Child Nutrition Specialist

TITLE: Child Nutrition Specialist

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in food and nutrition-related field.  Minimum five years of institutional food service management with preference to school food service experience.  Skills in public and human relations and ability to plan, coordinate, and implement programs.  Experience in teaching individual and group sessions helpful.

ROLE:

The role of the child nutrition specialist will be to provide leadership, staff training, and technical assistance for Region 18 school districts by supporting compliance efforts and individually assessed needs in child nutrition services.  In this capacity, the child nutrition specialist shall be responsible to the Director – Business Services.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Plan, develop, conduct, and/or facilitate staff development activities for introducing and demonstrating innovative instructional techniques and methods.
2. Collaboratively plan, develop, and/or facilitate long-range instructional staff development programs for ESC (Education Service Center) and LEAs (Local Education Agencies).
3. Actively participate as a member of the ESC/LEA Team and within the appropriate Professional Learning Community (PLC).
4. Assist with compiling, analyzing, and/or interpreting data, such as student performance in relation to state standards and program evaluation, to attain program excellence.
5. Secure the aid of resource persons and consultants to supplement and enrich programs of local schools.
6. Assist with the development of procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of service center programs and recommend modifications as needed to attain ESC goals.
7. Keep abreast of current instructional practices and techniques, professional literature, and state and federal regulations related to job responsibilities.
8. Acquire, develop, and demonstrate new skills by participating in professional growth activities.
9. Maintain open communication and confidentiality in accordance with the Texas Professional Standards of Ethics.
10. Assist LEAs with enriching and improving student performance, effectively using elements of the planning process which include assessment, goal setting, objective development, resources, identification, timeline establishment, and evaluation design.
11. Exhibit a professional demeanor when communicating with clients.
12. Perform other duties that may be assigned by the Director – Business Services or other ESC administrators.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Assist districts in identifying needs in the implementation and evaluation of programs for food service personnel at all levels.
2. Provide technical assistance to LEAs regarding effective program management and compliance with state and federal regulations.
3. Plan and develop teaching materials to be used in workshops, technical assistance packets, and/or staff development sessions.
4. Serve as a resource in answering district personnel concerns and in the implementation and training related to nutrition education curriculum.
5. Plan and coordinate summer workshop for school food service personnel in cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and teach workshop classes in other regions.
6. Provide support services as appropriate to the Texas Department of Agriculture Nutrition Office.