Kitchen & Nutrition Program Manager

Special Learning Center; Jefferson City (MO); On-site; USD 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Impactful work on children's health

Collaborative team environment

Focus on fresh and local food

Job summary

A children's nutrition organization in Jefferson City is seeking a Kitchen & Nutrition Program Manager responsible for leading a food service program to provide nutritious meals to children. The ideal candidate will have over 2 years of food service experience, particularly in settings for children with dietary needs. This role offers a supportive environment focused on health and inclusion, with the opportunity to create impactful meal programs based on fresh, local, scratch-made food.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of food service experience in school, childcare, or healthcare.
• Commitment to scratch cooking aligned with Nourishing Roots.
• Skill in preparing meals for children with special dietary needs.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare nutritious meals for children.
• Ensure compliance with USDA meal pattern requirements.
• Manage ordering, inventory, and budgeting for the kitchen.

Skills

Meal preparation for children

Knowledge of food safety regulations

Ability to modify meals for dietary needs

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Location: Special Learning Center — Jefferson City, MO
Reports to: Chief Operations Officer
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

About Special Learning Center

Special Learning Center (SLC) serves children with special needs and their families with compassion, expertise, and innovation. Through our Nourishing Roots initiative, we champion a dye-free, minimally processed, scratch-made menu that helps kids build lifelong healthy eating habits and a positive food culture.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a mission-driven Kitchen & Nutrition Program Manager to lead our food service program and ensure every child receives nutritious, high-quality meals that meet USDA Child Nutrition Program standards. You’ll design and deliver fresh, homemade meals from whole ingredients; run a safe, compliant kitchen; and bring Nourishing Roots to life across our classrooms and community.

What You’ll Do

Meal Planning & Preparation

• Collaborate with SLC’s contracted dietician to plan menus that meet Nourishing Roots standards.
• Prepare and serve daily breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks for ~100 children (ages 1–6) and a morning snack for ~60 children (ages 2–6).
• Source local, seasonal ingredients to craft child-friendly, culturally inclusive meals—100% from scratch.
• Modify meals to accommodate medical, allergy-related, and other special dietary needs in partnership with staff and healthcare professionals.
• Maintain appropriate portion sizes and food temperatures in accordance with health codes and USDA regulations.

Regulatory Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure full compliance with USDA meal pattern requirements (e.g., CACFP/NSLP) and documentation for federal reimbursements.
• Accurately complete production records, meal counts, and inventory logs; maintain readiness for audits and site visits.
• Stay current on all required trainings.
• Supervise and train kitchen support staff and volunteers.
• Uphold excellent sanitation and safety standards in line with health department regulations.
• Manage ordering, inventory, storage, and budgets to minimize waste.
• Enforce safe food handling and preparation procedures at all times.

Nourishing Roots Implementation

• Promote nutrition education and Nourishing Roots in collaboration with our dietician, educators, therapists, and parents.
• Assist with classroom activities and garden-to-table initiatives that connect kids to fresh foods.

What You’ll Bring

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2+ years of food service experience (school, childcare, or healthcare setting preferred).
• Skill in preparing meals for children with special dietary needs.
• Commitment to scratch cooking and a dye-free, minimally processed menu aligned with Nourishing Roots.

Preferred

• Experience in a child development or special education setting.
• Familiarity with Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services food program regulations.
• Knowledge of local food systems and farm-to-school initiatives.
• Understanding of USDA food programs (e.g., CACFP, NSLP) and compliance requirements, including serving sizes and nutritional macros

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to stand for long periods, lift up to 50 lbs, and perform manual kitchen tasks.
• Must pass required background checks and health screenings per center policies.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Tangible impact on children’s health and daily experience.
• A collaborative, child-centered team that values quality, safety, and inclusion.
• A chance to lead a model program that highlights fresh, local, scratch-made food.

Special Learning Center is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.