Head Start Nutrition Specialist

General Description: The Nutrition Specialist prepares healthy and nutritional meals. As well as keep the kitchen area clean and sanitary according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations.
Essential Job Responsibilities and Performance Indicators:

• Cook and serve assigned meals per specified menu and time schedule to meet the nutritional needs of children to help promote school readiness
• Work with Head Start Staff to provide scheduled meals and snacks per the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program.
• Encourage parent engagement by creating a welcoming environment, role-modeling sanitation, and healthy eating habits.
• Ensure appropriate quantities of food are prepared and served in accordance with the CACFP meal requirements.
• Assist in maintaining accurate, current, and organized documentation and records on all nutritional matters. (i.e., milk inventory, meal count, delivery tickets, all receipts, etc.
• Assist in any food-related classroom activities. Ensure a clean, organized, and sanitary food service area by cleaning the kitchen, stove, and refrigerator and washing pots, pans, and dishes. Make sure it meets local and state regulations.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications / Skills and Experience:

• High School Diploma or General Education Development Diploma (GED).
• Experience with food preparation.
• Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Must be able to pass background checks and health screening.
• Must be able to communicate (verbal and written) effectively and appropriately with others.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general culinary recipes and safety rules.

Professional and Ethical Standards:

• Maintain confidentiality following agency policy and legal requirements.
• Attend mandatory training and meetings, and seek out staff development opportunities.
• Work as a team member with all staff and maintain a positive work ethic.
• Be honest, reliable, and dependable.
• Knowledgeable about and sensitive to an individual's values, beliefs, traditions, cultural influences, make-up, and circumstances.
• Demonstrate familiarity with employment policies, performance standards, work plans, and agency goals and objectives.
• Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies in performing daily duties.
• Fulfill role as mandated reporter as stated in the Child Abuse & Neglect Policy.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.
• The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• Perform a physical inventory of equipment and/or supplies.
• Lift and move heavy and/or bulky objects and/or children weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Maintain a clean and safe kitchen area, which may require a broom, mop, dishwasher, cleaning fluids, etc.
• Assist with the safety of children through the seeing, hearing, touching, and smelling senses.