Summary of Duties and ResponsibilitiesProvides direct assistance in the planning, directing, and coordination of activities to ensure delivery of a comprehensive nutrition program for ECLC children and their families. Responsible for providing USDA/CACFP approved child nutrition support services for enrolled children, their families, and staff. Must show the highest professional standards and promotes a positive image of the Tribe and its administration at all times. Must be culturally sensitive to a diverse customer population and able to interact tactfully and positively with Tribal members, all levels of tribal staff and management.
Responsibilities:In conformance with Head Start Performance Standards, provide nutrition support services to ensure adherence to USDA/CACFP regulations. Provide nutrition information and support to parents, children, and staff. Maintain and develop cooperative relationships with ECLC families, staff, vendors/agencies and service providers.
- Ensures quality and consistent delivery of nutrition services to ECLC enrolled children.
- Assists with preparation of nutritious meals and snacks; ensuring ample amounts of food for children.
- Delivers all meal components to classrooms ready for family-style meal service and suitable for the children's age and development. Proper serving sizes per age group are served with no choking hazards. (e.g. cut up appropriately, vegetables soft enough for infants/toddlers)
- Assists with providing nutrition education to children and families.
- Responsible for proper cleaning and sanitizing of kitchen area and equipment, and ensuring proper food storage and labeling.
- Participates in activities designed to achieve nutrition goals and objectives of the ECLC.
- Assists with review and revision of menus annually, with input from registered dietician and enrolled families, to ensure compliance with USDA/CACFP standards ensuring adequate nutrition for each child, to include; providing appropriate substitutions for children with food allergies or intolerances, and to meet Performance Standards related to cultural preferences.
- Assist with modification of menus for field trips; including accommodations for any special dietary needs; noting all modifications and substitutes on production records.
- Participate in classroom Parent Meetings, as requested, to provide food/nutrition/food safety education.
- Maintains established standards of sanitation, safety and food preparation and storage; as set by tribal and state health departments.
- Assists teaching staff with developing nutrition activities for the children in the classroom.
General: - Provides all children enrolled in the ECLC with a safe, nurturing, engaging, enjoyable and secure learning environment.
- Maintains professionalism through effective actions supportive of the ECLC philosophy.
- Cooperates as a member of a team with all ECLC staff, volunteers and parents.
- Maintains confidentiality of all program records and communication.
- Attends training sessions locally and out of town, as well as all ECLC staff meetings and required functions.
- Abides by all ECLC and Tribal policies and procedures.
- Willing to take direction and learn new skills.
- Be willing to work a flexible schedule, including some evening hours and occasionally weekend hours.
- Maintains current CPR/First Aid and Food Handler's certification.
- Communicates effectively with others, including giving and receiving feedback on the quality of services.
- Assists with the recruitment of families for the ECLC and promotes parent involvement in all aspects of the program.
- Performs other duties as assigned to meet the Head Start Performance Standards and to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the ECLC.
Desired Qualifications: - Associate Degree in Nutrition Services, or related field.
- Experience working with a Tribal program.
- Demonstrated ability to work with people of divergent educational, socioeconomic, and experiential backgrounds.
- Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and communication skills; orally and in writing.
- Current Food Handler's permit.
- Current ServSafe certification.
Minimum Qualifications: - Must pass an extensive background check prior to employment and every 5th consecutive year of employment after that according to the following: §25 CFR 12 Part 32, §25 CFR 63 Part 17, and Public Law 101-647.
- Must not have any misdemeanor or felony offenses related to abuse, Domestic Violence, neglect, or endangerment.
- No criminal convictions against crimes involving dishonesty/deception/theft/fraud.
- High school diploma or GED.
- Good physical health and must be able to safely lift 35 pounds from floor to waist.
- Knowledge of the Head Start Performance Standards and other federal regulations with the ability to implement and interpret them programmatically.
- Experience working in food programs for children.
- Knowledge of USDA/CACFP program.
- Proven ability to exercise good judgment under stressful situations.
- Ability to communicate well, and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers.
- Demonstrated excellent attendance record and work ethic in prior positions.
- Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of sensitive information.
- Prefer experience working with diverse populations, especially children.
- Good leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, including the ability to work as part of a team, communicate effectively both orally and in writing, receive and provide feedback, and manage dynamic interchanges in meetings.
- Must complete an initial pre-employment physical examination and TB test.
- Ability and willingness to obtain CPR and First Aid certification, Food Handlers certification, and other staff training as needed, within three months of hire.
- Ability and willingness to obtain ServSafe certification, within six months of hire.
- Ability and willingness to learn the Coeur d'Alene language, culture and history to develop an understanding of the families ECLC serves.
- Ability to develop and follow plans, work as a team player, and to apply energies where needed with limited or no supervision.
This is a grant funded non-benefited position.Please Note: The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties and responsibilities does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the function.
Tribal Employment PolicyAn applicant may be asked to participate in an interview to establish whether they meet minimum qualifications. Interviews do not create a right to employment and provide no promise or guarantee of any employment position with the Tribe. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe reserves the right to hire according to its Indian Preference Policy. Positions with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe are subject to a 6-month orientation period.
Pay Range: $15 - $16 per hour