Child Nutrition Specialist II (2141)

BAKERRIPLEY•Houston, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Child Nutrition Specialist ensures the program’s nutrition services support each child’s growth and school readiness. This role will plan, implement, and monitor all nutritional services in compliance with HSPPS 1302.44 and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The Child Nutrition Specialist functions as a subject matter expert in CACFP, USDA, and Head Start requirements, providing monitoring, training, and technical assistance while overseeing in-house kitchen management and vendor performance at vended meal service sites. This position ensures regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and high-quality meal service delivery across assigned Head Start sites. This role functions as a subject matter expert in CACFP and USDA requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, Public Health, or related field
2–4 years’ experience in child nutrition programs (CACFP and/or NSLP)
Knowledge of USDA regulations and Head Start Performance Standards
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
Ability to manage multiple sites with minimal supervision

Nice To Haves

Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN), NDTR or Certified Dietary Manager (CDM)
Experience in Head Start or Early Childhood programs
Experience with vended meal contracts and kitchen management
Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Responsibilities

Validate meal counts vs. attendance in real-time to prevent claim errors.
Conduct site monitoring reviews to ensure compliance with CACFP, USDA, and Head Start Performance Standards.
Identify noncompliance and implement corrective action plans to resolution.
Maintain audit-ready documentation and support federal/state reviews.
Track and follow up on deficiencies until resolved.
Support continuous improvement and risk mitigation strategies.
Assist in reviewing and revising CACFP and BakerRipley Child Nutrition policies and procedures.
Ensure alignment with federal and state guidance.
Support internal audits and compliance reviews.
Develop and monitor menus for compliance, quality, and appropriateness.
Track vendor KPIs: On-time delivery, Meal and documentation accuracy, Substitution frequency, Complaint resolution.
Ensure adherence to approved menus and proper documentation of substitutions.
Oversee the development and implementation of special diets for medical, cultural, and religious meal accommodations.
Ensure claims are accurate, allowable, and supported by documentation.
Coordinate with finance/accounts payable teams as needed.
Monitor vendor performance for contract compliance, meal quality, and service delivery.
Conduct on-site meal observations (temperature, portion sizes, accuracy).
Escalate and document vendor issues and support resolution.
Perform daily/weekly vendor verification checks (menu match, substitutions, delivery logs).
Train site staff on meal service procedures, compliance, and documentation.
Provide ongoing coaching and develop SOPs and job aids.
Address trends in errors through targeted retraining.
Provide training to site staff on CACFP requirements, including: Meal pattern compliance, Civil rights requirements, Recordkeeping procedures.
Offer ongoing technical assistance to correct deficiencies.
Develop training materials and compliance resources.
Reconcile meal counts with enrollment and attendance.
Monitor participation trends and identify risks for over/under claiming.
Prepare reports for leadership on compliance and performance.
Partner with multiple interdepartmental teams to support program goals.
Participate in interdisciplinary meetings and contribute to child outcomes.
Provide culinary, nutrition, health, and wellness education presentations and trainings to families.
Monitor and track children at nutrition risk.