TENTATIVE

Occ. Code 3128100

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

These positions perform field inspections of schools and residential child care institutions participating in the School Breakfast, School Lunch and Summer Food Service programs to ensure compliance with federal and State regulations. These positions are found only in the State Education Department.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

School Food Programs Specialist 1:  full performance level; implements and monitors school food service programs.

School Food Programs Specialist 2:  first supervisory level; supervises School Food Programs Specialists 1.

            School Food Programs Specialist 3:  second supervisory level; supervises School Food Programs Specialist 2.

RELATED CLASSES

            Food Service Specialists negotiate contracts, and review and evaluate private contractors that provide food and cafeteria services in State-operated office buildings.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

            SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAMS SPECIALIST 1:  under general supervision of a School Food Programs Specialist 2, reviews school food service programs to ensure compliance with federal and State laws and regulations; visits school food authorities to observe new programs to ensure compliance and make recommendations for approval; evaluates nutritional content of menus to ensure compliance with USDA Dietary Guidelines; prepares nutritional analysis and corrective action letters; provides general and technical assistance to schools; conducts entrance and exit conferences with district/school administrators to discuss review procedures, findings and corrective actions; prepares and presents training on child nutrition programs for school food service staff, managers, directors, business officials, etc.; assists in developing and preparing educational materials on healthy eating and nutrition for distribution to students, teachers, administrators and the public; reviews free and reduced price applications (approved and denied) for accuracy and correct benefit issuance; and evaluates and audits accountability records to ensure integrity of reimbursement claims. 

            SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAMS SPECIALIST 2:  under general direction of a School Food Programs Specialist 3, supervises and conducts federally mandated Coordinated Review Effort (CRE), School Meals Initiative (SMI), and Summer Food Service Programs (SFSP) monitoring reviews of school food service programs at school food authorities/sponsors to ensure compliance with federal and State laws and regulations; documents CRE/SFSP/SMI findings and prepares reports and letters with recommendations for improvements or corrective action; reviews CRE/SFSP/SMI reports and letters prepared by staff for completeness and comprehensiveness; reviews program applications for completeness and secures missing information; analyzes menus, observes meal services and evaluates meal-counting systems; evaluates collection method procedures, civil rights compliance and verification procedures; develops review schedules and ensures reviews are completed, logged and filed as required; assists in the review of food service management company contracts and extensions for completeness and accuracy; and trains and supervises School Food Program Specialists 1.

            SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAMS SPECIALIST 3:  under the general direction of a higher level program administrator, heads a team of School Food Programs Specialists 1 and 2 in administering the Child Nutrition Programs; determines CRE reviews; schedules and assigns staff to complete reviews and tracks their progress; reviews and approves CRE reports prepared by staff and prepares letters for improvement; analyzes all CRE program reviews, ensures review correspondence is in compliance with regulatory timelines, calculates reclaim amounts and ensures that corrective actions are carried out; prepares SMI data reports to evaluate progress and/or status of State School Food Authorities (SFA's); provides direction and collaborates with others in planning workshops, meetings and conferences; and reviews draft child nutrition materials to ensure that they are clear, concise and comprehensive and provides suggestions for improvement.

COMMUNICATION

            These positions have frequent oral, including in person, and written communication with school food service administrators, other school administrators, and other entities involved with school food and related programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAMS SPECIALIST 1

a)     Bachelor's Degree in Nutritional Science, Nutrition Education, or Dietetics; OR

b)     Bachelor's Degree in Food Service Management, Institutional Food Service Management, or Hotel and Restaurant Management which must include three credit hours in nutrition; OR

c)      Associate's Degree in Nutritional Science, Nutrition Education, or Dietetics, and two years of work experience in the degree area; OR

d)     Associate's Degree in Food Service Management, Institutional Food Service Management, Hotel and Restaurant Management which must include three credit hours in nutrition, AND two years of work experience in the degree area; OR

e)     New York State certification as a Certified Dietitian, Certified Nutritionist, or Certified Dietitian Nutritionist.

e)

SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAMS SPECIALIST 2

Promotion:  One year of service as a School Food Programs Specialist 1.

SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAMS SPECIALIST 3

Promotion:  One year of service as a School Food Programs Specialist 2.

Date:  5/08

NOTE:  Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.