1

Child Nutrition Program Jobs (NOW HIRING)

next page

Showing results 1-20

Child Nutrition Program information

See salary details

$7

$14

$18

How much do child nutrition program jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for child nutrition program in the United States is $14.67, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $14.90 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Child Nutrition Program vs Child Nutrition Specialist?

AspectChild Nutrition ProgramChild Nutrition Specialist
CertificationsTypically requires food service or nutrition certificationsRequires similar certifications, often with additional nutrition credentials
Work EnvironmentProgram administration, planning, and compliance in schools or community settingsDirectly involved in nutrition education, meal planning, and client interaction
Employer & IndustrySchool districts, government agencies, community programsEducational institutions, health organizations, government agencies

The Child Nutrition Program focuses on managing and implementing nutrition services at an organizational level, ensuring compliance and program delivery. In contrast, the Child Nutrition Specialist often works directly with children or clients, providing nutrition education and personalized guidance. Both roles require similar certifications and operate within educational and community settings, but their primary responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a child nutrition program professional, and why are they important?

To thrive in a Child Nutrition Program role, you need a background in nutrition, food safety, and meal planning, often supported by relevant certifications or degrees such as a ServSafe certification or a degree in dietetics. Familiarity with nutrition analysis software, point-of-sale systems, and state/federal compliance tools is typically required. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for managing menus, coordinating with staff, and ensuring regulatory adherence. These skills ensure the delivery of safe, nutritious meals to children while meeting all health and compliance standards.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in a child nutrition program, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Child Nutrition Programs often encounter challenges such as meeting strict regulatory guidelines, accommodating diverse dietary needs, and managing limited resources. Balancing menu planning to ensure nutritional value while adhering to budget constraints can be demanding. Effective communication with students, parents, and school staff is crucial to address concerns and promote healthy eating habits. Staying up to date with training and collaborating with nutritionists, food service workers, and administrators can help overcome these challenges and contribute to a supportive, efficient work environment.

What is a child nutrition program?

Child Nutrition Programs are federally funded initiatives in the United States designed to provide healthy meals and snacks to children in schools, childcare centers, and other institutions. Programs like the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program aim to ensure that children receive nutritious meals that meet specific dietary guidelines. These programs help promote healthy eating habits and support the overall well-being and academic success of children from low-income families.
More about Child Nutrition Program jobs
What cities are hiring for Child Nutrition Program jobs? Cities with the most Child Nutrition Program job openings:
What states have the most Child Nutrition Program jobs? States with the most job openings for Child Nutrition Program jobs include:
Infographic showing various Child Nutrition Program job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $30,513 per year, or $14.7 per hour.

Child Nutrition Program Associate

Project Bread

East Boston, MA โ€ข On-site

$56K - $60K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

Project Bread connects people and communities in Massachusetts to reliable sources of food while advocating for policies that make food more accessible—so that no one goes hungry. To assist us in meeting our mission, Project Bread – The Walk for Hunger is seeking a Child Nutrition Program Associate to join our team.


At Project Bread, we have a deep commitment to creating positive social change and recognize that hunger and racism are inextricably linked. We work in a fast-paced environment that values learning, innovation, and diverse perspectives. Knowing its centrality to our work, Project Bread is committed to equity and inclusion. We aspire to build a diverse team, including groups that are traditionally underrepresented among our sector leadership. We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. 


Supervisor: Assistant Director of Child Nutrition

Starting Salary Range: $56,000-60,000


The Role: The Child Nutrition Program Associate will play a critical support role on the Child Nutrition Team, improving children's access to quality nutrition across Massachusetts. The Associate will work across multiple program areas, including Summer Eats, School Breakfast, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), while also providing broader administrative support that keeps the team's work running smoothly. This is a solution-oriented, collaborative role, ideal for someone who enjoys wearing many hats: moving between administrative tasks, research projects, and hands-on outreach with schools and communities, sometimes all in the same week. The ideal candidate brings strong organizational and relationship-building skills, is energized by a fast-changing to-do list, and is excited to help build out a brand-new area of work as Project Bread expands into CACFP.


Primary Responsibilities:


Program Outreach & Support

  • Support the expansion of Summer Eats in targeted communities, in collaboration with the Assistant Director, including conducting community-level research and identifying potential collaborative partners.
  • Assist in developing partnerships with local community and school district leaders, community-based organizations, and community networks to support the creation of new program sites.
  • Help implement outreach strategies that increase participation in child nutrition programs, including providing technical assistance, resources, and support to new and existing program operators.
  • Execute research and exploratory projects, in collaboration with Child Nutrition Team members, to inform outreach programming for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) — a new area of work for Project Bread.


Administrative Program Support

  • Collaborate with the Program Manager on event management and administrative tasks to plan, execute, and evaluate the annual Summer Eats Conference.
  • Organize and execute mailings of child nutrition program materials to meal providers across the state.
  • Support the outreach team with key program functions, such as fulfilling material requests, organizing photos and content, and preparing presentation slides.
  • Maintain program data and record-keeping systems, including monthly and annual program tracking and reporting.
  • Collaborate with team members on special projects as assigned by the Director or Assistant Director of Child Nutrition.


Organizational Responsibilities:

  • Support the annual Walk for Hunger, including working as event staff the weekend of the Walk (first weekend in May), and attending pre-Walk events as assigned.
  • Participate in organization-wide events and meetings.
  • Act to promote, sustain, and grow Project Bread's positive, productive, and inclusive working environment.


Qualifications: There are innumerable ways to learn, grow and excel professionally. We know people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. Project Bread recognizes this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate most of the qualifications and experiences listed below.


Priority Competencies:

  • Communication & Collaboration: Works effectively as part of multiple teams and across concurrent projects. Communicates clearly, stays open to feedback, and adjusts approach based on what a task or teammate needs.
  • Project Management & Organization: Manages a full plate of work efficiently, keeps multiple projects moving in parallel, and catches small details and inconsistencies that others might miss.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Builds genuine, collaborative relationships with external partners — school districts, community organizations, meal providers — and maintains them over time.
  • Adaptability & Learning Agility: Picks up new program areas and systems quickly and confidently. Comfortable diving into an unfamiliar program area, like CACFP, that's still being built out, and knows when to ask questions along the way.


Additional Qualifications and Experience:

  • Prior professional experience in nonprofit or community-based settings.
  • Familiarity with school food service programs and/or other child nutrition programs is a plus.
  • Comfortable being a self-starter who can jump into a range of situations and settings, working both independently and as part of a team.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly with a range of audiences.
  • Ability to travel within Massachusetts, to visit and transport materials to meal providers and stakeholders not accessible by public transportation.
  • Personal commitment to solving hunger in Massachusetts.


Work Location All employees are currently working in a hybrid remote-and-in-person model and are expected to work in person at least one day per week. The Program Associate will regularly work in person at Project Bread's East Boston office and on location within assigned Eastern MA communities.


Benefits Benefits include health and dental, flexible spending accounts, retirement plan with match after one year, fully paid PFML leave, life and long-term disability, contributions to commuting costs and wellness expenses, and flexible paid time off.


How to Apply Please apply here by completing our application form and uploading your resume and cover letter in MS Word or Pdf format.


Priority consideration will be given to candidates that apply by August 10th. Project Bread is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, height, weight, or marital status in employment or the provision of services. Please contact us at jobs@projectbread.org if you would like to request special accommodations during the interview process.