Regional Child Nutrition Program Specialist - #1408710

About Us

At the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), we go beyond merely offering jobs – we actively seek out extraordinary individuals to join our team. As the primary agency entrusted with overseeing K-12 public education in Oklahoma, we are steadfastly devoted to making a meaningful impact on the districts and students we serve. Our exceptional team at OSDE is renowned for its commitment to superior customer service, innovation, and unwavering dedication to shaping a brighter future for students across the state. We work hand-in-hand with over 500 school districts and maintain a close partnership with the legislature, ensuring that each Oklahoma student receives the exceptional education they deserve. If you're in search of a fulfilling career that allows you to make a profound difference in the lives of children, you've arrived at the right place. Join us in our mission to empower students and elevate the standard of education in Oklahoma. For further insights into OSDE, please visit our website at www.sde.ok.gov.

Position Overview

We are seeking a knowledgeable and skilled consultant to join our team and support the Child Nutrition Programs (CNP). In this role, you will serve as a trusted advisor, providing technical assistance and guidance to school and non-school administrators, as well as food service personnel. With your expertise, you will interpret program regulations and proactively address management and operational issues across all CNP initiatives within your designated territory. Join us and contribute to the success and compliance of our vital nutrition programs for children.

Please note: This role requires full in-person attendance, with no options for remote work, telecommuting, or hybrid arrangements. The nature of this position necessitates a consistent in-person presence, and candidates should be prepared to fulfill all responsibilities on-site at the designated workplace in Oklahoma.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Nutrition, or related field. [official transcripts required upon hire];
• Three (3) years of experience in the administration or coordination of food and nutrition programs.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting one year of relevant experience for each year of the required education.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Education, Nutrition, or related field [official transcripts required upon hire];
  
  

Special Requirements

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without sponsorship;
• Successful completion of a pre-employment background check;
• Must possess a valid driver's license from a U.S. state or territory to perform necessary job-related travel.
  
  

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Knowledge & Expertise: current trends, best practices, and research in child nutrition programs
• Professional Demeanor: Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude at all times; ability to build and maintain positive work relationships; demonstrate integrity and ethical conduct in all aspects of your work; ability to display a high level of professionalism in communication, behavior, and appearance; ability to accept constructive feedback to increase performance.
• Attendance: Regular and reliable in-person attendance is required to ensure quality teamwork, performance, productivity, and collaboration; ability to demonstrate a commitment to your work and team by committing to punctuality and dependability in the work environment; this includes arriving to work on time, being present, engaged, and available to colleagues, internal and external customers.
• Innovation: Ability to identify and address the evolving needs and challenges of the education landscape; ability to think critically, explore new ideas and embrace innovative approaches to improve educational outcomes for all students; apply creativity, resourcefulness, and forward-thinking in finding solutions to complex problems and driving positive change in the field of education.
• Efficiency: Ensure our resources are utilized effectively, and our operations are streamlined; optimize our processes, eliminate redundancies, and leverage technology to enhance productivity and performance; proactively identify opportunities for efficiency gains and implement best practices.
• Training & Educating: Responsible for training of program participants within the assigned territory; work with the Nutrition Education and Training staff to organize and conduct training classes; assist in the development and implementation of up-to-date curriculum for CNP participants; encourage participants to utilize online training. At the time any field position is vacated, assist in assuming the regulatory responsibility of that territory until a replacement can be hired; assist in the training of any new field staff; assist fellow staff members with any problems that might arise during an administrative review and/or technical assistance situations; assist fellow staff members in meeting regulatory requirements for reviews and technical assistance.
• Program Development & Implementation: Review CNP operations in every institution within the assigned territory, using designated review instruments; Determine compliance with contract requirements, state and federal laws, and state and federal rules and regulations; Prepare appropriate reports; Check work standards, buying practices, and the utilization of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) donated foods; evaluate menus to assure that adequate nutritional standards are being followed; Review food service facilities to observe the preparation and service of meals; investigate complaints and report findings together with corrective measures required; If any review findings result in an appeal by the institution, assist in trial preparations and testimony;
• Policy Development & Implementation: Interpret federal and state policies and regulations to board members, administrators, and food service personnel.
• Superior Customer Service: Willingness to go above and beyond to provide outstanding assistance that exceeds expectations, ability to create positive experiences and build relationships based on trust and satisfaction; maintain a positive and helpful attitude using the appropriate language, tone, and behavior to reflect the agency in a way that leaves a positive and favorable impression.
  
  

Essential Competencies

• Effective Communication: Ability to clearly and concisely express ideas, while also listening actively to others and demonstrating understanding; Ability to demonstrate empathy by showing respect and understanding for the feelings and perspectives of others while paying close attention to non-verbal cues; Ability to adapt communication style to suit the needs of the audience and situation.
• Take a proactive approach and work independently: Be resourceful and self-motivated, prioritize work effectively by managing your time well, anticipating challenges, developing creative solutions, paying close attention to detail, and taking ownership of your work.
• Collaborate as a team player: Ability to work effectively with others towards a common goal. Including being openminded, respectful, and responsive to others’ ideas and perspectives. Sharing knowledge and experience while being committed to achieving the teams’ objectives and understanding the importance of working collaboratively to achieve success.
• Demonstrate excellent planning and organizational skills: Ability to set clear objectives, create a plan of action, break down complex tasks into manageable components, delegate tasks when necessary, and establish a realistic timeline to meet deadlines consistently while developing contingency plans to ensure adaptability to changing circumstances.
• Possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills: Ability to analyze complex situations, identify key issues, patterns, connections and develop effective logical solutions; Ability to think critically, anticipate potential problems and develop innovative solutions to address them.
• Ability to function well in an, at times, stressful, fast paced and deadline driven environment: Ability to work under pressure and in situations where time is limited whilst remaining calm and focused, prioritizing tasks, and adapting to changing circumstances.
• Ability to build strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders: Ability to identify opportunities for collaboration, leverage resources effectively, and negotiate mutually beneficial outcomes. Possess strong interpersonal skills in order to resolve conflicts and manage difficult conversations in a constructive and professional manner.
• Knowledge of technology and ability to use it to maximize efficiency and services: Ability to identify opportunities to leverage technology to streamline processes, automate tasks, and improve customer experiences; Familiarity with software, hardware and other relevant technological tools while being able to learn new technologies as they emerge.
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Location: Designated Counties in Oklahoma

• Work Environment includes:
• Field Work: Frequent travel to various locations in Oklahoma; involving outdoor exposure to varied weather conditions, rough or uneven terrain, and potential interaction with diverse environments, facilities, and community sites.
• Physical Demands include:
• Ability to stand, reach, and bend 50% of the time;
• Operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine/printer, and office telephone 75% of the time;
• Ascends/descends stairs 25% of the time;
• Ability to lift to 30 lbs.
• Cognitive Requirements:
• This role requires clear and accurate communication, strong analytical skills, and the ability to evaluate information and make timely decisions.
• Sustained focus and attention to detail are essential, along with memory retention of policies, procedures, and facts over various time frames.
• Adaptability and mental flexibility are also necessary to handle changing information, work conditions, and unexpected challenges.
  

TRAVEL

50% in-state/out-of-state travel may be required to conduct, facilitate and/or attend meetings and trainings.

EEO STATEMENT

USDA prohibits discrimination against its employees. USDA employees and applicants for employment who believe they have been subjected to employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and expression), national origin, age (if 40 or over), disability, reprisal (for prior participation in an EEO activity or having opposed discrimination), political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, or genetic information, have the right to file an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaint.

The EEO complaint process consists of the informal process, and the formal process. If you wish to file an EEO complaint, you must begin with the informal process.