Registered Dietitian

PRIMARY PURPOSE:
The Registered Dietitian assists in the coordination of all Child Nutrition programs and services for McAllen ISD with a focus on menu planning, food production, nutrition education, and purchasing planning. As such, they ensure that they supervise the implementation of the child nutrition dietary guidelines as directed by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and federal regulations. Specifically, the Registered Dietitian ensures that the Child Nutrition programs meet regulatory and nutritional requirements for students, promote the development of sound nutritional practices, and maintain a safe and sanitary environment. The Registered Dietitian also achieves financial excellence at both the district level and at every school cafeteria with an emphasis on menu cost and execution, working closely with the procurement team to forecast commodity processing and product sourcing.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education/Certification:
Bachelor's Degree with a major in Food Science or related study, required.
Registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and /or licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians, required.
Special Knowledge/Skills:
Knowledge of Texas Department of Agriculture NSLP, SBP, and CACFP regulations, preferred
Knowledge of K-12 child nutrition programs and systems preferred
Ability to interpret and implement TDA and USDA program menu planning requirements, preferred
Knowledge of menu planning, compliance, and adult learner trainings, preferred
Knowledge of computerized nutritional analysis software system, preferred
Experience in modification of menus to meet special dietary needs, preferred
Proficiency in Computers and Microsoft Office, required
Ability to implement policy and procedures, required
Strong written, oral and presentation skills required
Proficiency in English and Spanish, required
Experience:
Three (3) years in diet modification, menu planning, food purchasing, food production records, preparation, and service.
Two (2) years directly managing others.
Three (3) years experience in school food service management.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Responsible for testing, evaluating, and establishing a master recipe file of approved standard recipes.
2. Remains current and implements new child nutrition guidelines and meal patterns as directed by the TDA and federal regulations, trains department staff, and monitors implementation of these regulations.
3. Collaborate with Menu and Production Specialists and Production Supervisor in the planning, selecting, and development of menu items, training of culinary skills to Child Nutrition staff, and the implementation of marketing and merchandising plans.
4. Collaborate with the procurement team to develop a plan to ensure menu items are incorporated into bids while adhering to procurement guidelines.
5. Oversees the timeline for menu development and execution, aligning with department regulatory compliance and timely menu execution.
6. Oversees required nutrition analysis on the menu and maintains cycle-menu catalog numbers, recipes, and templates.
7. Responsible for preparing modified menus for students with special dietary needs as required by program regulations.
8. Responsible for producing special dietary foods and preparation equipment required to meet the special dietary needs and management of students in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
9. Collaborates with the Menu and Production Specialist, Production Supervisor, and Procurement team to ensure that cafeteria managers can order all non-food items, kitchen equipment, and supplies needed for menu execution.
10. Assist in program budgeting by providing accurate forecasting for food, non-food, and equipment needs to execute the menu.
11. Collaborate on procurement planning to include thresholds, procurement needs, grant opportunities, and capital expenditure planning.
12. Develop a culture of commitment, collaboration, and communication amongst food service staff that increases food service staff satisfaction and eliminates the escalation of personnel issues.
13. Collaborate with direct reports, the Director of Child Nutrition, the Operations Coordinator, and Human Resources as needed to resolve personnel issues at the campus level.
14. Responsible for planning and implementing nutrition education.
15. Utilize current marketing trends and results for student surveys, parent surveys, SHAC Committee, and Parent Advisory Committee to appeal to students' acceptability in menu development.
16. Establish food service policies, procedures, and priorities that result in achieving program goals and objectives.
17. Assist in developing processes to ensure compliant state and Federal agency requirements are met, including claim consolidation, inventory management, financial reporting, meal reporting and analysis, and Community Eligibility Provision.
18. Collaborate with Coordinator, and Child Nutrition Specialists to develop and execute an effective professional development for teachers and other school staff on the benefits of child nutrition, counting and claiming, compliance, and other trainings as needed.
19. Complete performance reviews of direct reports and provide input to the Operations Coordinator for campus performance reviews as needed.
20. Maintain relevant and appropriate documentation regarding all school food service concerns for audit purposes to verify accountability to the district, TDA, USDA, and any other regulatory agencies.
21. Follow McAllen ISD customer service standards.
22. Perform other duties assigned by immediate supervisor (primary evaluator).

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Procurement Specialist
Menu & Production Specialist
EQUIPMENT USED:
Computer, copier, printer, fax machine, multimedia equipment
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Mental Demands:
Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written); maintain emotional control under stress; interpret policy, procedures and data; coordinate varied projects/programs; ability to handle several projects at the same time with frequent interruptions, meet deadlines with time constraints; ability to perform management assignments during non-scheduled working hours
Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:
Prolonged standing or sitting; repetitive hand movements, prolonged use of computer; prolonged and irregular hours; frequent district-wide travel and occasional out-of-district travel, exposure to temperature extremes, exposure to noise
Working Days: 226
Daily Rate pay range:
Minimum: $ 273.20
Maximum: $ 381.16
Note: Starting pay for a new hire in a pay range plan will be determined individually based on each person's job-related experience and salaries paid to peer employees in the same position with similar experience.