ELA Food Service Coordinator

ELA Food Service Coordinator

Griffith Family YMCA - Griffith, IN 46319; Gary YMCA - Gary, IN 46404

Overview

Position Type Part Time

Description

Pay starts at $17.00 per hour and up based on experience

Nourishing Our Littlest Learners with Healthy Meals, Care, and Community Apply for the ELA Food Service Coordinator Position Today!

POSITION SUMMARY: This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. ELA Food Service Coordinator is responsible for overseeing nutrition and food service operations across preschool and early childhood education sites. This position ensures compliance with all applicable Indiana childcare licensing regulations, food safety standards, and organizational policies. The Food Service Coordinator supports healthy meal service practices, vendor management, menu oversight, site monitoring, and staff training to promote safe, nutritious, and developmentally appropriate meals for young children. The ideal candidate is highly organized, knowledgeable in food safety and early childhood nutrition requirements, and able to manage multiple sites while maintaining strong relationships with vendors, site leadership, and regulatory agencies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Coordinate and oversee daily food service operations across childcare and preschool sites.
2. Review menus for nutritional balance, age appropriateness, allergy compliance, and regulatory compliance.
3. Monitor food handling, storage, sanitation, meal service, and temperature logs at each site.
4. Conduct regular site visits to ensure compliance with licensing and health regulations.
5. Support implementation of developmentally appropriate meal service practices when applicable.
6. Maintain documentation related to food service operations, menus, and monitoring activities.
7. Serve as the primary contact for food vendors and meal service providers.
8. Manage vendor contracts, communication, performance expectations, and delivery schedules.
9. Verify vendor compliance with Indiana health and sanitation requirements.
10. Monitor food quality, shortages, substitutions, and service concerns.
11. Ensure compliance with: Indiana childcare licensing regulations, Indiana food sanitation requirements, USDA nutrition standards, local health department regulations.
12. Maintain required food service records and documentation for audits, monitoring visits, and licensing reviews.
13. Support centers in maintaining food temperature logs, delivery records, and sanitation procedures.
14. Stay current on changes to Indiana childcare food service regulations and nutrition guidance.
15. Train site staff on food safety, sanitation, meal service procedures, and allergy awareness.
16. Provide coaching and support to site leadership regarding food service best practices.
17. Support nutrition education initiatives.
18. Promote healthy eating habits and positive mealtime experiences for children.
19. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with parents and respond to all inquiries and complaints in a timely manner.
20. Supports campaign efforts and donor engagement in the community and team members.
21. Models relationship building in all interactions through Listen First.
22. Complete all required compliance and professional development training annually or as assigned.
23. Support other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the department and branch.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor's degree in nutrition, food service management, early childhood education, public health, or related field preferred.
2. Current ServSafe Manager Certification required or ability to obtain.
3. Minimum of 2 years of experience in food service management, childcare nutrition programs, or institutional food service preferred.
4. Knowledge of Indiana childcare licensing and food service regulations preferred.
5. Experience managing vendors and coordinating multi-site operations preferred.
6. Knowledge of Indiana food sanitation requirements, preschool nutrition and allergy management, vendor meal service operations, state licensing inspections and compliance monitoring, food temperature monitoring and recordkeeping.
7. Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
8. Ability to travel between preschool sites.
9. Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
10. Adept computer skills in Office 365.
11. Ability to respond to safety and emergency situations.

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Team Leader):

The National YMCA Mission: "To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all."

Caring: Fosters a supportive and inclusive team environment. Encourages collaboration and staff well-being.

Honesty: Builds trust by being transparent in decision-making and feedback. Encourages open dialogue.

Respect: Creates a respectful team culture. Resolves conflict with fairness and professionalism

Responsibility: Holds self and team accountable for goals. Provides feedback and supports growth.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Visual, auditory, and verbal ability to communicate effectively.
• Must have high level of alertness, concentration, and initiative.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. and stand, walk, or sit for extended periods of time; occasionally stoop/bend.
• Maintain a neat and professional appearance at all times.

COMMITMENT TO CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION

We are committed to safeguarding the children and families we serve. As a youth-serving organization, the YMCA maintains a strict commitment to child abuse prevention, including staff training, adherence to established safety policies, and zero tolerance for abuse or misconduct.