Nutrition Services Associate

Job Summary: 
The Nutrition Service Associate is responsible for the safe production of a nutritionally sound, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate menu for the Community Action Partnership’s (CAP’s) Thrive to Five programs and the children they serve. The Associate will work closely with other CAP staff to plan, prepare, deliver meals, and keep proper records, ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Head Start programs’ performance standards. 

Duties/Responsibilities:

Food Preparation and Handling

• Procures, receives, prepares, and assembles meals and snacks according to established recipes, CACFP standards, and dietary guidelines.
• Prepares CACFP-requiredportionsizes through meal preparation or securing nutrition labels or formulation statements. 
• Maintainsaccuraterecords of meal counts, food inventory,and forregulatory requirements for meal reimbursement.
• Understandshow toproperly useandmaintainall kitchen equipment.
• Assistsinpurchasingfood and supplies. Manages inventory. 
• Stores all food products to ensure safety and minimize waste. 
• Receives food deliveries,ensuringthe correct quality and quantities of food, compliance with safety standards, and any discrepancies are documented. 
• Organizes and delivers meals to off and onsite locations, ensuring they are transported safely and at proper temperatures.

Health and Safety

• Wearsproper food service attire, personal protective equipment, and follow basic hygiene practices to meet food safety standards.
• Maintains a kitchen and storage environment that is sanitary and free of pests.
• Follows asetcleaningscheduleto meet the standards of the agency,ServSafe, and the health department.
• Is aware of and accommodates meal plans for individuals with special dietary needs, such as allergies, diabetes, etc. 
• Stays informed about food recalls and alerts. Ensures that any affected products are promptly removed frominventoryand that program participants are protected from potential health risks.

Customer Service

• Provides excellent service to Thrive to Five locations we serve while working with CAP’s Nutrition Servicesteam to address their questions, concerns, feedback, and dietary needs. 

• FollowsdirectionofCAP’s Nutrition Servicesteam, families, and partnering meal sites to develop and adjust menu items based on dietary needs.
• Reduces oreliminatesextra work for the partner sites.
• Collaborates effectively with Thrive to Five programming staff to ensure food is distributed and stored properly upon delivery to their site.

Grant Compliance

• Maintains required documentation and reporting to meet regulatory requirements. 
• Maintainsaccuraterecords of meal counts, food inventory, and program participation.
• Assistsin preparing for program inspections and audits.
• Implements corrective actions as needed to improve program effectiveness.
• Acknowledges,maintains, and follows all special diet paperwork.
• Provides a daily, dated menu in advance for posting in classrooms and distributing to eaters.
• Maintains a dated, working menu complete with all meals, substitutions, and special diets.
• Attends or completes all required training as requested.

Community Engagement and Collaboration

• Contributes to event planning as requested.
• Looks for opportunities to improve and expand the team's service in the community.
• Participates in community events. 

* Preforms all duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED isrequired.
• Associate's degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, Food Service Management, or a related field is preferred. Relevant experience may substitute for education.
• Validdriver’s license isrequired.
• The successful candidateis required tosecure theServSafecertification within 6 months of hire.
• 2yearsfoodservice experience is preferred.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

• Sits, walks, stands, and kneels for extended periods of time.
• Lifts items up to 50 pounds. 
• Conductsoutdoor and indoor activities in warm and cold temperatures.
• Usesfingers to make small movements such as typing, picking up small objects, andhandling offood and containers.

• Frequently conveys detailed instructions accurately, clearly, or quickly. 
• Can hear average volume levels of conversations. The noise level during food distributions can be moderate to loud. 
• Has average visual acuity to prepare or inspect documents or other materials. 
• 20-25% of time spent travelling throughout Lancaster County. 

We value our team by uniting our employees with the mission. We offer strong purpose with a compassion for work-life balance. Below is a glimpse of our robust benefits offered:

• Sign-on Bonus, only available to external candidates
• Benefits: Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage / 403(b) Plan / Life Insurance/Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance/ EAP Program
• Generous number of PTO Days banked annually
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement 
• Employer- Assisted First Time Homebuyer Program