Program Associate at Food For Education

Position Overview:

The Program Associate will be responsible for supporting the operations of up to 25 kitchens and managing a team of up to 5 Field Officers within their region. This role ensures the smooth execution of kitchen activities by coordinating with Field Program Officers, providing operational support, and reporting to the Program Analyst. The Program Associate will monitor day-to-day kitchen operations, assist in maintaining quality standards, and help ensure the overall success of the school feeding program.

Our Values

At Food for Education, our values are guiding principles that provide us with purpose and direction and set the tone for our interactions with all stakeholders:

• Build with excellence and curiosity - We’re not afraid to try new things and iterate as much as we can to find the best and most efficient way to get results;
• Be the change you seek - We acknowledge that continuous improvement is a shared responsibility;
• We do what we say; and say what we do - We embrace an ownership mentality;
• Ask why; and commit- Share openly and question respectfully and commit fully. When we understand the why, we are able to work with a purpose.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen operations across a designated number of kitchens, ensuring adherence to set guidelines for meal preparation, hygiene, and food safety.
• Provide support to kitchen teams to resolve operational challenges and ensure consistent execution of daily meal plans.
• Monitor meal production and consumption data, ensuring kitchens meet daily targets and quality standards.
• Supervise and provide guidance to a team of 5 Field Associates, ensuring they effectively support kitchen teams within their assigned areas.
• Coordinate and distribute tasks to Field Associates to ensure all kitchens are visited and monitored regularly.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Field Associates, providing operational guidance and addressing any issues they escalate.
• Assist in collecting operational data from kitchens and Field Associates, ensuring data accuracy and timeliness.
• Prepare and submit reports to the Program Analyst on kitchen performance, meal production, and any operational challenges encountered.
• Monitor the implementation of corrective actions suggested by the Program Analyst or during kitchen inspections.
• Support the enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for food safety, hygiene, and meal production in all kitchens.
• Conduct regular spot checks on kitchens to ensure compliance with program guidelines.
• Assist in identifying areas of non-compliance and work with kitchen teams to implement corrective measures.
• Support the training of kitchen staff and Field Associates to enhance their skills in operational excellence, food safety, and data management.
• Help organize and facilitate capacity-building workshops for kitchen teams, ensuring they are up to date with the latest procedures and guidelines.
• Liaise with kitchen teams, Field Associates, and community stakeholders to ensure smooth operations and local support for the feeding program.
• Assist in building and maintaining relationships with local authorities and community leaders to foster collaboration and program support.
• Act as the first point of contact for any operational issues that arise at kitchen sites, escalating them to the Program Analyst if necessary.
• Monitor the resolution of any problems, ensuring that corrective actions are implemented and sustained.

Desired Candidate Profile 

• Diploma or certificate in Food Science, Operations Management, Nutrition, or a related field.
• Experience in food production, kitchen management, or community-based programs.
• Ability to manage and support field teams and ensure effective coordination across multiple sites.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Good communication skills and the ability to work with diverse teams.
• Familiarity with data collection and reporting processes.