Child Nutrition Associate (Pool) (2025-2026 School Year)

The Child Nutrition Program is a vital component of our educational institution, dedicated to providing nutritious and balanced meals to students within the district. This program plays an essential role in promoting the health, wellbeing, and academic success of children by ensuring access to quality food in a safe and welcoming environment. Managed by a dedicated team and overseen by cafeteria managers, the Child Nutrition Program operates within a commercial kitchen setting and serves a diverse student population across multiple schools. The program follows stringent standards for food quality, safety, and sanitation, complying with both federal and local regulations to maintain excellence in child nutrition services. The Child Nutrition Program offers a stable employment opportunity with defined work schedules of 187 days annually, primarily focused on the school calendar. The pay grade for the Child Nutrition Program Associate position is set at level 02, reflecting the valuable contribution this role makes to the nutrition and overall experience of the students.

The role of Child Nutrition Program Associate is designed for individuals who can work under moderate supervision to prepare and serve appropriate quantities of food that meet established menu requirements. This position requires maintaining high standards of food quality, sanitation, and safety practices in a fast-paced kitchen environment. The associate is responsible for preparing meals according to tested and uniform recipes to ensure consistency and nutritional adequacy. The position also involves serving food in line with scheduled meal times, departmental policies, and promoting portion control and the proper use of leftovers to minimize waste.

In addition to food preparation, the Child Nutrition Program Associate plays a critical role in maintaining safe storage and handling of food items and supplies according to established procedures. This includes keeping the storage areas clean and organized to comply with health and safety guidelines. Equipment operation is a key part of the job, requiring familiarity with large and small kitchen tools such as pressure steamers, combi-ovens, cutting tools, braisers, convection ovens, and food processors. Associates must adhere to strict safety standards when using these tools and promptly address any unsafe conditions by reporting them to supervisory personnel.

The position demands physical stamina due to prolonged standing, frequent bending, kneeling, squatting, and lifting of moderate weights ranging from 15 to 44 pounds. Employees face environmental factors common to commercial kitchens, including exposure to hot and cold temperatures, humidity, noise, chemicals, and biological hazards. Maintaining personal hygiene, a clean workspace, and emotional control under stressful and frequently interruptive work conditions is essential.

This role also includes responsibility for accurate cashier functions and daily food preparation record-keeping, which supports the program's operational efficiency and accountability. Teamwork is emphasized to create a supportive work environment where promoting positive interactions with fellow staff members ensures smooth kitchen operations and excellent customer service to students, staff, and parents. Continuity of professional development is fostered through annual continuing education requirements, helping associates stay current with evolving food service standards and nutritional guidelines.

Overall, the Child Nutrition Program Associate position offers a meaningful career path for individuals passionate about child nutrition, food service quality, and school community involvement. This non-exempt role reports directly to the Cafeteria Manager and requires commitment to the district's standards and values. Candidates with a high school diploma or GED and prior experience in child nutrition programs or institutional food service operations are preferred. This hands-on job is ideal for someone who enjoys a dynamic workplace, values teamwork, and takes pride in supporting the health and well-being of children through quality meal service.