Registered Dietician/Nutrition Admin

About the Role

The Registered Dietitian/Nutrition Administrator is responsible for administering high-quality nutrition services and specialized food services within ABCD Head Start & Children's Services. This includes staff and parent training, menu planning, meal planning, and dietary counseling. The role ensures services are developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate to support each child's growth and school readiness. The Dietitian/Nutrition Administrator collaborates with parents and medical practitioners to promote the health and well-being of children and aligns with the mission of ABCD Head Start & Children's Services.

This position complies with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and standards, including those from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), and other relevant agencies. All staff are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing guidance and support for nutrition services for children, pregnant women, and families enrolled in the program.
• Develop and implement menus and recipes that meet nutritional needs while considering cultural backgrounds and individual requirements.
• Supervise and evaluate the Food Service Administrator and Nutrition Interns.
• Assess the nutritional status of children and pregnant women, and provide training and counseling on diet modifications.
• Identify and monitor the nutrition needs of enrollees, including the implementation of individual meal plans and diet modifications.
• Provide information to staff about community nutritional issues affecting children and families, using resources like the Community Assessment and Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC).
• Collaborate with staff and agencies to address identified nutritional problems.
• Develop and monitor special diets for children with food allergies, feeding problems, or other nutritional needs, consulting with doctors and parents as necessary.
• Ensure children with disabilities receive necessary adaptive feeding techniques or utensils.
• Assist in identifying and monitoring vendors for food services and equipment.

Requirements

• Compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and standards, including those from ACF, EEC, MDPH, IDEA, DESE, and ABCD policies.
• Mandated reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF).
• Adherence to Head Start's policy on confidentiality for all communications.