Meal Programs Training & Compliance Specialist

General Description: The Training & Compliance Specialist provides organization-wide leadership in training, regulatory compliance, and contract oversight for SAFB’s children’s federal meal programs and all other meal initiatives, including emergency response meals, state, local, and city-funded contracts.

This role ensures consistent, compliant, and high-quality program execution by overseeing training for kitchen operations, administration, finance, procurement, and external partners. The Specialist safeguards program integrity through audit readiness, invoice management, performance monitoring, and technical assistance while supporting fiscal stewardship and continuous improvement across all meal programs.

Essential Functions:

Training & Technical Assistance

• Develop, implement, and oversee comprehensive training programs for kitchen staff, transportation, administrative teams, and community partners.
• Deliver and maintain training related to federal meal programs (CACFP, SFSP, NSLP), emergency meal programs, senior nutrition programs, and state and local contracts.
• Provide ongoing technical assistance to partners to ensure understanding of compliance standards, documentation requirements, meal pattern adherence, and reporting systems.
• Track and document all training activities to ensure compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements.

Compliance & Contracts Oversight

• Monitor compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations governing meal programs and procurement standards.
• Oversee contract timelines, deliverables, renewals, reporting requirements, and performance benchmarks across all meal programs.
• Conduct monitoring reviews, audits, and file maintenance to ensure documentation accuracy and audit readiness.
• Identify compliance gaps and support corrective action planning to mitigate risk and maintain program integrity.

Invoice Management & Budget Accountability

• Oversee invoice preparation, review, reconciliation, and submission processes across all meal contracts.
• Ensure alignment between meal counts, service documentation, and billing for accurate reimbursement and revenue integrity.
• Support financial oversight through data analysis, performance tracking, and contract reporting.

Performance Monitoring & Partner Engagement

• Manage program service surveys and analyze partner feedback to evaluate service quality and identify improvement opportunities.
• Monitor contract performance metrics, shrink trends, and operational indicators to support accountability and efficiency.
• Serve as liaison among leadership, operations, finance, procurement, and external partners to ensure coordinated execution and clear communication.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Public Administration, Nutrition, or related field (or equivalent experience.)

• 2-3 years of experience in compliance requirements, training development, and documentation management.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in data tracking systems, reporting tools, Microsoft Office applications, and online training platforms.
• Strong working knowledge of federal child nutrition programs and regulatory compliance requirements (CACFP, SFSP, NSLP, USDA guidelines) preferred.
• High level of attention to detail, accuracy, organization, and ability to meet deadlines in a compliance-driven, fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel (data analysis and reporting), Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Valid Texas Driver’s License required.
• Flexibility to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional extended hours as needed.

Physical Demands

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is constantly required to sit, talk, hear, keyboard, and utilize fine manipulation and near visual acuity. The employee is occasionally required to walk, utilize gross manipulation, push, pull, reach, and stoop. The employee must occasionally lift, and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

This job is performed in an indoor office environment and occasionally may require attendance at outdoor events. You may be required to drive to different locations with varying conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and levels of work to be performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties.