Job Title:        Nutrition Team Coordinator

Location:        Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County, Ithaca, NY

Position Summary

The position has four major responsibilities:

• Lead the Nutrition, Health and Wellness Team of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County with the guidance of the Executive Director and the association’s Nutrition, Health and Wellness Program Committee.
• Manage the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education in Communities Program and the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program.
• Develop other nutrition education programs that address the needs of all socioeconomic groups in the county and that build on the county’s assets and programs already developed by the association and its partners. Education programs may focus in the areas of nutrition, food safety, food resource management, maternal and child nutrition, health and wellness, and food security and should be designed to address community health issues, including but not limited to improving access to and increasing consumption of healthy foods by all communities, and preventing childhood and adult obesity. 
• Expand nutrition programming to support and strengthen community food systems and their networks of actors throughout the county and region. Such efforts should be integrated with other programming of CCE of Tompkins County.  Effective programs will build off the substantial efforts already made by the association and a strong network of organizations and individuals working in community food systems in the region
  
  

The successful candidate will have proven experience in working collaboratively with a team and other program leaders and in addressing important community issues using strengths-based approaches and drawing on community based resources. 

The Team Coordinator will serve as a senior member of the Association’s Management Group and will report directly to and work closely with the Executive Director.  While the primary responsibilities are for leadership and management of staff and programs, the Team Coordinator may also provide some direct educational delivery in an appropriate content area.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Issue Area Leadership Program Development and Priority Setting (25%)

·         Responsible for program development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of innovative educational programs in the areas of nutrition and health for at-risk populations in the county, not limited by economic status. 

·         Provide leadership and coordination for the Nutrition, Health and Wellness Program Committee which typically meets monthly.   Report and share reporting with other staff on current status of programming.  Recruit new committee members when there are vacancies on the committee to include representation from community stakeholders and appropriate agencies in the community. Seek support from Cornell University and Ithaca College faculty and staff with expertise in community nutrition.

·         Identify local nutrition and health education needs with Nutrition, Health and Wellness Program Committee, advisory groups and program participants.

·         Provide initiative in the development and implementation of program responsibilities, with the guidance of Association Director, and association program committees.  Ensure that program direction and related activities are coordinated within the plan of work and are within the mission of Cornell Cooperative Extension.

·         Develop relationships with appropriate collaborators within CCE-TC and in the community to implement initiatives within the Plan of Work.   Work with these internal and external collaborators to explore the need for new initiatives.

·         Meet with multiagency health, education, and human service coalitions and represent community nutrition programming at Cornell Cooperative Extension in county initiatives.

·         The Nutrition Team Coordinator is responsible for outreach to individuals and agencies working in the community in areas including education, human services, health, and nutrition.  Develop and maintain effective collaborative relationships with other community organizations and government agencies to better serve the nutrition and health needs of the population of Tompkins County.

·         Encourage sharing resources with collaborators.  Typically CCE-TC has federal funding that must be matched with state and local resources that partnering agencies can contribute to in the form of staff time, cash funding for food, and possibly space for programming.  Private sources of cash support are important to fund program functions for which federal expenditures are not allowed.  Seek and develop the resources necessary to implement new initiatives.

·         Supervise 1-2 Cornell dietetic interns in a three month supervised practice.  Supervise other students, typically from Cornell and Ithaca College, in community nutrition field experience.

Program Management and Coordination (25%)

·         Responsible for planning, supervising, implementing, monitoring, and reporting outcomes for the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNE) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).   Choose strategies for implementing programs that utilize a variety of proven methodologies and that consider the diversity of the community and the low income audiences targeted by these federal programs. 

·         Monitor the EFNEP and FSNE programs to ensure the educational content and delivery systems conform to the policies and objectives of CCT-TC, Cornell University and the Federal government.  Give particular emphasis to reaching minority audiences and families with young children.  Make plans and choose strategies with staff to achieve target numbers of participants and graduates.

·         Manage the process of providing the resources needed to deliver services including teaching, office, and storage space, computing needs, support services, and other resources.

Subject Matter Resource and Program Delivery (10%)

·         Serve as a nutrition information resource to staff and clientele, agencies and other groups as identified.

·         Work regionally to promote skills and knowledge of nutrition educators and to increase knowledge of effective nutrition education strategies.  Serve on a multi-association team partnering with regional associations to develop in-service education, programs meeting common needs, or research. 

·         Train new staff following FNEC guidelines and making maximum use of regional training resources.

·         Collaborate with the Regional Nutrition Coordinator and other nutrition educators in the Greater Finger Lakes Nutrition Education Region to provide appropriate in-service education opportunities for all assigned staff.  Share in teaching and hosting responsibilities.

Research and Program Evaluation (10%)

·         Analyze and evaluate program initiatives. Make recommendations for change in emphasis and/or improvements to the Nutrition, Health, and Wellness Program Committee, Cornell Food and Nutrition Education in Communities faculty and staff, and Eat Smart New York staff in the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).

·         Use available tools for assessing program outcomes including CRS5, a federal program modified for use in New York, CCE program evaluation tools, and locally developed tools with input from competent evaluators.

·         Develop educational strategies maintaining direct linkage with Cornell faculty and the Food and Nutrition Education in Communities Program in the College of Human Ecology.  This may include conducting applied research in conjunction with faculty and developing written materials for publication.

·         Communicate evaluation results, findings and recommendations to Nutrition, Health, and Wellness Program Committee members, the CCE-TC Board of Directors, Cornell Food and Nutrition Education in Communities Program faculty and staff, and community members.

Administrative Management (Finance, Budget) (10%)

·         Seek out, prepare and submit proposals to secure funding, actively involving the Association Director and the Nutrition, Health and Wellness Program Committee.  Seek funding from federal and other sources to maintain or increase the viability of program initiatives. 

·         Manage financial resources effectively.  Prepare budget data and written reports on program finances and work plans.

EEO/EPO/Human Resource Management (10%)

·         Establish human resource requirements to meet program needs.  Recruit seeking diverse candidates, interview candidates with team members, and hire staff capable of carrying out program.  Hiring decisions are the responsibility of the Team Coordinator. 

·   Supervise Nutrition Program Educators, the Operation Frontline Program Manager, and other program managers and assistants as assigned, clerical staff, dietetic interns, and students. Meet regularly with staff as a group and individually.  Work with staff to complete annual performance reviews.  Provide counsel and support to Nutrition Program Educators and other staff to foster confidence and competence in program delivery.

·         Determine needs for volunteers and their roles in nutrition education and program support.  Develop networks of diverse volunteers to extend program implementation efforts.  Supervise training and mentoring of volunteers, volunteer supervision, management, and appreciation and celebration of their work.

Professional Improvement and other duties as assigned (10%)

Professional Development:

n  Participate in Cornell FNEC orientation programs and regular Nutrition Updates, and other in-service education relating to nutrition, EFNEP and FSNEP and administrative responsibilities.

n  Jointly develop and pursue a professional improvement plan in cooperation with supervisor to increase competency in position responsibilities.

Shared Leadership:

·         Assist with organizational responsibilities and leadership development within CCE-TC.  Participate in the Program Team which operates with shared leadership. 

·         Attend Board Meetings.  Report to the Board on Program Activities annually.  Provide staff support to a Board Committee and attend meetings of that committee.

·         Participate in multi-disciplinary team efforts to conduct collaborative programming and address issues identified in the Plan of Work.

·         Assist in representing the association to the public, community leaders, government officials and Cornell University.

Required Qualifications

·         Undergraduate degree in nutrition or related field is required.  Masters Degree in nutrition education or a nutrition-related field is required;

·         Demonstrated ability to initiate, plan, implement, teach, and evaluate informal adult and youth educational programs to diverse audiences. Demonstrated effective use of multiple program delivery methods to reach individuals and groups.

·         At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience in Cooperative Extension or other equivalent experience in a community nutrition educational setting.  Experience in academic, human service, health care, or business settings should indicate a connection to the community and the acquisition of skills for working in communities.

·         Minimum of two years supervisory experience. Demonstrated ability to motivate and lead a team and effectively participate in team efforts.

·         Knowledge of nutrition principles, theory, research and applications.

Preferred Qualifications

·         Community nutrition experience in a responsible position is highly desirable.

·         Experience with low income and diverse audiences highly desirable.

·         Ability to relate effectively to co-workers, community leaders, professionals, and public with different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds.

·         Demonstrated ability to provide supervision and guidance to staff and volunteers.

·         Demonstrated ability to lead and participate in professional team efforts.

·         Demonstrated management skills; management of grant-supported programs desirable.

·         Ability to effectively utilize appropriate consultants and committees in the development of program direction.

·         Excellent oral and written communication skills.

·         Facility with computer technology in instructional and administrative settings.

·         Registered Dietitian preferred. 

·         Research experience preferred.

APPLICATIONS will be reviewed beginning on 4/30/2010, or until an acceptable pool of applicants has been identified.  

Send letter of intent, resume, and transcripts to PA#513, Box 26, Kennedy Hall, Cornell U, Ithaca, NY 14853.

**Individuals who bring a diverse perspective and are supportive of diversity are strongly encouraged to apply.  EOE.

 FOR MORE INFORMATION:  http://www.cce.cornell.edu