Child Nutrition Program Coordinator in St Louis, Missouri at Operation Food Search, Inc.

About Operation Food Search:

Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search is a hunger relief organization that provides food, nutrition education and innovative programs in order to reduce food insecurity and increase equitable access to food. We serve 200,000 people every month through a network of 330 partners in 42 counties in Missouri and Illinois. We use a combination of immediate food assistance and supportive services, while also working on long-term solutions and systemic changes to help solve the problem of hunger.

Our Mission is to heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today and help create a hunger-free tomorrow.

Our Vision is a region where everyone has equitable access to the food they need to lead healthy lives.

Our Goals are to:

1) Meet the immediate need for food for children, individuals and families by providing high-quality nutrition through our distribution network.

2) Empower long-term skills through nutrition education and by teaching how to shop and prepare healthy food on a budget.

3) Champion change through advocacy and innovative programs and by addressing systemic inequities.

Position Summary:

The Child Nutrition Program Coordinator will coordinate the operation, administration, and implementation of the Operation Backpack program and assist with administrative duties of the AfterSchool Meals program during the school year. During the summer months, this position will coordinate and execute the Summer Food Service Program and work to support any additional child and family meal initiatives. This role exercises discretion and independent judgment in administering assigned programs, evaluating operational and compliance issues.

Salary: $44,000-$55,000

Essential Functions:

Partnership Management & Community Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with school coordinators, community partners, meal sites, and vendors.
• Manage communication and relationships with Operation Backpack partners, including accepting orders, coordinating pickups and deliveries, and providing program updates on a regular basis.
• Schedule, recruit, train, and lead volunteers to pack for Child Nutrition Programs as needed.
• Conduct regular site visits to participating Operation Backpack schools and conduct annual student participant interviews to collect feedback about the program.
• Conduct AfterSchool and Summer Meals site monitoring reviews to ensure USDA program compliance.
• Create a high functioning support system for program partners through excellent customer service with an emphasis on effective training.
• Resolve significant partner service, delivery, and program-participation issues by evaluating available options and implementing appropriate solutions within organizational guidelines.
• Attend and contribute to various community collaboratives to advance the work of the Child Nutrition department.

Program Facilitation

• Oversee the daily operations of Operation Backpack during the school year to ensure effective program delivery.
• Develop and maintain accurate records for Operation Backpack meals distributed on a weekly basis.
• Maintain an accurate database with records of participating schools and partnering organizations for Operation Backpack.
• Develop weekly menus for the Operation Backpack program in accordance with nutrition standards and available products.
• Collaborate with the Child Nutrition Program Manager and Nutrition Access Manager to purchase food within nutrition standards, program budget, and according to program timeline.
• Collaborate with the Volunteer and Warehouse teams at Operation Food Search to coordinate the weekly packing needs of the Operation Backpack program.
• Maintain and update Operation Backpack inventory records through utilization of the OFS inventory system.
• Oversee the development and implementation of Operation Backpack alternative programs, including Satellite, Food Closet, and Fresh Pop-Ups.
• Schedule, prepare, and staff Operation Backpack distribution events with community partners.
• Effectively communicate with the Operations team regarding incoming and outgoing deliveries and use of the Volunteer Center.
• Evaluate program effectiveness of Operation Backpack, AfterSchool Meals, and Summer Meals through distribution of surveys and interviews.
• Assist with collection and review of USDA required site documentation for AfterSchool and Summer Meals programs.

Strategic Growth & Innovation

• Stay updated on program trends and identify innovative approaches to enhance meal quality and program efficiency.
• Assist with the grant process by providing program details and data for proposals and reports in a timely manner and participate with funder visits/tours as needed.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align Child Nutrition initiatives with the organization's broader mission and goals.
• Identify opportunities to expand program reach and increase equitable food access for underserved populations

Great Benefits-FT Positions

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• HRA and FSA
• 401(k) retirement plan -Safe Harbor
• Vacation and sick time, paid holidays and birthday
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Company paid term life and AD&D insurance
• Voluntary employee paid term life and AD&D insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Wellness support
• Potential for student loan forgiveness, if qualified

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, nutrition, social work, or another related field.
• Two years relevant work experience in community-based programs, program planning, or hunger-relief efforts highly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Ability to establish positive interpersonal relationships with OFS team, program partners, and stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects while ensuring the highest standards in quality.
• Experience working with underserved populations.
• Working knowledge of social service organizations, non-profits, and school systems in the St. Louis region.
• Understanding of food insecurity and food access issues in the St. Louis region.
• Possess a growth mindset and actively seek out opportunities to learn.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to make decisions based on data.
• Passion for the OFS mission and a commitment to program integrity.

Special Requirements:

• Occasional travel to out-of-town meetings, events, and conferences.
• Flexibility in working hours for occasional special events after-hours or weekend.
• Willingness to assist with other OFS duties as required or as assigned.
• Must have a good driving record and reliable transportation (mileage is reimbursable).

Working Condition and Physical Demands:

• Ability to perform tasks that require physical activity such as standing for long periods of time or lifting heavy items with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Frequent local travel required.

For more information about OFS, please visit our website at www.operationfoodsearch.org.