Technical Assistance Specialist

TSABAA; San Antonio (TX); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement Plan

Paid Holidays

Health & Life Insurance

Longevity Pay

Vision

Voluntary AD&D Insurance

Dependent Health & Life Insurance

Job summary

TSABAA seeks a FOOD & NUTRITION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST to provide expert guidance on federal nutrition programs, training, and technical assistance for contract entities across Texas. You will reflect agency guidance and support audit-ready operations in a fast-paced environment.

Role requires strong knowledge of child nutrition programs, ability to train diverse audiences, and willingness to travel up to 30%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; substitutions allowed for related experience.
• Minimum three years of work experience in child Nutrition supervision/coordination/dir.
• Experience reviewing and applying federal/state policies to programs.
• Experience providing training to diverse audiences.
• Valid Texas driver's license with acceptable driving record.
• Master’s degree can substitute for two years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide clarification and guidance to contracting entities on technical assistance.
• Deliver training and procedural guidance on food and nutrition programs.
• Serve as SME on federal nutrition programs and reflect TDA guidance.
• Identify topics and materials to address CE audit performance and training requests.
• Stay updated on laws and policies; advise workgroups on policy implications.
• Participate in program planning, development, and implementation and resolve issues.
• Follow all TDA policies and procedures; perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Training delivery

Policy guidance

Program knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

FOOD & NUTRITION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST

(Nutrition Program Consultant/Child Nutrition Director/ESC Consultant)

Salary Information: B21, $5,800.00 – $6,300.00/MO.

State Classification: 1574 – Program Specialist V

FLSA Status: Exempt

Posting Number: 26-58524-4R

Location: Austin, Ft. Worth, Waco, San Antonio, Lubbock, Houston, TX

Telework Option: TDA does not offer telework, and all employees are required to be physically present for work.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide clarification and procedural guidance to all Contracting Entities (CE) to ensure consistent messaging and accurate technical assistance on behalf of the agency.
• Provide accurate training and procedural guidance to all CE on all food and nutrition programs.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on the federal nutrition programs to include orientation and training on all food program areas and provide excellent technical assistance to customers that accurately reflects TDA guidance.
• Review and identify training topics and materials that are needed to address CE audit performance and CE training requests across the state for child nutrition programs.
• Keep abreast of the laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to provide guidance and direction to designated or identified workgroups on policy affecting efforts to support federal nutrition programs.
• Collaborate in policy and compliance meetings, providing relevant information on operational and current processes to ensure proper understanding and coordinated direction, including the resolution of noncompliance and related issues.
• Participates in program planning, development, and implementation, including determining trends and resolving technical problems.
• Follow all TDA policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POSITION

(To be considered for the position, applicants must submit a State of Texas Application through CAPPS or WIT – experience listed on the application and/or resume must state how each of the following qualifications are met).

• Bachelor’s degree (one year of work experience related to the duties and responsibilities may substitute for one year of college).
• Minimum three (3) years of work experience as a Child Nutrition Supervisor, Coordinator, Director, or related with operational and managerial application for the School Nutrition Program, manager of community programs with operational and managerial application for the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and/or ESC Consultant with experience supporting child nutrition operations
• Work experience reviewing, analyzing, and/or applying federal and state policies to federal programs.
• Work experience in developing and providing one-on-one and group training to a diverse audience.
• Valid Texas driver’s license and an acceptable driving record.
• Substitution Clause: Master’s degree in institutional management, nutrition, dietetics, family and consumer science, public health, instructional design, or licensure as a nutritionist or dietitian can substitute for two years of required work experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Work experience analyzing and interpreting data for program effectiveness.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Knowledge of food and nutrition of USDA regulations for Child Nutrition programs; of local, state, and federal laws related to the program area; National School Lunch and Breakfast programs, Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program. Knowledge of public administration techniques, training, and program management processes.

Skill in providing customer service excellence to both internal and external customers; in identifying measures or indicators of program performance; in managing multiple projects; and in the use of a computer and applicable software.

Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to establish goals and objectives; to devise solutions to administrative problems; to develop, evaluate, and interpret administrative policies and procedures; and to exercise sound judgment and discretion; and to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

Requires working in a normal office work environment and may have exposure to dust and environmental allergens consistent with normal business activities and human contact. Mostly sedentary in nature but may involve walking; standing; pulling and pushing; kneeling, stooping, and bending; performing tasks requiring fine motor skills and coordination; and safely lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 pounds. Must be able to work extended periods at a computer and may require working extended hours and some evenings and weekends, as needed. May involve travel (up to 30%), occasionally overnight.

TELEWORK & WORK HOURS

The agency does not offer telework. TDA employees are required to physically present for work.

The agency’s core business hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. TDA also provides limited customer service between 6:00-8:00 a.m. and 5:00-6:00 p.m.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

BENEFITS

The State of Texas offers a variety of benefits for you and your family that are comprehensive and, on average, make up about one-third of total compensation. Benefits include:

• Retirement Plan
• Paid Group Health & Life Insurance for employees
• Paid Holidays
• Longevity Pay
• Vision
• Dependent Optional Life Insurance
• Voluntary AD&D Insurance

• Dependent Health & Life Insurance

Health & Dependent care flexible spending accounts

Foreign Credentials

upload an evaluation of your coursework if you have obtained a degree(s) from a school outside of the United States; otherwise, we cannot give you credit for your degree. Some organizations that provide evaluation services are:

Foreign Credential Services of America

1910 Justin Lane, Austin, TX 78757-2411
Phone: [phone]

SpanTran: The Evaluation Company

2400 Augusta Drive, Suite 451 Houston, TX 77057
Phone: [phone]

Global Credential Evaluators, Inc.

P.O. Box 9203 College Station, TX 77842
Phone: [phone]

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): TDA is an equal employment opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, military status, or protected activity.

Reasonable Accommodations: If you are scheduled for an interview and require any reasonable accommodation in our interview process, please inform the hiring representative who calls you to schedule your interview or an HR representative at 512-463-7423. Whenever possible, please give the hiring or HR representative sufficient time to consider and respond to your request.

TDA participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

Military and Former Foster Child Employment Preference: TDA complies with the provisions of the veterans and former foster child employment preference acts. Please contact our Human Resources-Veterans Liaison at [phone] for assistance.

Additional Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Code or Crosswalk information is available from the Texas State Auditor’s Office at Program Management MOS Codes.