Educational Services Specialist

Houston Food Bank•Houston, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Educational Services Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting Houston Food Bank’s child nutrition programs, including Kids Café, School Market, and Backpack Buddy, across its 18-county service area. This position is responsible for ensuring program compliance with Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) guidelines for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Key duties include coordinating daily documentation, maintaining accurate meal service records, and ensuring timely reporting. The role also provides administrative, compliance, and customer service support to school-based partners, facilitating equitable food distribution through various service models. Additionally, the Educational Services Specialist cultivates and maintains strong, professional relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders to enhance program effectiveness and community impact, adhering to PACT values (Purpose, Accountability, Courage, Transparency).

Requirements

High School Diploma from an accredited school or general education development (GED) certificate.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, Google Drive, and basic database knowledge and experience.
Ability to work with a diverse population.
Ability to travel to site locations for required monitoring visits.
Must have excellent customer service and communication skills to ensure smooth communication of any sites to conduct correct meal services.
Must possess excellent written and verbal communication to express complex information clearly.
Flexible and able to adjust to sudden changes in the organization and workload.
Able to coordinate and communicate well with all members of the department.
Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
Ability to operate a computer, copier, and other business equipment.
Carries out responsibilities in accordance with TDA, USDA, CACFP, and HFB policies.
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
Must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and insurance.
Is legally able to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Some college preferred.
1-2 years of child nutrition, food service operations, or related work experience preferred.
1 year of experience in a non-profit organization or school preferred.
Knowledge of food insecurity in the Houston area preferred.
Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish).

Responsibilities

Demonstrated Reliable On-Site Attendance: Maintains consistent, punctual, and dependable attendance to support business needs, including participation in meetings, trainings, and presentations.
Ensure Regulatory Compliance: Learns and applies Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) guidelines to support compliance with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
Partner Training and Support: Trains and supports schools, site coordinators, school staff, and student volunteers on the policies, procedures, and operational expectations of Educational Services programs.
Data and Records Management: Manages, collects, and maintains accurate records, reports, and data entries in alignment with program compliance requirements.
Documentation for Audit Preparedness: Maintains thorough documentation and recordkeeping to ensure readiness for audits and inspections in compliance with TDA regulations.
Relationship Building and Community Engagement: Fosters strong relationships with neighbors, school and community stakeholders, and donors. Serves as a professional representative of Houston Food Bank (HFB) and the Educational Services department.
Database and Technology Use: Accurately maintains information across multiple systems, including databases, dashboards, and software platforms used for program operations and reporting.
Program Paperwork and Site Monitoring: Processes and ensures the accuracy and completeness of essential program documents, including agreements, reports, food safety assessments, and monitoring forms.
Educational Outreach and Representation: Participates in outreach efforts by attending meetings with schools, district officials, and community partners to promote awareness and understanding of HFB programs.