Food & Nutrition Program Compliance Specialist

FOOD & NUTRITION PROGRAM COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST

(Nutrition Program Consultant/Child Nutrition Director/ESC Consultant)

 

Salary Information: B25, $6,500.00 – $7,000.00/MO.

State Classification: 1576 - Program Specialist VII

FLSA Status: Exempt

Posting Number: 26-58524-5R

Location: Austin, Ft. Worth, Waco, San Antonio, Lubbock, Houston, TX

Telework Option: TDA does not offer telework, and all employees are required to be physically present for work.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online via CAPPS. Applicants applying in Work In Texas (WIT) will be required to complete additional supplemental questions, optionally provide EEO information including how you heard about the job, and provide an electronic signature in the CAPPS Career Section to be considered for the position.

WHO ARE WE

The Texas Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Division administers 12 federal child and special nutrition programs and more than $2.5 billion in federal money annually. These programs aim to reduce hunger, encourage strong nutrition, and support local economies across Texas.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Perform highly advanced consultative services and technical assistance work. Provide policy guidance, program expertise, implementing and process direction to Education Service Centers (ESCs), community organizations and the general public. Serves as a subject matter expert for complex, multi-faceted federal nutrition programs and leads ongoing improvement efforts and strategic initiatives to deliver responsive, solution-oriented technical assistance statewide. Work under minimal supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Serve as a subject matter expert on highly complex federal nutrition programs, providing direction, procedural guidance and clarification to all Contracting Entities (CE) and ESC Child Nutrition Specialists, coordinating and ensuring consistent statewide responses that support compliance.

Lead ongoing initiatives to measure ESC performance, support ongoing improvement projects and build tools and resources to improve systemic capacity to deliver high quality technical assistance and support to contracting organizations.

Coordinate, plan, and prioritize training and procedural guidance to all CE on all food and nutrition programs. Review and identify training topics and materials that are needed to address CE audit performance and CE training requests across the state for child nutrition programs.

Serve as a subject matter expert on highly complex federal nutrition programs to include orientation and training on all food program areas and provide excellent technical assistance to customers that accurately reflects TDA guidance.

Keep abreast of the laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to provide guidance and direction to designated or identified workgroups on policy affecting efforts to support federal nutrition programs.

Collaborate in policy and compliance meetings, providing relevant information on operational and current processes to ensure proper understanding and coordinated direction, including the resolution of noncompliance and related issues.

Plan, develop, and implement program policies, procedures, standards, manuals in accordance with program objectives and goals; determining trends and resolving technical problems; and recommending appropriate changes.

Follow all TDA policies and procedures.

Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POSITION (To be considered for the position, applicants must submit a State of Texas Application through CAPPS or WIT – experience listed on the application and/or resume must state how each of the following qualifications are met).

Bachelor’s degree (one year of work experience related to the duties and responsibilities may substitute for one year of college).

Minimum three (3) years of work experience as a Child Nutrition Supervisor, Coordinator, Director, or related with operational and managerial application for the School Nutrition Program, manager of community programs with operational and managerial application for the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and/or ESC Consultant with experience supporting child nutrition operations

Work experience reviewing, analyzing, and/or applying federal and state policies to federal programs.

Work experience in developing and providing one-on-one and group training to a diverse audience.

Valid Texas driver’s license and an acceptable driving record.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist.

School Nutrition Specialist Credentialing.

Work experience analyzing and interpreting data for program effectiveness.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Knowledge of food and nutrition of USDA regulations for Child Nutrition programs; of local, state, and federal laws related to the program area; National School Lunch and Breakfast programs, Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program; public administration techniques; training and marketing techniques; program management processes and techniques; statistical analysis processes; and research techniques

Skill in providing customer service excellence to both internal and external customers; in identifying measures or indicators of program performance; in managing multiple projects; and in the use of a computer and applicable software.

Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to establish goals and objectives; to devise solutions to administrative problems; to develop, evaluate, and interpret administrative policies and procedures; to provide guidance and direction to others; and to exercise sound judgment and discretion; and to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

Requires working in a normal office work environment and may have exposure to dust and environmental allergens consistent with normal business activities and human contact. Mostly sedentary in nature but may involve walking; standing; pulling and pushing; kneeling, stooping, and bending; performing tasks requiring fine motor skills and coordination; and safely lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 pounds. Must be able to work extended periods at a computer and may require working extended hours and some evenings and weekends, as needed. May involve travel (up to *30%), occasionally overnight.