Position Title: Specialist, Health Nutrition
Employee Type: Full-Time Regular
Supervisor Title: Program Director
Division
Head Start, U.S. Programs
Save the Children
For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children.
The right to a healthy start in life.
To have access to education.
To be in a safe environment, protected from harm.
We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S.
No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.
The Role
The primary responsibility of the Specialist, Health and Nutrition is to provide a comprehensive health and nutrition service program promoting prevention and early intervention. This includes ensuring that all children are growing and developing in a healthy manner, recognizing any concerns, and addressing them. Communicating with parents about healthy practices and assisting them in selecting health providers. Developing and implementing community health programs together with the rest of the Head Start team.
As a front-line representative of Save the Children the position holder is required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that he/she come in contact with and represent the agency values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity and Integrity.
What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)
- *not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change
- Monitors health and nutrition services within assigned location(s). Provides guidance and technical assistance to Head Start/Early Head Start program staff.
- Meets federal, state, and program documentation requirements by maintaining accurate, objective, complete, timely, and well-organized child and family records, both on paper and in designated on-line systems. Maintains confidentiality regarding students and families.
- Administers medications in accordance with policy. Provides first aid when needed.
- Coordinate the scheduling of health and dental examinations with contracted physicians and dentists. Provides or arranges transportation for appointments or emergencies as needed.
- Participates and/or conducts screenings on children, including children with disabilities, as well as in developing individual service and health plans. Monitors records to make sure children are up to date on preventive and primary health care.
- Establish and maintain Health Services Advisory Committee and works collaboratively with a range of community specialists (e.g., medical, dental, speech, nutrition, and mental health) by identifying approaches to solving issues and making recommendations on the development and/or revisions of policies and procedures.
- Promotes a unified approach to sharing child information with families by engaging in joint planning with teachers and other specialists to prepare for home visits and other family contacts. Participates in case management and transition meetings.
- Assists education staff in implementing health, dental, mental health safety, and nutrition activities within the classroom.
- Provides information and education to parents and the community about available programs and other community resources. This can be done in-person, by telephone, or a group presentation format.
- Ensures the documentation and implementation of safety policy and procedures at center level in accordance with program and corporate policies/procedures.
- Where applicable, responsible for the proper documentation and implementation of food services to meet USDA CACFP requirements.
- Where applicable, responsible for overseeing food service operation at center, including menu planning, monitoring food budgeting and purchasing, scheduling health and safety inspections and scheduling of food service staff.
- Protects the safety of children by ensuring the implementation of active supervision techniques to ensure no child is left alone or unsupervised at any time.
- Ensures the mobilization and documentation of matching/in-kind funds.
- Provides health and nutrition training and technical assistance to staff and parents.
- Inventories and orders health related supplies.
- Assist with recruitment of children, including children with disabilities.
- Participates in staff and parent meetings, committees and training sessions.
- Visit each site and classrooms on a regular basis (4-6 hours per month per site) to conduct observations, provide training and technical assistance and build capacity by working directly with staff, parents and community partners to ensure high quality services.
- Assists education staff in implementing health, dental, mental health safety, and nutrition activities within the classroom and where applicable, home-based program socializations.
- Summarize concerns observed by teachers in classrooms and/or where applicable home-based home visitors on home visits and provide concrete recommendations and assist with development of individualized services as needed.
- Emphasize early identification of concerns by providing and reviewing health screenings.
- Communicate regularly with parents about the importance of having medical and dental exams on a recommended schedule.
- Maintain up-to-date health records and record-keeping systems and complete all required health reports.
- Monitors records to make sure children are up to date on preventive and primary health care.
- In coordination with the Family Service Coordinators, Teachers and/or Teacher Assistants, assist parents in selecting community health providers that meet the family's needs and stress the importance of prevention. Assist families in arranging follow-up care for children with identified needs and provide info and referral sources for health, dental and nutrition.
- Assist in conducting health supply inventory control and submitting necessary purchasing requests to the appropriate personnel. Distribute supplies and monitor classrooms and socialization rooms, assure classrooms/socialization rooms are adequately stocked and the environment is sanitary and safe.
- Ensure confidentiality of records; use discretion with sensitive information.
- Assume responsibility for food services, including menu preparation, food ordering, special diets, and meal counts. Mentor staff in regard to their food services responsibilities. Conduct meal observations.
- Promote parent and community involvement and positive public relations for programs and services and serve as a resource person to human service agencies, including health, social service and education.
- Collaborate with education team in developing plans for activities and strategize on program development and implementation. Actively pursue strategies to better integrate all child development programs in order to provide the most appropriate and comprehensive services to the families being served and promote child wellness.
- Together with the Nutrition Specialist or where applicable, Manager of Health & Nutrition, develop and implement a health education program for staff and parents.
- Assist the Nutrition Specialists and/or Health and Nutrition Manager; Education/Mental Health Manager; Education/Disabilities Specialists; Community and Family Engagement Manager; Head Start and the Early Head Start Program in monitoring a health and safety system for all Head Start/Early Head Start sites to assure a safe environment for children, parents and staff. Provide follow-up to address any areas of concern.
- Build strong partnerships within the health community and remain knowledgeable about community health resources.
- Required Qualifications
- BA/BS in Public Health, Social Work or another health-related field. A combination of equivalent experience and training may be substituted for the education requirement with the recommendation of the interview committee and approval of the Child Development Director and Policy Council.
- Two years’ experience in public health and the education environment. Knowledge of practices and principles of health education
- Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate with individuals and teams at all levels
- Demonstrated ability to relate to and work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.
- Willingness to comply with the established agency performance standards which may include productivity/personal responsibility, client/customer service-orientation, embracing a team player orientation, entrepreneurialism, and maintaining a professional demeanor.
- Willingness to comply with Head Start Standards of Conduct by promoting the unique identity of each child and family; conforming with program confidentiality; following child supervision and guidance policies; and refraining from soliciting or accepting personal gratuities, favors, or anything of significant monetary value from contractors or potential contractors.
- Current CPR/First Aid certificate within 30 days of employment (maintain current certificate during employment).
- Current Food Handlers certificate within 30 days of employment (maintain current certificate during employment).
- Current Blood Borne Pathogens training certificate within 30 days of employment (maintain current certificate during employment).
Preferred Qualifications
- BA/BS in Public Health, Social Work or another health-related field.
- Experience working with groups and/or families from diverse cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds.
- Bilingual ability
Additional Qualifications • Physical Requirements related to essential functions
- Ability to perform medium to heavy physical work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently and up to 5-10 pounds constantly, performing such activities as sitting, crawling, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting and grasping. This also includes some duties that require repetitive action and motion skills, keyboarding and computer use.
- Clear pre-employment background check requirements, including local, state, and national criminal records check, sex offender registries, employment, and education verifications (including child abuse registry check if required by state regulations) and pass all state and local health requirements required post job offer and prior to employment.
- This position will require the incumbent to operate a motor vehicle to fulfill certain essential functions of the job. The incumbent should maintain a valid driver's license and remain in compliance with any Save the Children policies pertaining to the safe operation of motor vehicles.
- Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $43,957 - $47,664. Actual base salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, experience, credentials, base salary of internal peers and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.
About Us
We are looking to build an inclusive team at Save the Children. We offer a range of outstanding benefits to support this goal:
Paid time off: 10 days winter break and 5 days spring break, 5 personal days, 11 holidays plus 2 floating holidays per year.
Health: Competitive health care, dental and vision coverage for you and your family. Employer paid short term disability and long-term disability benefits.
Health Savings Accounts (HSA): Option to select HSA if enrolled into a High-Deductible Health Plan in which the company matches a portion of the contribution.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Option to enroll in health care and dependent care options.
Life: Agency paid life and accidental death and dismemberment benefits (AD&D).
Family: Parental/adoption, fertility benefits
Employee Rewards Program: Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees
Retirement: Retirement savings plan with employer contributions (after one year)
Wellness: Health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events
Employee Assistance Program: Free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services
Learning & Growth: Access to internal and external learning & development opportunities and mentorships. Certification and tuition assistance.
Click here [https://www.savethechildren.org/us/about-us/careers] to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in you.
Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.
Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.
If you require disability assistance with the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to applicantsupport@savechildren.org [applicantsupport@savechildren.org].
