Nutrition Education and Physical Activity Supervisor

Closing Date: September 3, 2025

Salary: Commensurate with education & experience                    

Job Code: HCP033

Pay Grade: K

Location: Atlanta, GA

Job Description:  The Nutrition and Physical Activity Supervisor leads strategic efforts to promote nutrition and physical activity in early care and education settings across Georgia. This role oversees statewide initiatives related to nutrition education, Farm to Early Care and Education (Farm to ECE), and physical activity, ensuring alignment with federal Child Nutrition Programs (CACFP and SFSP). Key responsibilities include identifying program needs, developing annual strategic plans, managing partnerships, supervising staff, event planning, and coordinating training and technical assistance. The Supervisor also directs grant development, oversees resource creation and dissemination, and serves as a subject matter expert on nutrition, Farm to ECE, and physical activity. Cross-divisional collaboration and leadership in multi-partner campaigns are essential to the role. This position requires strong leadership, program management, and communication skills, along with the ability to travel statewide and engage with diverse stakeholders.

Job Responsibilities:

·       Lead, develop, implement, and expand health and nutrition-led programs and activities in the following key areas: (1) health and nutrition; (2) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) (Happy Helpings) meal service; (3) Farm to Early Care and Education (Farm to ECE); and (4) Physical Activity. 

·       Maintain a working knowledge and application of federal regulations and the development of state policy and guidance pertaining to nutrition education and implementing CACFP and SFSP meal pattern requirements.

·       Identify needs for nutrition education, Farm to ECE, and physical activity in early care settings (e.g., gaps in training, lack of equipment, barriers to implementation). Promote and oversee programs and initiatives that increase engagement of childcare staff and families. Ensure all programs and activities are in accordance with the Department’s strategic plan.

·       Supervise the planning and delivery of training sessions for childcare staff on nutrition and physical activity (topics include but are not limited to, compliance with state and federal meal planning requirements, healthy menu planning, health and sanitation practices, serving local foods in meals & snacks, gardening, meal pattern basics, movement in small spaces, minimal equipment use, adverse weather adaptations, age-appropriate gross motor activities, and structured adult-led games).

·       Provide high-level technical assistance and guidance (via one-on-one or a group) to CACFP/SFSP participants that supports implementation of nutrition best practices, Farm to ECE programming, and physical activity regulations.

• Collaborate with Nutrition Services’ Marketing and Outreach Manager to develop and disseminate educational materials for social media, newsletters, and press events.
• Collaborate with the Policy Administrator to ensure nutrition education, physical activity, and Farm to ECE activities and resources align with CACFP and SFSP regulations, policy, and policy guidance.
• Manage the research, application, and administration of state and federal grants related to nutrition education, farm to ECE, and physical activity. Collaborate with the Department’s Grant Writer and Research Unit to ensure grant opportunities align with the Department’s strategic plan and federal Child Nutrition Programs (CNP). Assist with developing grant narratives and collecting supporting data.
• Act as Department project manager and subject matter expert for nutrition, physical activity and Farm to ECE. Work cross-divisionally to support GA’s Pre-K program participants, licensed childcare facilities, CAPs recipients and Quality Rated facilities programs with health and wellness best practices. Lead and coordinate multi-partner, cross-divisional campaigns that promote nutrition, physical activity, and Farm to ECE across Georgia.
• Assess and strengthen partnerships with state agencies, non-profits, and stakeholders to develop a unified approach to nutrition, Farm to ECE, and physical activity in early childhood settings.

·       Provide effective technical assistance to internal and external stakeholders on the most current dietary guidelines and findings related to health, nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention. 

·       Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on developing goals, strategies and activities related to promoting health and nutrition, expanding CACFP and SFSP meal service, and identifying strategies to fight obesity and hunger in early care and education and adult care settings.

• Maintain a library of resources and information related to health and nutrition, Farm to ECE, and physical activity in early care and education settings.  Build and maintain a database of Farm to ECE programs in early care and education settings.
• Provide updates on changes and potential impacts to the Department’s mission/goals and strategic plan.
• Plan, supervise and monitor the duties and performance of two (2) staff positions as they support administering the Division’s health and nutrition, Farm to ECE and physical activity programs.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's degree in education, social, behavioral, or

biological sciences or a directly related field from an accredited college or university and three (3) years of

experience in public health education, which includes one (1) year in a lead worker, team leader, or supervisory role; or one (1) year of experience at the lower level Hlth Educator 3 (HCP032) or position equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications:

·       Master’s degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, Public Health, Maternal and Child Health, Child Development or a related field, and 1 year experience providing and facilitating training sessions and workshops to large groups.

·       Registered Dietician (RD), License Dietician (LD), Servsafe Certification, and State Approved Training Recognition.

·       Experience working in early care and education settings. Knowledge of and/or experience working with state and/or federally funded Child Nutrition Programs such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Summer Food Service Program (Happy Helpings), or Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program.

Physical Requirements:

• Receive detailed information through oral communication.
• Speak clearly.
• Occasionally continuously stand or walk for long periods of time; regularly requires bending, stooping, reaching, twisting, lifting, pushing, pulling and moving items or materials occasionally of moderate weight up to 30 pounds.
• Use close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading and visual inspection.
• Review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data.  Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification.
• Exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.
• Use full range of hand and finger motion for data entry purposes.
• Must have a valid Georgia driver's license, insurance coverage and have the ability to drive for extensive periods as needed.

Technical Competencies:

• Knowledge and use of Data Management and Conferencing systems (MS Office Suite-Word, Teams, Excel, Publisher, Power Point and/or Access) and training development/design software.
• Knowledge of most recent dietary guidelines and research related to health, nutrition and weight-related illnesses in children; fighting obesity and hunger, and facts, findings, and prevention initiatives related to children in early education and care settings.
• Ability to develop training presentations and materials using adult learning principles.

Bright from the Start:  Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is a family-friendly employer, offering flexible work schedules (at supervisory discretion) and a comprehensive compensation package, to include healthcare, retirement, 401-k match, and elective options for dental, vision, AD&D, short and long-term disability, and life insurance.  Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is an equal opportunity employer and drug-free workplace.  A background check will be completed upon hire, which may consist of any or all of the following: criminal and employment histories, credit history (as applicable to the position), education credentials, and motor vehicle driving records.

“If you are an individual with a disability who may require assistance or other reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the selection process for this position, you may contact our HR department at 678-879-2993. Due to the volume of submissions received by this office, information concerning application or interview status cannot be provided in writing, over the phone, or in person. All applicants who submit a complete application package will be considered but may not necessarily receive notification or an interview.  The job posting may be subject to being closed at any time without notice.  Only those qualified candidates who are selected for an interview shall receive notification upon the filling of this vacancy.

Bright from the Start:  Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is an equal opportunity employer.