School Dietician

The Syracuse City School District is On the Rise! We are undergoing a new phase of innovation and transformation with the goal of ensuring that all students graduate high school with the skills needed to be ready for college and career. For Syracuse, all means all. The School Board and Syracuse community have charged the Superintendent with improving student achievement, and she is seeking a dedicated and diverse team of educators to partner with her in moving the district toward its goals.

The Syracuse City School District represents 35 schools and programs, including 6 high schools, 6 middle schools, 6 K-8 schools, 13 elementary schools, and 4 alternative education programs, serving approximately 19,000 students Pre-K–12. Of these students, 82.3% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 20.1% are served by the Office of Special Education, and 83% are students of color.

Location: Food Service Department

WORKING HOURS: This position will work 40 hours per week, 12 months per year. This position is full-time. This position is non-exempt.

The work involves responsibility for menu and recipe planning and development for multiple school districts. Duties include working closely with school district Food Service Directors and school health personnel to calculate and write special diets for students with food allergies or other dietary restrictions. Duties also include planning menus for the general student population that take into account the food service programs’ budgetary considerations and meet USDA and NYSED guidelines and regulations for school lunch and breakfast.

An employee in this class provides training and serves as an education resource for school district staff, parents, students, and other members of the school community. Work is reviewed by and an administrative supervisor. Supervision is not ordinarily exercised by this class. Does related work as required.

• Develops, in cooperation with school Food Service Directors, standardized and cyclical menus to include recipes, product specifications, and nutrition information.
• Assists Food Service Directors in making common purchases to obtain improved pricing within the cooperative food bid process via the standardization of menus, and obtaining and evaluating food specifications from purveyors.
• Creates, in cooperation with school Food Service Directors, attractive menus that meet USDA and NYSED nutritional regulations while encouraging student participation in the school lunch and breakfast programs.
• Works with school Food Service Directors and school health personnel to make special diets for students with food restrictions such as those specified in Doctors’ orders or IEP. Be available daily on an on-call basis to school nurses to address immediate food/health concerns.
• Calulates and writes special diets as needed.
• Develops food allergy, nutrition, wellness and other policies by working with members of the school communities and appropriate school district committees.
• Participates in state, regional and local programs to keep abreast of new developments and regulations in the field of nutrition, dietetics and school food service programs.
• Utilizes effective marketing strategies in the planning and promotion of programs and activities though the use of media and other entities.
• Prepares and maintains a variety of records and reports related to dietary activities.
• Provides information both general and specific in nature.
• Identfies areas of need and provides appropriate training and in-service staff development opportunities.

• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of dietetics and diet therapy.
• Thorough knowledge of special dietary requirements for students with diabetes, food allergies, cardiac and other medical conditions where diet is a concern to the patient's health.
• Thorough knowledge of processes involved in menu planning for special and general student populations, organizing and directing these processes effectively, efficiently, and economically.
• Thorough knowledge of USDA and NYSED nutrition and other guidelines and regulations as they pertain to school districts.
• Good knowledge of food preparation and food service management methods within a school district environment.
• Good knowledge and understanding of the business functions utilized in school food service programs.
• Working knowledge of computer software as applied to the existing or proposed nutrition service operations.
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively as a member of the school food services team.
• Ability to assess nutritional needs and counsel populations relative to these needs.
• Ability to plan for and deliver training to appropriate school and community populations.
• Ability to prepare and maintain factual and analytical records.
• Ability to develope and implement oral and written directions.

Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university with a…