Nutrition USDA Manager at UMATILLA-MORROW COUNTY HEAD START INC – Hermiston, Oregon

Job Goal:

To lead and oversee the administration of the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) across early childhood program sites, ensuring full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This role supports high-quality nutrition services by supervising food service operations, guiding staff, and fostering a coordinated approach to healthy meal planning, monitoring, and education aligned with CACFP and Head Start Performance Standards.

Essential Responsibilities:

USDA CACFP Program Administration

• Complete the annual USDA CACFP grant renewal for centers.
• Implement and monitor compliance with applicable CACFP regulations, work plans, and internal policies and procedures.
• Inform staff of regulatory changes and ensure ongoing compliance.
• Attend required USDA trainings.
• Complete the One Month Enrollment Report (OMER) for centers each October.
• Ensure completion and retention of all required CACFP documentation in accordance with federal regulations.
• Submit monthly USDA/CACFP claims for centers and sites.
• Complete monthly program reporting.

Meal Services Monitoring and Compliance

• Observe and monitor meal and nutrition services at each early childhood program site a minimum of three times per year; monitor contracted sites at least twice per year.
• Coordinate with contracted food service providers to ensure meals meet USDA/CACFP and Head Start nutrition standards.
• Review menu planning sheets, shopping lists, and vendor receipts to ensure compliance with USDA and Head Start requirements.
• Provide consultation and support to cooks on meal preparation and food service practices.
• Coordinate development of monthly menus in collaboration with a Registered Dietitian, ensure approval, and distribute to sites.
• Offer guidance and technical assistance to classroom staff for integrating nutrition activities into curriculum.
• Provide oversight and support for gardening activities at all UMHS early childhood sites.

Staff Supervision and Support

• Supervise cooks and food service staff.
• Conduct annual performance evaluations.
• Monitor job performance and provide regular coaching.
• Meet regularly with staff to provide direction, feedback, and training.
• Coordinate and deliver relevant food service training.
• Provide substitute coverage for cooks as needed.

General Staff Responsibilities:

• Participate in staff meetings, conferences, training sessions and workshops as assigned 
• Demonstrate familiarity with employment policies, performance standards, work plan and objectives of Agency 
• Maintain congenial and respectful relations with staff, children, families and community 
• Keep current and accurate records and file reports on time 
• Maintain confidentiality in regards to staff and family information 
• Maintain objectives and professional standards 
• Improve self‐skills and education 
• Fulfill role as mandated reporter as stated in Child Abuse and Neglect Policy 
• Be present at work in order to provide consistency of services 
• Be a contributory team member in a positive/productive manner 
• Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies in the performance of daily duties 
• And or any other duties deemed necessary by your supervisor 

Education Requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required
• A certificate or degree in Food Service Management is highly desirable

Experience and Skills Requirements:

• One year experience with Food and Nutrition, including: sanitation/health standards, menu planning, bulk food purchasing, large quantity food preparation, and operation of food service equipment
• Knowledge of early childhood nutrition
• Minimum two years’ experience in supervision with the ability to exercise independent judgment and decision making with regards to staff supervision and the daily operation of a large scale food production program
• Strong math ability and clerical/bookkeeping skills related to invoicing, receiving and administration of other food service/production documentation
• Ability to meet deadlines, with excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of the needs of diverse populations and special diets.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to articulate and write policies/procedures as they relate to Food Service.
• Strong computer skills, (word processing, data base, spreadsheets etc.)
• Ability to coordinate and/or conduct training sessions or ability to learn such skills
• Current Food Handler’s Card
• Head Start experience (preferred)
• Community experience (preferred)
• Multi-cultural experience (preferred)

Other Requirements:

• Comprehend, analyze, and make inferences and references from written material
• Ability to use computer and word processing software programs
• Sort and alphabetize documents, records, and/or files
• Daily use of computer screen
• Perform detailed and repetitive work such as data entry, completion of forms, and verification of computer reports
• Produce written documentation with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation and grammar
• Perform physical inventory of equipment and/or supplies
• Make precise arm-hand positioning movements and maintain static arm-hand positions
• Work with children requiring the ability to walk or run quickly, kneel or sit on floor etc.
• Maintain the safety of the environment and children through visual, auditory and smelling

Physical Requirements:

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:

• Observe, compare, and monitor behaviors, records and data to determine compliance with prescribed standards
• Comprehend, analyze, and make inferences and references from written material
• Ability to drive a private or agency vehicle; must possess a valid driver’s license and personal automobile insurance or provide a plan that will allow fulfillment of position requirements
• Frequently perform repetitive motion with hands and arms in food preparation, serving and cleaning activities.
• Continuously stand and walk for most of an 8‐hour workday.
• Frequently lift, carry or otherwise move and position objects weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Frequently bend, kneel, reach, and regularly crouch.
• Maintain the safety of the environment through visual, auditory and smelling senses
• Make skillful, controlled manipulations of small objects
• Maintain the safety of the environment and children through visual, auditory and smelling
• Perform regular sanitation of kitchen, classroom and equipment, which may require the use of broom, carpet sweeper, mop and chemicals.
• Perform physical inventory of equipment and/or supplies

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment/Conditions: 

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment. 
• Requires exposure to cleaning fluids and sanitizing agents 
• Job tasks are performed in close physical proximity to other people 

Safety: 

Apply safe practices in the performance of duties 

• Reporting of unsafe or hazardous working conditions and/or any injury immediately 
• Complying with Agency safety standards 
• Participate in emergency drills 
• Promote a culture of safe environments in the workplace 

Organizational Requirements: 

• Current enrollment in the Child Care Division’s Central Background Registry 
• Current physical examination, drug screen, and TB screen documentation prior to hire 
• Ability to drive a private or Agency vehicle; must possess a valid driver's license and personal automobile or provide a plan that will allow fulfillment of position requirements. A DMV Record check will be conducted prior to hire. 
• Desire to work with low-income children and their families 
• Communicate effectively with staff, families, children, and the public using the telephone and in face-to-face, one-to-one, and in group settings 
• Fluent in English both verbally and written 

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Umatilla-Morrow Head Start, Inc. is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals in all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, job assignments, promotions, career advancement opportunities, working conditions, scheduling, disciplinary action, termination of employment, compensation, and access to benefits and training. We recruit, hire, and promote into all job levels the most qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics.