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

Job Goal:

To assist the Nutrition USDA Manager in coordinating healthy meals for UMHS classrooms and support nutrition staff ensuring they are provided proper tools, support, and supervision to be successful in their role.

Essential Responsibilities:

Support & Mentoring

• Mentor Cooks and Cook Assistants in meal preparation, food safety, and effective food service practices
• Assistwith training and onboarding of new kitchen staff
• Support food service ordering and inventory processes as needed
• Provide coverage for Cooks and Cook Assistants to ensure continuity of operations
• Assistwith mealtime monitoring at each early childhood site
• Coordinate and distribute menus to classrooms
• Support kitchen staff in completing required documentation and maintaining organized, accurate records
• Guide and mentor staff on proper documentation practices to ensure compliance with CACFP requirements

Supervision & Staff Development

• Directly supervise 3–4 Cooks and Cook Assistants
• Conduct performance evaluations and support staff in setting, developing, and tracking professional development goals
• Facilitate onboarding, training, and ongoing coaching for kitchen staff
• Provide training at staff meetings and all-staff trainings as needed
• Offer continuous feedback to ensure quality, consistency, and regulatory compliance across sites

Program Administration & Compliance

• Assistwith the preparation and submission of monthly meal counts and CACFP claims for reimbursement

• Support review and verification of meal count documentation to ensure accuracy and compliance
• Assistin preparing andmaintainingthe annual CACFP application and related documentation
• Ensure all USDA/CACFP forms and records are completed, organized, and audit-ready in accordance with regulations
• Support monitoring efforts to maintain compliance across all early childhood sites

Operations & Program Support

• Serve as backup to the Nutrition Manager, assisting with daily operations and troubleshooting as needed
• Support implementation of nutrition initiatives and program goals across early childhood sites
• Assistin training staff across all sites on nutrition-related practices, procedures, and updates
• Support oversight of kitchen operations to ensure adherence to health, safety, and nutrition standards
• Help maintain consistent food quality and service delivery across all sites
• Identify operational challenges and recommend improvements

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 Organization
• Maintain congenial and respectful relations with staff, children, families and community 
• Keep current and accurate records and file reports on time 
• Maintain confidentialityin regards tostaff and family information 
• Maintainobjectivesand professional standards 
• Improve self‐skills and education 
• Fulfill role as mandated reporter as stated in Child Abuse and Neglect Policy 
• Be present at workin order toprovide 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

Experience and Skills Requirements:

• Two years of Food Service experience
• One year of supervision experience
• CACFP Food Service experience (preferred)
• Previous Head Start parent or experience (preferred)
• Experience working with young children (preferred)

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands and work environment described below 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:

• Sit forlong periodsandmaintainintense concentration, particularly in poor drivingconditions.
• Lift and move heavy and/or bulky objects weighing up to 50lbs.
• Make precise arm-hand positioning movements and maintain static arm-hand positions.
• Work with childrenrequiringthe ability to walk or run quickly, kneel or sit on flooretc.
• Frequently bend,kneeland/orcrouch.
• Perform repetitive movement of hands, arms and legs, sweeping and/or moping.
• Continuously walk, stand and move about.
• Maintain the safety of the environment and children through visual, auditory and smelling.
• Observe, compare, and monitor behaviors, records and data to determine compliance with prescribed standards.
• Comprehend, analyze, and make inferences and references from written material.
• Produce written documentation with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation and grammar.
• Instruct, lead, train and facilitate others in a group setting.
• 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:

• The work environment includes working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions. Job tasks are performed in close physical proximity to other people
• Requires working in a closed vehicle or equipment

Safety:

Apply safe practices in the performance of duties

• Reporting of unsafe or hazardous working conditions and/or any injuryimmediately
• Complying withAgency safetystandards
• Participate in emergencydrills
• 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.