Child Nutrition Specialist (Northwest Arkansas)

Full job description

Child Nutrition Specialist (Northwest Arkansas)

Department: District Child Nutrition Program

Reports To: District Nutrition Coordinator

Position Overview

The Child Nutrition Specialist supports the district-wide Child Nutrition Program across

Northwest Arkansas campuses. This role serves as the key liaison between the district

campus leadership teams and the contracted Food Service Management Company (FSMC).

The Specialist ensures smooth daily cafeteria operations supports regulatory compliance

and promotes high-quality meal service for students.

This position requires strong organizational skills the ability to work across multiple sites

and a commitment to student nutrition and service excellence. The role also requires

professionalism and the ability to effectively manage and resolve conflict among staff and

stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Program Operations

Monitor and support daily cafeteria operations across multiple campuses.

Conduct regular site visits to evaluate service quality efficiency and cleanliness.

Identify operational challenges and collaborate with campus staff and FSMC to resolve

issues.

Ensure consistency in meal service portioning and customer service standards.

Compliance & Accountability

Support compliance with USDA state and local child nutrition regulations (NSLP SBP).

Review meal counting and claiming procedures for accuracy and audit readiness.

Assist with administrative reviews audits and corrective action plans.

Monitor food safety and sanitation practices including HACCP procedures.

Meal Counting & POS Systems

Support accurate use of point-of-sale (POS) systems for meal tracking and

reimbursement.

Analyze meal count data and resolve discrepancies.

Train staff on proper meal counting eligibility categories and system use.

Communication Coordination & Conflict Resolution

Serve as liaison between district leadership campuses and the FSMC.

Communicate expectations updates and operational guidance to stakeholders.

Collaborate with campus leaders and cafeteria managers to support program success.

Address and mediate conflicts between staff campus teams and FSMC personnel in a

professional and timely manner.

Facilitate constructive problem-solving conversations to maintain a positive and

productive work environment.

Escalate complex personnel or operational conflicts to the District Nutrition

Coordinator when necessary.

Training & Support

Provide training and on-site coaching for campus and cafeteria staff.

Support onboarding of new food service personnel.

Share best practices to improve efficiency and service quality across campuses.

Data & Program Improvement

Monitor participation operational performance and service trends.

Assist in preparing reports and maintaining program documentation.

Support initiatives to improve student participation and satisfaction.

Travel

Travel regularly between Northwest Arkansas campuses to provide on-site support.

Other Duties

Perform additional duties as assigned to support the districts Child Nutrition Program.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent.

Experience in food service operations school nutrition programs or a related field.

Strong organizational communication and problem-solving skills.

Ability to manage responsibilities across multiple campuses.

Ability to travel between district campuses.

Willingness to obtain ServSafe certification.

Preferred Qualifications not required

Bachelors degree in Nutrition Food Service Management Business or related field.

Two to three years of relevant experience.

Experience with USDA Child Nutrition Programs (NSLP SBP).

Experience with POS systems and meal counting procedures.

Multi-site or district-level experience.

Current ServSafe certification.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of school nutrition operations and USDA program requirements.

Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Ability to build effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Ability to work independently while supporting district-wide goals.

Strong conflict resolution and interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate

challenging situations professionally.

Pay: From $43000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Work Location: In person