This role supports the strategy and execution of improving community health through a variety of programs and detailed meal production planning at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. This position serves as a vital supporting role in meal strategy and has a span of influence across the organization. This individual will be a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), with a focus on improving community health through planning, coordinating, and executing strategies including dietary oversight of various prepared meal programs, supporting food sourcing initiatives, and providing nutrition/dietary planning and compliance guidance for meal production. This role co-reports to the Prepared Meals team and the Community Impact team, creating the collaborative accountability expected to inform the full breadth of work to support our communities, meal production and food distribution to food insecure individuals in Cook County. This role will provide guidance and direction on specific meal and menu composition to meet the requirements for program compliance, target population needs and desired outcomes including the development of the nutrition strategy. This role is responsible for promoting healthy lifestyles and is responsible for the planning, implementation and evaluation of nutrition-based education programming and the desired outcomes. In addition, this role will support and manage relationships with academic and large system partners to develop and coordinate a foundation of support and resources to the communities we serve.
Key Responsibilities and Essential Functions:
Support Food Production Operations
Collaborate with Executive Chef and team management in the research and development of product types for all programming.
Build a framework and reference system of standard and diet-specific information, ensuring the meals produced adhere to our standards, program specific requirements and therapeutic goals.
Support the implementation and expansion of meal programs, including Medically Tailored Meals (MTM), meals for Older Adults and people with disabilities and meals that are ready to eat to be distributed by our partner network.
Support strategic initiatives, research and develop recipes, menus and meal programs for established Food Depository meal guidelines in partnership with the Meal Production team
Maintain the data systems associated with ingredients, recipes and menus needed for production planning, development, and maintenance of current standards and best practices.
Ensure all nutrition data is fully accessible for partners or individuals served as needed.
Serve as the subject matter expert supporting the administration of NetMenu (a Cbord product used as the organization’s production management system)
Provide oversight for regulatory labelling practices, allergen management, and serve as a key member of the Prepared Meals HACCP team.
Inspire a Culture of Health Promotion Across Food Pantry Partners
Design and build transformational nutrition education partnerships with community-based organizations committed to health equity
Lead in the planning, development, and implementation of programming to promote health and nutrition in Cook County, specifically targeting individuals who are food insecure.
Establish a nutrition education framework that leverages evidence-based approaches that have proven most effective in populations with the highest health inequities.
Collaborate with community partners and internal Food Depository programs to develop health promotion and nutrition education strategies and resources that advance shared goals, food security and health/nutrition improvement.
Expand partner capacity for nutrition education through various strategies, including implementation of SWAP (Supporting Wellness at Pantries)
Evaluate the effectiveness of health and nutrition promotion strategies and programs; develop and administer evaluation tools in coordination with the research and evaluation department.
Provide ongoing technical assistance and other resources to organizations as they lead their own efforts in nutrition and health promotion.
Transform how education efforts are led through technology, including oversight and development of the Food Depository’s Nutrition website.
Serve as a Nutrition and Health Promotion Champion
Provide effective, equitable, understandable, and respectful nutrition and dietetic support that is responsive to diverse, cultural beliefs and practices, preferred languages, health literacy and other communication needs.
Evolve Food Depository health and nutrition policies in partnership with internal and external stakeholders.
Coordinates reporting and compliance for various grant-funded activities.
Create program materials and marketing collateral for internal and external audiences.
Participate in the utilization and supervision of AmeriCorps VISTA members serving at the Food Depository
Oversee meaningful and productive dietetic internship opportunities that are mutually beneficial for students and Food Depository programming.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist in the state of Illinois
5+ years relevant experience in dietetics, food preparation, health education, public health preferred.
Master’s degree preferred.
Familiarity with latest nutritional standards, practices, and procedures in a variety of settings (clinical and community). Familiarity with program requirements of government-funded meal programs (e.g. Older Adults, Youth programs) a plus.
Ability to translate complex scientific and nutritional information into simpler messaging for diverse audiences.
Familiarity with recipe and menu development practices. Understanding of food and supply procurement, inventory management and yield monitoring.
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (with focus on Excel), NetMenu or other Nutritional Analysis and Food Production Management software systems and customer service relationship management software systems
Excellent communication skills and must have the ability to speak in front of a group and facilitate training and meetings.
Must be flexible and open to working in a variety of settings and neighborhoods across Cook County, and occasional evenings and weekends.
Demonstrated customer relationship management and partnership development skills, and ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of organizations from academic institutions to community food pantries, progressing relationships from a sole focus on food distribution to advancing a culture of community nutrition and health.
Strong writing, graphic presentation and editing skills for creation of program materials and collateral.
Spanish Speaking preferred but not required.
Exposure:
Typical commercial kitchen environment.
Standard office environment with exposure to warehouse operations.
Interaction with Food Depository staff, community partners, volunteers and vendors.
Personal transportation and local travel required.
Must have access to a working vehicle, with valid insurance and possess a valid Illinois driver’s license.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Generous paid time off
• Parental leave
• On-site gym
• $3,000 annual employer-paid ThrivePass lifestyle and wellness benefit program
• $250 employee referral bonus
The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, believes a healthy community starts with food. We are at the center of a network of more than 700 partner organizations and programs – food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, mobile distributions, and other partners – working to bring food, dignity, and hope to our neighbors across Chicago and Cook County. The Food Depository addresses the root causes of hunger with job training, advocacy, and other innovative solutions.