Dietitian / Nutritionist

Pay Grade:  3550                

Position Control: 3552      

Department:  Food Services            

Accountable To:  Director of Food Services

FLSA Status: Exempt          

Creation/Revision Date:    July 1, 2017

Summary:   Under general supervision incumbents provide support and technical assistance to the food service program by planning menus in compliance with the National School Meal Program, evaluating and recommending new food products, designing and presenting nutrition classes to District students, community groups and parents and providing technical assistance and training to the Nutrition Services staff in regards to meal preparation, menu compliance and kitchen safety/sanitation.

Essential Functions:

• Provides nutrition education to students and staff.  Determines appropriate information for age group and develops curriculum, bulletin boards, handouts, and power point presentations to meet the needs of the population.

• Provides technical assistance and training to Nutrition Services staff on proper meal preparation and safe food handling.  Monitors compliance of district kitchens to the USDA meal regulations for the National School Meal Program for Breakfast, Lunch, After School Snacks and the Summer Meal Program.

• Prepares all menus for schools and other special programs by selecting items for the school meal menu based on multiple criteria governed by federal laws and District standards.

• Develops and updates recipes, menus and kitchen procedures by determining the capabilities of kitchens based on equipment and staff and ensuring they meet nutritional and health guidelines set by the federal government.

• Provides technical assistance to children and staff concerning medical and special dietary needs.  Reviews and develops menus and works with their medical authority.

• Evaluates new food products and compares with existing products in order to determine the product with the best nutritional value.  Makes changes to menus by deleting products and adding new ones.

• Maintains and updates nutritional software by determining when new versions or software is needed. 

• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Required Qualifications:

To be eligible for this position, an applicant must meet the following required qualifications.  Verification of these required qualifications is necessary.

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition or related field;

• Three years of experience in a community based organization or school food service setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

It is preferred that applicant possesses the following preferred qualifications; however, the following qualifications are not required to be eligible for this position.

• Registered Dietitian credentials.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The qualifications for this job description are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Skills required, but not limited to, for this position include:

• Understanding of basic nutrition;

• Installing nutritional education concepts;
• Knowing National School Meal requirements;
• Preparing food;
• Using computer related software applications;
• Developing effective presentations for all age groups;
• Developing nutritious and interesting menus ensuring compliance of all federal laws governing food service in public schools;
• Knowing basic mathematics especially in food measurement conversions;
• Using a personal computer and related software applications;
• Engaging and encouraging communication skills while interacting with supervisors, staff, students, etc. to exchange information.

Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and taste or smell.  The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions:

The working environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, outside weather conditions, extreme cold, extreme heat, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.