Research Kitchen Coordinator

UNC; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institution is seeking a Research Kitchen Coordinator to manage the metabolic food laboratory kitchen. This role involves overseeing dietetic staff, ensuring compliance with dietary protocols, and maintaining food safety standards. The coordinator will work closely with clinical staff and study participants to ensure accurate meal preparation and adherence to study protocols. This position is critical for the integrity of research data and involves collaboration with project managers and Principal Investigators.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing dietetic research teams.
• Strong knowledge of dietary protocols and meal preparation.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operation of the metabolic food laboratory kitchen.
• Manage preparation and delivery of nutrient-controlled meals.
• Conduct participant assessments and monitor adherence.

Skills

Dietary Needs Assessment

Food Safety

Nutrient-Controlled Meal Preparation

Data Entry

Quality Control

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition or Related Field

Tools

ProNutra Software

REDCap

Job description

The Research Kitchen Coordinator plays a pivotal role in implementing study interventions to assess individualized dietary needs. Under the guidance of the Research Project Managers and in collaboration with Clinical Site Coordinators, this position independently oversees the operation of the metabolic food laboratory kitchen and manages the dietetic research team. Key responsibilities include directing and supervising Dietetic Technicians and kitchen/nutrition staff to ensure the timely production of diet-controlled meals in alignment with the recruitment schedule. The coordinator works across functional areas, including both the metabolic food laboratory and clinical suite, and collaborates with the leadership team to develop and refine procedures that meet research needs and ensure precise, controlled diets are delivered.

A core responsibility of this role is managing the preparation and delivery of nutrient-controlled meals for human feeding studies. These meals must adhere to strict dietary protocols, ensuring precision in nutrient content, ingredient specifications, and portion sizes. The coordinator will ensure all food is procured and prepared in accordance with study protocols, with a focus on accuracy, quality control, and consistency across multiple study sites, both nationally and internationally. The integrity of the study data depends on meticulous diet production, including careful monitoring of food safety and sanitation practices throughout the procurement and preparation processes.

The Research Kitchen Coordinator will also establish strong relationships with participants, providing diet instruction and support to ensure adherence to study protocols. The role involves conducting regular assessments during meal pick-ups, including energy calculations, diet adjustments, and monitoring for adverse events in collaboration with the clinical staff. The coordinator will review participant food logs and provide counseling to address any adherence issues. Additionally, data collected during these interactions will be entered into the REDCap system for tracking and analysis.

Working closely with study coordinators, the Research Kitchen Coordinator will forecast kitchen needs, balancing the demands of the metabolic food laboratory with clinic schedules to meet study milestones. ProNutra software will be used to generate meal production sheets, labels, and adjust menus to meet specific energy requirements. The coordinator will also support the development of study protocols and measurable outcomes in collaboration with Principal Investigators (PIs) and project managers, offering expertise on the food study components of translational research.