Nutrition Assistant

Job Details

Position Summary

Join the Y, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. As a Nutrition Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting our early childhood centers by helping provide safe, high-quality meals to children every day. You will help ensure that all meals and snacks meet Head Start standards and California regulations, while creating a positive, welcoming environment for children and families.

You will support food service operations through activities such as preparing and delivering meals, assisting with mealtime in the classroom, and maintaining a clean and safe kitchen environment.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance – Full-time employees are eligible for heavily subsidized coverage with several plan options.
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance, with options for Voluntary Life and AD&D coverage.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health and dependent care expenses.
• Long-Term Disability Insurance for added financial protection.
• Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs to support mental health and work-life balance.
• Commuter Benefits available for eligible employees.
• 12 Designated Holidays, including New Year’s Day.
• Paid Time Off for vacation and sick leave.
• Professional Development Opportunities and ongoing training to support your career growth.
• YMCA Membership Benefits and discounts on programs for you and your family

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the following disciplines: Nutrition, Dietetics, Food Science, Health Education, or a related field
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a Head Start, child development program or other CACFP/USDA nutrition program serving low-income children and families.
• Work experience in food service and/or kitchen management administration.
• T.B. and other required health clearances at the time of employment.
• Livescan/fingerprint clearance by the Department of Justice and Community Care Licensing agencies.
• Valid CDL and use of personal automobile including evidence of auto liability insurance coverage.

Specific Essential Function from the Job Description for this role

• Oversee food service contract implementation and kitchen/food production operation in centers based on CACFP/USDA/Head Start Program Performance Standards or other requirements.
• This position requires regular, local travel to approximately 21 childcare sites across Alameda and Contra Contra counties, as well as sites in Yolo and Sacramento counties.
• Work collaboratively with wider nutrition team on a daily basis to ensure high-functioning daily operations.
• Perform duties of Head Cook, Assistant Cook or Nutrition Assistant for central kitchen-operated sites if/when needed. Provide staff training as required by CACFP/USDA/Head Start Program Performance Standards.
• Ensure proper food safety/sanitation in all site kitchens program-wide.
• Coordinate and complete site CACFP monitoring and recordkeeping.
• Advise staff and monitor kitchen food supply, equipment inventory, ordering, and purchasing.
• Purchase and deliver food and equipment to program sites as needed.
• Oversee nutrition assessment and nutrition referral process for children in care, including completion of nutrition related screenings; providing resources and follow-up as appropriate.
• Use ChildPlus database to track information, report and follow-up on nutrition-related activities and services.
• Participate in agency’s Health and Mental Health Services Advisory Committee and other health or nutrition advisory committees or meetings with staff, parents and community professionals.
• Review and evaluate program and content area activities to ensure that all Program Performance Standards and funding terms and conditions are adhered to and conduct file monitoring reviews for all program options and centers.
• Collaborate and participate in outreach and community events, using various strategies and in locations across
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and build positive working relationships with colleagues, members, and participants.
• Special projects and other duties as assigned.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

The physical demands 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.

• Ability to walk, stand, and sit; use fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, climb and balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and occasionally required to reach with hands or arms.
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds in weight.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee is required to work outdoors daily.
• Mobility to quickly respond to emergencies.

Why join the Y?

• Make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development in Early Childhood Education.
• Work in a supportive, community-focused environment