Nutritional Services Assistant Manager

This position is responsible for supervising and coordinating activities and operations within the Nutritional Services Department. This position assists with determining goals and implements policies and procedures to meet the goals of the department while providing highly responsible and complex staff assistance to assigned Nutritional Services Manager and Nutritionists.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Communicate effectively 
• Personnel management of supervisor and keepers
• Supervise NSB diet preparation and delivery
• Fill in for staff as needed
• Coordinate the organization, staffing and operational activities within the department
• Assist with the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities; identify opportunities for improving efficiency
• Direct, coordinate and review the work plan for assigned operations, services, and activities; assign work activities and projects; monitor workflow
• Maintain and follow up on records including, but not limited to inventory/lots, training, diet changes, special events/feeding, sample logging/ID files, staff accuracy/quality control
• Supervise quality control program
• Assist in training of assigned staff regarding record keeping, quality control inspection standards, sampling, diet prep, and receiving
• Coordinate the maintenance and repair of the physical facility and equipment
• Lead and participate in regular meetings
• Respond to public inquiries in a courteous manner; resolve complaints in an efficient and timely manner
• Assist with the administration of assigned program budget; forecast funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitor expenditures
• Provide staff assistance to Manager; prepare and present staff reports and other correspondence as appropriate and necessary
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings
• Manage staff per Zoo policy and procedures
• Facilitate education programs
• With training, euthanize feeder animals as part of a diet management program
• Act as nutritional services department operations point person in absence of managers and supervisor

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Communicate effectively
• Supervise and assist with the construction and maintenance of facilities, coordinate with maintenance and construction departments
• Maintain up to date standard operation procedure for assigned areas
• Select, hire, train, motivate and evaluate staff; provide or coordinate employee training; work with subordinate employees to correct deficiencies
• Monitor work environment of staff; participate in the review, investigation and implementation of discipline and termination procedures in conjunction with Human Resources Department
• Monitor department staff time keeping and provide assistance to payroll as needed
• Assist with/facilitate zoo intern, students and volunteers for assigned area 

Ensure safe working environment 

• Demonstrates leadership of employees through ongoing training to include applicable laws, Zoo policies, business conduct and ethics and the provision of quality services to guests and employees supporting the highest level of program integrity

Qualifications:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
• Minimum of 3 years of increasingly responsible experience in food service operations
• Minimum of 5 years of managing staff
• Valid driver license with acceptable motor vehicle record to maintain zoo standards of insurability

Demonstrated knowledge of:

• Basic principles and practices of Nutritional Services operations
• Principles and practices of work area safety and sanitation
• Operational characteristics of food prep and handling equipment
• Spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft excel

Must possess ability to:

• Supervise, direct, and coordinate the work of subordinate employees
• Select, supervise, train, and evaluate subordinate employees
• Exhibit strong organizational and time management skills
• Work independently with little supervision; self-motivated, detail-oriented
• Operate a variety of food prep and handling equipment in a safe and sanitary manner
• Maintain physical facility of the Nutritional Services building according to sanitation and operation policies
• Recommend and implement policies for efficient zoo management
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships 
• Maintain mental capacity which permits making sound decisions and using good 
• judgment, prioritizing work activities, demonstrating intellectual capabilities
• Foster a cohesive, team environment
• Work with a variety of food items (and handle humanely) including but not limited to live insects, live/frozen rodents, meat, fish, produce, dry feeds, and fresh plants, all items necessary for the maintenance of a zoological collection

Education and/or Experience:

• Familiarity with quality control principles and programs
• Demonstrated experience in food service training for both new and maintenance processes preferred
• College degree in nutrition, dietetics, animal science, or physiology preferred
• Zoo operations/food service/nutrition experience preferred
• Familiarity with computer programs/Microsoft office, record keeping, data management preferred

Physical Demands: 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, and talk or hear.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 

Team oriented environment

• Ability to work irregular hours (holidays and weekends)
• –20 degrees F in a freezer for short periods of time
• 3 – 4 hours of food preparation in 35 – 40-degree F cooler
• Exposure to all types of inclement weather conditions
• Exposure to chemicals (cleaning, water chemicals, additives, etc.)
• Ability to work special events and functions as required
• This position may be safety sensitive 
• This position may work around animals susceptible to specific diseases, thus may be subject to regular tuberculosis and rabies titer testing, and the routine use of personal protective equipment such as gloves, face masks

Disclaimer

• The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as a complete inventory of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.
• This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.
• Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.
• Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities.
• To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.
• Continued employment remains on an at-will basis.

Benefits 

• This is a full-time position and offers the following benefits: 
• Medical and Prescription Drug (Employee Coverage 90% Employer Paid, Dependent Coverage 55% Employer Paid)
• Vision
• Dental
• Basic Life AD&D (100% Employer Paid)
• Short Term Disability (100% Employer Paid)
• Long Term Disability (100% Employer Paid)
• Supplemental Life
• Flexible Spending Account
• 401k
• Paid Time Off (Accrual Equivalent to 5 Weeks Per Year)
• PTO Rollover
• PTO Sell Back
• Free Zoo Membership
• Free Guest Passes
• Discounts on Food, Merchandise, Attractions, Admission and Programs