Registered Dietician/Nutrition Admin

ABCD; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

ABCD Head Start & Children's Services seeks a Registered Dietitian/Nutrition Administrator to lead nutrition services for children and families, including staff and parent training, menu planning, meal planning, and dietary counseling.

The role ensures developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate services, collaborating with parents, practitioners, and community partners while upholding federal and state requirements and ABCD policies.

Qualifications

• Requires leadership in nutrition program administration.
• Ability to train staff and collaborate with families and medical practitioners.
• Knowledge of culturally and linguistically appropriate nutrition services.

Responsibilities

• Administer high quality nutrition services and specialized food services for ABCD Head Start & Children's Services.
• Provide staff and parent training, menu planning, meal planning and dietary counseling.
• Ensure services are developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate.
• Collaborate with parents as partners and with medical practitioners when applicable.
• Promote mission and ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws and policies.
• Supervise and support related nutrition personnel and interns.
• Identify and monitor dietary needs, special diets, and vendor relationships.

Job description

The Registered Dietitian/Nutrition Administrator is responsible for the administration of high quality nutrition services as well as specialized food services within ABCD Head Start & Children\'s Services, including staff and parent training, menu planning, meal planning and dietary counseling. The Registered Dietitian/Nutrition Administrator must ensure that services provided are developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate and that those services are able to support each child\'s growth and school readiness. The Dietitian/Nutrition Administrator must collaborate with parents as partners in health and well-being of their children as well as medical practitioners when applicable. The Dietitian/Nutrition Administrator is responsible for promoting the mission of ABCD Head Start & Children\'s Services; building an understanding of the program by communicating this mission to the center-base and child care partner staff and families and in the community at large. This position must comply with all federal, state and local laws, regulations, standards and policies, including those of the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Massachusetts disability law (Chapter 766), Boston Family Engagement Network (BFEN) and ABCD, Inc. Head Start & Children?s Services policies and procedures. All ABCD Head Start/Early Head Start and Children?s Services personnel who are paid to care for, or work with, children are MANDATED BY LAW to report all suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 119 ?? 51A ? 51G. Any staff member who suspects child abuse or neglect of a child must inform his or her supervisor immediately. The responsibilities of a particular position supports the Head Start/Early Head Start and family child care programs. The specific corresponding funding allocation will be documented on the personnel payroll authorization or change of status form. All communications are potentially sensitive and are subject to Head Start\'s policy on confidentiality.

Key Responsibilities

• Support, Planning & Ongoing Monitoring (60%) Provide ongoing guidance and support for all related nutrition services provided to children, pregnant women and families enrolled in the program.
• Guide and lead the development and implementation of a menu and recipes that provides a variety of nutritional and appetizing foods to meet the needs of all children and families served, while considering their cultural backgrounds and individual needs.
• Supervise and evaluate the Food Service Administrator and Nutrition Interns.
• Assess the nutritional status and needs of children and pregnant women as well as provide training and counseling on diet modifications.
• Identify new and/or recurring nutrition needs of enrollees and monitor the implementation of individual meal plans and diet modification.
• Obtain and provide information to staff about major community nutritional issues that affect the children and families served, through the Community Assessment, Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) and local health departments.
• Actively work with staff and other agencies to remedy problems identified.
• Develop and monitor the provision of special diets for children with documented food allergies or other feeding problems or special nutritional needs, consulting with children\'s doctor and parents as necessary.
• Ensure children with disabilities who are in need of adaptive feeding techniques or utensils are provided with necessary resources.
• Assist in identifying and monitoring vendors for food services and equipment.