Child Nutrition Assistant Director

Little Rock School District•Little Rock, AR

About The Position

The Child Nutrition Assistant Director assists with operating a multi-site child nutrition program under limited supervision. The role helps oversee implementation of policies and programs for safe food handling and provides employee training on unified food-production methods and point-of-sale software. Reporting to the Director of Child Nutrition, the Assistant Director also assists in supervising assigned school-based leaders and office staff and provides guidance to Child Nutrition staff. The position monitors and reviews programs including the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Afterschool Snack Program, At-Risk Supper Program, and summer programs. It supports program expansion, compliance, budget development, inventory management, staffing, menu planning, meal accountability, financial processes, eligibility determinations, training, food safety, and operational effectiveness. The role requires a strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local Child Nutrition laws and the ability to work independently, make accurate decisions, maintain quality and integrity, and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment. This is a twelve-month, 240-day contract position, classified as exempt under FLSA. The stated salary range is $57,062 to $99,149, plus benefits; placement within the range depends on experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Foods and Nutrition, Home Economics, Food Service Management, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
At least three years of experience in school nutrition, including three years in an operational administrative or managerial capacity.
Demonstrated leadership and vision in managing multiple campus food-service facilities, including conducting district-wide on-site reviews.
Strong skills in staff management, team building, operations, projects, and large-scale budgets.
Positive leadership when working with Child Nutrition Department staff, district staff, students, outside organizations, and the general public.
Detail-oriented, self-directed, and able to work in a fast-paced environment, with problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Strong oral and written communication skills and ability to maintain confidentiality.
Ability to produce routine reports and correspondence, including monthly financial reports, and submit required reports by their due dates.
Experience with computer operations, specifically Microsoft Office, and strong operational knowledge of Child Nutrition accountability software.
Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local laws related to Child Nutrition Programs.
Ability to work independently, make accurate decisions, uphold quality and integrity, and multitask in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Assist the Director in expanding the feeding program and ensuring compliance with program requirements, budget development, inventory management, staffing, and menu planning; review site procedures and recommend improvements.
Oversee the accuracy and integrity of monthly claims and financial processes to support proper meal accountability, accurate meal counts, and maximum reimbursement compliance with federal Child Nutrition Program regulations.
Plan and perform daily processing and verification of meal applications under USDA eligibility guidelines, maintaining accurate and auditable records.
Conduct training with the Child Nutrition Supervisor for cafeteria managers on work schedules, production standards, meal preparation, record-keeping, and ordering systems.
Instruct, train, and assist employees in food handling, equipment use and care, sanitation, and safety.
Assist with on-the-job training for newly hired employees on Newton point-of-sale software and established safety and health regulations.
Assist the Director in coordinating and supporting USDA-required training, professional development, manager meetings, and staff meetings.
Supervise and update manager-training manuals and food-safety programs, including HACCP and Safety Data Sheets, to support compliance with food-safety regulations and standards.
Monitor school food production and forecasting, including recipe and menu accuracy, sanitation and food safety, portion control, and production-record accuracy.
Attend professional development and training to improve job skills and performance.
Respond to after-hours emergencies as needed.
Maintain punctuality and regular attendance.
Perform other duties as assigned.