Job title: Public Health Nutritionist
Salary: SO2 £36,124 - £37,938 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week or a job share would be considered
Contract: Temporary to cover maternity leave
At Catering Leeds, we are specialists in Food Education and have over 25 years’ experience of providing a great service to schools and nurseries. Our primary focus is on customer experience.
We want to work with our customers to develop true partnerships which benefit the children of Leeds, making them ready to learn and ready for life.
As a Public Health Nutritionist, you be expected to provide specialist strategic support to the service in relation to nutrition, public health initiatives, special diet provision, menu planning, training, curriculum-based support work in schools and project work. To develop initiatives which allow the service to support LCC Health and Wellbeing Strategy. To develop nutrition-based initiatives to help increase business and profitability of services.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
Our ideal candidate will:
- Have achieved a recognised qualification in Nutrition or Food Services at Degree level or working towards.
- Have knowledge or understanding of nutrition, nutritional guidelines and special dietary requirements.
- demonstrate a can-do approach
- have excellent organisation skills
About the role
The Public Heath Nutritionist role is within the Food Technology department and the post holder works in conjunction with the Food Technology and Nutrition manager as well as the Nutrition and Food Safety manager. This role provides specialist strategic support for Catering Leeds in relation to nutrition, public health initiatives, special diet provision, menu planning, training, curriculum-based support work in schools and project work. To develop nutrition-based initiatives to help increase business and profitability of services. Implement and provide specialist diets and dietetics services City Wide to meet the needs of Early Years and School aged Children. Work in direct contact with Education Establishments, Schools, Parents, Health Professionals, GP’s. Work in partnership across council directorates to support the work to achieve LCC’s HWBS objectives specifically in relation to lowering the number of children above healthy weight. To design and develop nutritionally balanced education Catering Leeds menus for Schools, Children’s Centres and SILC’s, in line with government legislation and documentation. To develop and deliver strategies City Wide meeting the requirements of the departmental service plan.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Apply for this job online by submitting an up-to-date CV and supporting statement.
Guidance notes on completing your application | Leeds Jobs for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact our dedicated recruitment team on 0113 3782323.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job purpose
To provide specialist strategic support to the service in relation to nutrition, public health initiatives, special diet provision, menu planning, training, curriculum based support work in schools and project work. To develop initiatives which allow the service to support LCC Health and Wellbeing Strategy. To develop nutrition-based initiatives to help increase business and profitability of services.
Responsibilities
- Have the knowledge and ability to implement and provide specialist diets and dietetics services City Wide to meet the needs of Early Years and School aged Children. Work in direct contact with Education Establishments, Schools, Parents, Health Professionals, GP’s.
- Maintain and develop special diet database, use knowledge and influence to continually improve the special diet process and recommend further improvements which will enable efficiency in the area of special diets
- To develop food and nutrition based health promotion and support work in schools, identifying areas of development and improvement in line with national guidelines and recommendations.
- Work with health professionals, GP’s families and children to maintain good health practices through nutrition.
- Work to in partnership across council directorates to support the work to achieve LCC’s HWBS objectives specifically in relation to lowering the number of children above healthy weight.
- To design and develop nutritionally balanced education Catering Leeds menus for Schools, Children’s Centres and SILC’s, in line with government legislation and Children’s Food Trust requirements this will include themed menus and special occasion days.
- To support the seamless transition and implementation of Cater Mark and maintain level of accreditation through ongoing working knowledge of Food For Life Partnership.
- To assist and update Catering Leeds product specification database. Check and approve product specifications.
- Work with Suppliers and Council Procurement Units in the sourcing of new products, researching current consumer markets in line with contractual agreements. Run trials of new products alongside existing lines.
- Provide technical and strategic information in relation to all food safety matters, relevant legislation and documentation.
- To assist in the development, implementation and review of Catering Leeds Food Safety Management systems i.e. HACCP.
- Write and deliver Catering Leeds Staff training programmes in specialist areas such as HACCP, Food Allergens, Special Diets, Food Safety, Religious dietary provision, Implementation of Food For Life Partnership.
- To develop and deliver strategies City Wide meeting the requirements of the departmental service plan, SLA’s whilst maintaining high standards of Contract.
- Undertake special project work on Food Technology related issues as directed by the Operations manager
- Any other duties seen to be within the spirit of the job.
It should be noted that this job description is subject to occasional changes to incorporate other commensurate duties and responsibilities in response to organisational change/review and to assist flexibility. The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties.
Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
- To communicate effectively with a diverse range of people inside and outside the Council
- To work effectively as part of a team
- To demonstrate excellent organisational and time management skills and be able to prioritise work loads
- To be self-motivated and able to work on own initiative
- Ability to set targets and indicators and assess performance against self and organisational objectives
- Ability to devise and implement evaluation mechanisms
- To assimilate new information quickly, adopt a methodical approach but be willing to accept new ways of working.
- Working knowledge of current food safety legislation within the food industry and catering industry
- Working knowledge of nutrition, nutritional guidelines and special dietary requirements.
- Recognised qualification in Nutrition or Food Services at Degree level
- Subject to a successful DBS check
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Proactive to customer communication and demands on a day-to-day basis.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol, and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
- Have a genuine interest in science and how it is applied to food and cookery
- Excellent attention to detail
- Awareness of the Consumer market
- Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure
- Commitment to own personal development and learning and a willingness to undertake further training as required
- Awareness of and an ability to respect the sensitive and confidential nature of the work
- Conscientious and committed approach to the Department’s objectives
- Commitment, enthusiasm and motivation
- Willing to take personal responsibility under the Council’s Health and Safety Policy
Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.
- Experience of development and provision of Staff training
- Experience of managing projects and meeting deadlines
- Experience of working within a framework of externally accredited quality systems
- Trained ISO internal auditor
