Arizona Department of Education

Health and Nutrition Services Division

Phoenix Location

Salary: $64,000 - $70,000 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: Open until filled

This Health and Nutrition Services (HNS) Specialist position is on the Food Acquisition and Nutrition Systems team which is responsible for elevating the quality of menus and serving strategies used in Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs) in Arizona. This team supports program operators through a technical assistance platform related to foodservice operations management and ensures operators have equitable access to serve nutritious foods. This team collects and analyzes metrics on CNP operations in Arizona to ensure all work and efforts are directed by data-driven decisions.
This position:
• Connects CNP operators to food and food suppliers at the state level and providing operational assessment, strategic recommendations, and on-going technical assistance to CNP operators in the areas of food, finance, facilities, HR, and marketing with the goal of exceeding meal standards while maintaining a financially viable operation. This includes but is not limited to piloting and expanding the Creating Your Kitchen program through collaboration with external partners and creation of resources and tools, ensuring food is available to operators through the administration of the USDA Foods in Schools program, and providing general procurement and food acquisition technical assistance to all CNP operators;
• Uniquely supports the team by leading efforts within HNS to strengthen the Arizona food system by helping to build a fair, competitive, and resilient local food chain; and
• Develops food systems editorial content as well as implementing programs in the state of Arizona which establish cooperative agreements with an emphasis on purchasing domestic food from local and regional producers, targeting purchases to be from socially disadvantaged farmers/producers, and distributing the food to underserved communities via CNPs.
• Occasional in-state and out-of-state travel is required for this position.

The Arizona Department of Education currently utilizes a hybrid work environment, with up to two days of remote work (contingent upon business needs). Candidates should apply with an ability and willingness to work in-office up to five days per week as business needs necessitate.

• Provide general procurement and food acquisition technical assistance to all CNP operators on USDA Foods (Direct Delivery/Direct Ship, Processing, and DoD Fresh) utilization and management as well as on commercial foods by supporting operators in writing technical requirements and specifications for solicitations or quotes, identifying vendors/distributors/suppliers, and incorporating new products in school meals
• Provide direct technical assistance to CNP operators with a focus on ensuring equitable access to domestic, local, and regional nutritious foods and promotion of positive feeding strategies for their CNPs
• Lead efforts to strengthen the Arizona food system by supporting a fair, competitive, and resilient local food chain and expanding access to local foods.
• Create resources and tools for use in operational assessment, strategic recommendations, and on-going technical assistance to CNP operators in the areas of food, finance, facilities, HR, and marketing with the goal of exceeding meal standards while maintaining a financially viable operation
• Determine the type and frequency of the foods that the state of Arizona, via HNS, will make available to Recipient Agencies (RAs) through the USDA Foods in Schools program or other initiatives
• Contribute by analyzing trends, forecasting needs, assessing nutritional quality of foods, coordinating distribution, and placing orders as needed

Knowledge in:
• Federal regulations, state laws, and policies pertaining to all Child Nutrition Programs
• National and local legislative and health and nutrition program issues
• Federal, state, local, and tribal procurement laws and regulations
• Foodservice operations
• Arizona food system and supply chain
• Federal Food Distribution Programs
• A Bachelor's degree in nutrition/dietetics or a science field, or equivalent experience to substitute for the degree, is required.

Skills in:
• Effective written and oral communication
• Active listening
• Organizational
• Time Management
• Analytical problem solving
• Intermediate skill in using Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Ability to:
• Research, review, and draw interpretations from public laws and rules
• Establish and maintain interpersonal relationships
• Think critically and make objective determinations
• Conceptualize complex systems and interactions
• Manage of multiple projects and tasks
• Work well in a team and across disciplines
• Efficiently use computer software programs and applications

Preference will be given to those applicants with:
• Master’s degree
• Registered Dietitian (RD) / Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
• Experience administering or directing a Child Nutrition Program (CNP)
• Experience with local procurement

• Offers are contingent upon successful completion of all background and reference checks, required documents and, if applicable, a post-offer medical/physical evaluation.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• Ten paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

You will be required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) upon your 27th week of employment, subject to waiting period. On or shortly after, your first day of employment you will be provided with enrollment instructions and effective date.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 542-3186 or emailing Human.Resources@azed.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.