FY 26-27 DIRECTOR OF CHILD NUTRITION

JOB TITLE: Director of Child Nutrition

STATUS: Full Time; Exempt

REPORTS TO: CEO

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

Vaughn Next Century Learning Center ("Vaughn"), located in Pacoima, is a large urban public school within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Since the early 1970s, low student achievement had been a pattern. In 1993, tired of being helpless and hopeless, Vaughn became the first conversion charter school in the nation and was authorized by LAUSD. The charter was renewed most recently in 2018. Vaughn has over 25 years of experience as a successful independent charter school serving the district's low-income students. This previously failing elementary public school is now a full-service, community-based, TK-12 charter school that assures all students are college/career ready, digitally literate, and globally competent.

In addition to its TK-12 program, Vaughn also operates a State Preschool Center that provides early childhood education services for preschool-aged children and their families. The preschool program offers a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment focused on school readiness, early literacy, language development, social-emotional growth, and family engagement. Through play-based and structured learning experiences, the program helps prepare children for a successful transition into kindergarten while supporting the needs of the surrounding community.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Child Nutrition provides strategic leadership, management, and oversight of Vaughn Next Century Learning Center's Child Nutrition Program, ensuring that all students have access to nutritious, appealing, and compliant meals that support student health, wellness, and academic achievement. The Director is responsible for the administration of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Universal Meals Program, and other federal, state, and local nutrition initiatives.

This position oversees all aspects of food service operations, including program compliance, budget development and management, menu planning, procurement, food safety, inventory control, staff supervision, training, and program evaluation. The Director works collaboratively with school leaders, families, vendors, government agencies, and community partners to maintain a high-quality nutrition program that is financially sustainable, operationally efficient, and responsive to student needs. The Director serves as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies and ensures compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal requirements governing child nutrition programs.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides strategic leadership and oversight of Vaughn's Child Nutrition Program, ensuring high-quality meal service that supports student health, wellness, and academic success.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and requirements governing child nutrition programs, including USDA and California Department of Education regulations.
• Oversees the day-to-day operations of the Child Nutrition Program, ensuring efficient meal service, staffing, scheduling, inventory management, and operational continuity across all program sites.
• Plans, coordinates, and provides ongoing training and professional development opportunities to Child Nutrition staff to ensure compliance with USDA Professional Standards requirements, strengthen job performance, and support continuous program improvement.
• Develops, implements, and monitors department goals, policies, procedures, and operational standards to promote program effectiveness and continuous improvement.
• Oversees program budgets, financial performance, reimbursement claims, purchasing activities, and cost-control measures to ensure fiscal sustainability.
• Directs menu planning and nutrition services to ensure meals are nutritious, appealing, cost-effective, and compliant with all meal pattern requirements.
• Oversees procurement, inventory management, vendor relationships, and contract administration in accordance with applicable purchasing regulations.
• Ensures food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards are consistently maintained throughout all food service operations.
• Supervises, trains, evaluates, and supports Child Nutrition staff, fostering a positive, collaborative, and service-oriented work environment.
• Oversees the use of nutrition management systems, point-of-sale systems, and program data to improve operational efficiency and accountability.
• Leads preparation for audits, administrative reviews, monitoring visits, and corrective action processes.
• Develops cost-effective menus that maintain and enhances nutrition integrity and meets all local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations
• Collaborates with school leaders, families, government agencies, and community partners to promote participation in nutrition programs and support student wellness initiatives.
• Prepares reports, presentations, and recommendations for executive leadership and the Board of Directors as requested.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

Leadership & Management

• Demonstrated ability to lead, supervise, develop, and evaluate Child Nutrition staff while fostering a positive, collaborative, and customer-focused work environment.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and operational demands.

Financial & Operational Management

• Experience managing budgets, controlling costs, overseeing procurement activities, and maintaining efficient food service operations.
• Proficiency with nutrition management systems, point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory controls, and meal accountability processes.

Regulatory Compliance

• Knowledge of USDA Child Nutrition Programs, California Universal Meals requirements, federal procurement regulations, and food service compliance requirements.
• Experience maintaining program records, preparing reimbursement claims, and supporting audits, reviews, and monitoring visits.

Food Service & Nutrition

• Knowledge of nutrition standards, menu planning, food safety regulations, HACCP principles, sanitation practices, and dietary accommodation requirements.
• Ability to develop meal programs that meet regulatory requirements while promoting student participation and satisfaction.

Communication & Collaboration

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with students, families, staff, administrators, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
• Ability to present information, analyze data, and provide recommendations to leadership and governance groups.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Meet one of the education requirements below:
  • Bachelor's degree with major/concentration on food & nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family & consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business, or related field; or
  • Bachelor's degree in any field and State-recognized certificate for school nutrition director; or
  • Bachelor's degree in any field and at least three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in school nutrition or food service management; or
  • Associate's degree with major/concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family & consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business administration, or related field and at least five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in school nutrition or food service management

In addition:

• At least 8 hours of food safety training completed within the 5 years prior to start date
• A minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or management experience overseeing food service operations and staff
• Experience administering federally funded child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP), preferred

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• $90,295.30 - $125,074.43
• 220 Days per year
• Eligible for competitive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• 100% employer covered life insurance
• 100% employer covered long-term disability insurance
• Access to Vaughn Perks, an employee benefits hub with access to discounts and services
• 10 Sick Days per year (accrued on a per payroll basis)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Upon receiving an offer of employment:

• Must pass a criminal background check (Live Scan) with the Department of Justice (DOJ)
• Must provide a Tuberculosis skin test (Mantoux) clearance within 60 days of employment
• Will be assigned mandated state training to be completed prior to the first day of employment

Vaughn Next Century Learning Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed, color, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniformed service member status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, pregnancy, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected basis under the law. Equal opportunity shall be provided to all employees and applicants in every aspect of personnel policy and practice. Vaughn does not discriminate against persons with disabilities who, with reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the job in question.