Child Nutrition Specialist (Northwest Arkansas)

Child Nutrition Specialist (Northwest Arkansas)

The Child Nutrition Specialist supports the district-wide Child Nutrition Program across Northwest Arkansas campuses. This role serves as the key liaison between the district, campus leadership teams, and the contracted Food Service Management Company (FSMC). The Specialist ensures smooth daily cafeteria operations, supports regulatory compliance, and promotes high-quality meal service for students.

This position requires strong organizational skills, the ability to work across multiple sites, and a commitment to student nutrition and service excellence. The role also requires professionalism and the ability to effectively manage and resolve conflict among staff and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor and support daily cafeteria operations across multiple campuses.
• Conduct regular site visits to evaluate service quality, efficiency, and cleanliness.
• Identify operational challenges and collaborate with campus staff and FSMC to resolve issues.
• Ensure consistency in meal service, portioning, and customer service standards.
• Support compliance with USDA, state, and local child nutrition regulations (NSLP, SBP).
• Review meal counting and claiming procedures for accuracy and audit readiness.
• Assist with administrative reviews, audits, and corrective action plans.
• Monitor food safety and sanitation practices, including HACCP procedures.
• Support accurate use of point-of-sale (POS) systems for meal tracking and reimbursement.
• Analyze meal count data and resolve discrepancies.
• Train staff on proper meal counting, eligibility categories, and system use.
• Serve as liaison between district leadership, campuses, and the FSMC.
• Communicate expectations, updates, and operational guidance to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with campus leaders and cafeteria managers to support program success.
• Address and mediate conflicts between staff, campus teams, and FSMC personnel in a professional and timely manner.
• Facilitate constructive problem-solving conversations to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
• Escalate complex personnel or operational conflicts to the District Nutrition Coordinator when necessary.
• Provide training and on-site coaching for campus and cafeteria staff.
• Support onboarding of new food service personnel.
• Share best practices to improve efficiency and service quality across campuses.
• Monitor participation, operational performance, and service trends.
• Assist in preparing reports and maintaining program documentation.
• Support initiatives to improve student participation and satisfaction.
• Travel regularly between Northwest Arkansas campuses to provide on-site support.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the district's Child Nutrition Program.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in food service operations, school nutrition programs, or a related field.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage responsibilities across multiple campuses.
• Ability to travel between district campuses.
• Willingness to obtain ServSafe certification.

Preferred Qualifications, not required

• Bachelor's degree in Nutrition, Food Service Management, Business, or related field.
• Two to three years of relevant experience.
• Experience with USDA Child Nutrition Programs (NSLP, SBP).
• Experience with POS systems and meal counting procedures.
• Multi-site or district-level experience.
• Current ServSafe certification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of school nutrition operations and USDA program requirements.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently while supporting district-wide goals.
• Strong conflict resolution and interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate challenging situations professionally.

Pay: From $43,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Work Location: In person