Registered Dietician Nutritionist

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Registered Dietitian (RDN) will play a vital role in improving community health through support and administration of the Greater Chicago Food Depository initiatives including various prepared meal programs supporting older adults, adults with health diseases or disability and low-income individuals. The role will collaborate with other departments to provide direction, training, and support on all dietary related initiatives. The RDN will support Food Production Operations in the development of production menus and diet-specific menus ensuring that the menus produced adhere to our dietary standards and stated therapeutic goals. This role will serve as the subject matter expert supporting the administration of the CBORD food production system.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Establish a continuous and ongoing systematic process of quality management to ensure a Standards of
• Excellence in Nutrition and Dietetics for the Food Depository
• Work closely and cooperatively with all departments of the Food Depository to support meal program implementation and expansion.
• Support strategic initiatives, research and develop recipes, menus and meal programs for established Food Depository meal guidelines in partnership with the Meal Production Team
• Support expansion of meal programs from current MTM, OA and Partner meals with a goal of serving more individuals in the community with special dietary needs. Coordinate with Community Team and partner programs to establish meal programs that meet nutrition goals and client acceptability expectations.
• Maintain the database of ingredients, recipes, and menus needed to support the meal programs and recommend system upgrades or improvements to keep current with field standards.  Provide nutrition data to program partner staff when needed.
• Lead continuous quality improvement programs to maximize effectiveness and efficiency of meal programs for benefit of clients.
• Calculate and report quality indicators.
• Support the overarching goal to increase the health equity of our communities ideally allowing for the fair opportunity to attain full health potential and that no one should be disadvantaged from achieving this potential.
• Provide effective, equitable, understandable, and respectful nutrition and dietetic support that is responsive to diverse cultural beliefs and practices, preferred languages, health literacy and other communication needs.
• Commit to diversify the nutrition and dietetic profession, foster diverse leadership, and to bring cultural competency to members to better serve our communities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree (minimum) in Nutrition or related field with 5 years of relevant experience as a registered dietitian.
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist in the state of Illinois
• Familiarity with the latest nutritional standards, practices, and procedures in a variety of settings (clinical and community)
• Excellent communication skills to coordinate with both on-site and off-site staff
• Ability to translate complex scientific and nutritional information into simpler messaging for diverse audiences.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (with a focus on Excel), NetMenu or other Nutritional Analysis and Food Production Management software systems and Customer Relationship
• Management software systems
• Proficient with nutritional analysis and nutritional claim product labeling.
• Familiarity with recipe and menu development practices.  Understanding of food and supply procurement, inventory management and yield monitoring.
• Familiarity with program requirements of government-funded meal programs (e.g. NSLP, CACFP, etc.).
• At least 5 years of relevant food operations experience preferred.

EXPOSURE

• Typical commercial kitchen environment
• Standard office environment with exposure to warehouse operations, may include freezer /refrigerator temperatures.
• Interact with GCFD staff, volunteers, vendors, and member agencies.
• Personal transportation and local travel required.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.