by providing high-quality nutrition through our distribution network.
- Empower long-term skills through nutrition education and by teaching how to shop and prepare healthy food on a budget.
- Champion change through advocacy and innovative programs and by addressing systemic inequities.
Position Summary
The Child Nutrition Program Coordinator will primarily coordinate the operation and implementation of the Operation Backpack program. During the summer months, this position will also coordinate and execute the Summer Food Service Program and work to support any additional child and family meal initiatives.
Essential Functions
Program Facilitation
- Oversee the daily operations of Operation Backpack, during the school year, and SFSP, when school is not in session, ensuring effective program delivery.
- Develop and maintain accurate records for meals distributed on a weekly basis.
- Develop and maintain an accurate database with records of participating schools and partnering organizations.
- Develop weekly menus for Operation Backpack, including once-a-month meal kit recipes, in accordance with nutrition standards and available products.
- Maintain food inventory records for Operation Backpack and collaborate with the Child Nutrition Program Manager to purchase food within nutrition standards and program budget.
- Oversee the development and implementation of Operation Backpack alternative programs, including satellite and food closet programs.
- Effectively communicate with the Food Banking Operations team regarding incoming and outgoing deliveries and use of the Volunteer Center.
- Send out nutrition education materials in weekly bags (when applicable).
- Evaluate program effectiveness of Operation Backpack and SFSP.
- Maintain compliance with all USDA and Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services regulations by staying up to date on current trends and program regulations through newsletter subscriptions and engagement with industry experts and advocacy groups.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with school coordinators, volunteers, community partners, meal sites, and vendors.
- Conduct regular site and monitoring visits to participating schools and meal sites as well as annual one-on-one student participant interviews.
- Collaborate with the Food Drive and Volunteer Manager to recruit, schedule, and train volunteers to pack Operation Backpack meals each week.
- Create a high functioning support system for program partners through excellent customer service with an emphasis on effective training.
- Communicate daily with the Programs department leadership and community partners to ensure smooth operations, including ordering, delivery, and reporting.
- Attend and contribute to various community collaboratives to advance the work of the Child Nutrition department.
- Stay updated on program trends and identify innovative approaches to enhance meal quality and program efficiency.
- Assist with the grant process by providing program details and data for proposals and reports in a timely manner and participate with funder visits/tours as needed.
- Collaborate with internal teams to align Child Nutrition initiatives with the organization's broader mission and goals.
- Solicit financial and in-kind support for Child Nutrition programs as well as actively participating in fundraising for OFS.
- Identify opportunities to expand program reach and increase equitable food access for underserved populations
- Medical, dental and vision coverage
- HRA and FSA
- 401(k) Safe Harbor retirement plan
- Vacation and sick time, paid holidays
- Short and long-term disability insurance
- Company paid term life and AD&D insurance
- Voluntary employee paid term life and AD&D insurance
- Employee assistance program
Education and/or Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in public health, nutrition, social work, or another related field.
- Two years relevant work experience in community-based programs, program planning, or hunger-relief efforts highly preferred.
- Excellent oral and written communications skills.
- Ability to establish positive interpersonal relationships with OFS team, program partners, and stakeholders.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple projects while ensuring the highest standards in quality.
- Experience working with underserved populations.
- Working knowledge of social service organizations, non-profits, and school systems in the St. Louis region.
- Understanding of food insecurity and food access issues in the St. Louis region.
- Possess a growth mindset and actively seek out opportunities to learn.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to make decisions based on data.
- Passion for the OFS mission and a commitment to program integrity.
- Occasional travel to out-of-town meetings, events, and conferences.
- Flexibility in working hours for occasional special events after-hours or weekend.
- Willingness to assist with other OFS duties as required or as assigned.
- Ability to perform tasks that require physical activity such as standing for long periods of time or lifting heavy items with or without reasonable accommodations.
- Frequent local travel required. Must have a good driving record and reliable transportation (mileage is reimbursable).