Founded in 1970, Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA) is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger, collaborating with organizations throughout Ohio to provide nutritious meals to at-risk children who need them most. CHA partners with in-home childcare providers, childcare centers, afterschool, and summer programs to provide balanced, nutritious meals to children in their care. Additionally, they work with schools to increase breakfast participation and provide weekend meals to students. CHA educators also deliver nutrition education and lead children in physical activities to support children’s long-term health.
Job Purpose
The Afterschool & Summer Food Service Specialist coordinates the application, onboarding, training, and ongoing compliance monitoring for partner sites participating in the agency-sponsored USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Afterschool At-Risk (ASAR) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) across the assigned region. Additionally, this role leads local outreach initiatives to expand program reach and establish new community partnerships.
Key Responsibilities
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Program Onboarding & Operations: Coordinate the annual site application process and food order launches for all regional afterschool and summer program partners.
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Compliance & Quality Assurance: Conduct daily field visits to monitor site operations, ensuring full compliance with USDA, state, and agency regulations for ASAR and SFSP.
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Technical Assistance & Site Support: Provide hands-on support, retraining, corrective action management, and review resolutions for sites facing compliance challenges.
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Training & Education: Facilitate annual regulatory and operational training for partner site staff, covering program rules, administrative procedures, and required software platforms.
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Partner Communication: Serve as the primary point of contact for participating sites, delivering responsive customer service, guidance, and daily administrative support.
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Inventory & Order Optimization: Review and adjust daily food orders based on real-time student attendance and participation trends to minimize waste.
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Community Engagement & Outreach: Cultivate and sustain strong strategic partnerships with local community organizations, faith-based groups, and program stakeholders.
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Program Growth: Research, identify, and recruit prospective partner sites, guiding them through the full onboarding process for ASAR and SFSP.
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Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Partner with the Claims Services Team and internal departments to ensure accurate recordkeeping, efficient food delivery workflows, and seamless service execution.
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General Operations: Participate in team, regional, and statewide meetings (in-person and virtual); assist with statewide meal donation requests and distribution logistics; complete other duties as assigned.
Qualifications & Competencies
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Education: Associate degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Youth Development, Early Childhood Education, Communications, Social Work, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
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Technical Proficiency: Strong proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
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Regulatory Aptitude: Demonstrated ability to interpret, apply, and maintain strict compliance with federal, state, and organizational guidelines.
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Communication Skills: Superior written and verbal communication abilities, including confidence speaking and presenting to groups.
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Customer & Solution Focus: Strong interpersonal skills with a proven track record of proactive problem-solving, flexibility, and service excellence.
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Organizational Skills: Exceptional time management, detail orientation, and multi-tasking abilities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
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Professional Attributes: Resilient, collaborative, self-motivated, and deeply committed to the agency's mission.
Working Conditions
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Environment: Hybrid office environment paired with extensive field work.
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Travel: Frequent local/regional daily travel to partner sites is required.
