NUTRITION PROGRAM SPECIALIST (RD)

The D C Central Kitchen Inc•Washington, DC

13d•$55,000 - $70,000•Hybrid

About The Position

DC Central Kitchen (DCCK) is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. Our approach provides hands-on culinary job training while creating living-wage jobs and bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed in our city. We serve scratch-cooked farm-to-school meals in DC schools; deliver fresh, affordable produce to corner stores in neighborhoods without supermarkets; provide delicious catering; and operate cafes. Above all else, we are committed to creating a more just, equitable, and inclusive community, both outside our doors and right here on our team. We strive to offer a safe environment to learn, discover and develop individual strengths, and pursue meaningful career pathways. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we recognize and work to address the lasting effects of historic injustices and systemic racism, and we strongly encourage people of color, women, LGBTQ people, returning citizens, and people who have experienced poverty or homelessness to apply to join our team. The Contract Meals and Nutrition department is responsible for all aspects of DC Central Kitchen’s nutrition programs, services, and activities, including but not limited to menu planning, nutrition education, budgeting, etc. This department also manages program compliance with relevant federal, state, and local policies, regulations, and procedures; facilitates effective business relationships with clients; and drives value through efficient service operations for contract meal programs including The Community Partnership (TCP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and other programming that provides meals to the community. In addition to nutrition services, this department includes our School Foods program, which provides scratch-cooked, locally sourced nutritious meals to students at multiple schools throughout Washington, D.C. and our Community Meals program, which ensures the efficient preparation and distribution of healthy meals to partner agencies (including homeless shelters, rehabilitation clinics, and after-school programs) throughout the region. Under the direction of the Associate Director, Nutrition Programming and Compliance, the Nutrition Program Specialist will be responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating all nutrition education and student engagement for the School Foods Program. This role will support community and cross-departmental nutrition education programming, such as the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, Truck Farm, and Community Partnerships and Growth Activations. This role will maintain a record of documented dietary accommodations across School Foods and Community Meals Programs and serve as a liaison to schools and families regarding dietary accommodations. The Specialist will also provide on-going training and technical assistance to DCCK staff on compliance standards as well as the safe execution of dietary accommodations menus. This role will assist with grant deliverables, student taste tests, and nutrition education programming. Strong attention to detail, excellent oral and written communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively are highly essential.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 2 to 4 years of experience in Nutrition, Dietetics, or related field.
Familiarity with all related USDA programs and regulations
Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), menu planning software (Experience with Mosaic or Gaia K12 a plus)
Demonstrated cultural competence and a commitment to the mission and values of DC Central Kitchen
Excellent oral and written communication skills and strong interpersonal skills
Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of management, front-line personnel, as well as the client
Highly organized, self-motivated, and detail-oriented with strong problem-solving and analytical skills
Comfortable working independently and collaboratively as a team
Must be able to obtain a DCPS clearance
Current ServSafe® Manager certification
Pre-employment background check and drug test are required.

Nice To Haves

School nutrition experience is preferred.
Registered Dietitian credential is a plus

Responsibilities

Plan, implement, and evaluate all nutrition education and student engagement for the School Food Program, including but not limited to: student surveys, theme meals, family/community-facing engagements, marketing, taste tests, and garden-based education.
Support cross-departmental nutrition programming as needed, such as basic nutrition instruction for CJT, youth volunteer groups, Healthy Corners events, and CDP activations; coordinate with internal and external partners to develop and execute nutrition education programming.
Plan, teach, and evaluate Nationals Youth Baseball Academy afterschool cooking class
Maintain truck farm schedule and coordinate use of truck farm with outside departments
Create annual “Satisfaction Plan” for DCPS, track progress, and prepare year-end report
Create program logic model(s) with defined evaluation metrics, conduct continuous monitoring and evaluation using rigorous and validated methods as applicable, and prepare written and oral reports of program evaluation results
Organize and maintain storage area in collaboration with Nutrition Coordinator and School Foods; track inventory and use of materials and coordinate ordering of supplies as needed.
Coordinate translation of display menu into different languages as needed.
Develop and implement marketing materials and strategies for new menu items, farm to school initiatives, theme meals, and other student engagement.
Coordinate internal and external volunteers and interns to assist in carrying out nutrition education & engagement events.
Collaborate with Associate Director, procurement, school foods, community meals, cafe, catering & retail sales, Healthy Corners and production teams on new menu management processes and systems to drive continuous quality improvement, efficiency, and operational excellence.
Engage in recipe development, product research, and taste tests by coordinating student taste tests of new and existing menu items and communicating results to inform menu development.
Maintain thorough and up to date knowledge of USDA Child Nutrition Program regulations to include, School Breakfast Program (SBP), National School Lunch program (NSLP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), DC Healthy School Act (HSA), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Supper, NSLP Afterschool Snack, Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program (FFVP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Breakfast and Lunch.
Assist with menu review as needed and maintain general working knowledge of school menus to ensure cohesive, consistent, mission-aligned programming.
Coordinate and implement promotional menus for theme days, International Food Days, National School Lunch and Breakfast Weeks and Farm to School events.
Plan and coordinate FFVP program, including creating monthly menus, developing and distributing required nutrition education materials, monitoring spend-down of funds, and conducting periodic informal program audits to ensure quality and compliance.
Create cycle dietary accommodations menus for uncommon and/or complex dietary restrictions.
Communicate with parents/guardians, nurses, and central office staff to receive and clarify information contained on dietary accommodations forms.
Maintain record of dietary accommodations, create compliant menus to meet the needs of students and other clients and communicate these needs to DCCK staff.
Research and test specialty food items for dietary accommodations menus and coordinate procurement of specialty food items to meet client needs with dietary accommodations.
Provide on-going training and technical assistance to DCCK staff at the central kitchen and school- and community-based satellite kitchens to support execution of planned menus and nutrition promotions.
Assist in precepting dietetic interns and Culinary Job Training Tracks students.
Attend internal and external client and community partner meetings as needed.
Receive continuing education and maintain RD credential and licensure in District of Columbia.
Perform other duties and tasks as required to maintain quality relationships with internal and external partners and to drive the vision, mission, and values of DC Central Kitchen.

Benefits

Medical, vision, and dental insurance (DCCK pays 100% of employee premiums for individual coverage)
Flexible Spending Accounts
Paid Time Off (vacation, sick, and personal leave)
11 Company Paid Holidays
Bonding Leave for new parents
Commuter Benefits plan
Matching 401(k) program
Basic Life & Supplemental Life
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Wellness Reimbursement program