Specialist, Budget and Data Strategy

$87,024 - $98,195/Yr

District of Columbia Public Schools - Washington, DC

Full-time - Mid Level

Washington, DC

Educational Services

About the position

The Specialist, Budget and Data Strategy for the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) division at the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) plays a crucial role in managing financial aspects related to school food services. This position focuses on analyzing data, advising on programmatic changes, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations to optimize budget management and enhance operational efficiency. The Specialist will collaborate with various stakeholders, including vendors and educational authorities, to support the mission of providing wholesome meals to students while promoting long-term wellness and satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Supports management of the overall budget for Food and Nutrition Services.
• Develops systems, processes, and strategies to maximize State and Federal reimbursements.
• Leads efforts to monitor spend down of FNS financial resources and makes recommendations to control spending and identify reinvestment opportunities.
• Models financial scenarios and projects outcomes for food and nutrition programs, conducts cost-benefit analyses, and proposes strategies for programmatic success.
• Leads the data analysis and dissemination for attendance, program accountability, and meal program participation.
• Works with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to generate and process claims filed for food service meal programs.
• Prepares and maintains an up-to-date OSSE reimbursement tracker for all USDA reimbursements.
• Utilizes data visualization and analytics software to make large or complex FNS-related data more accessible, understandable, and usable.
• Supports the procurement process for Food and Nutrition Services and acts as a liaison to the Contracts and Acquisitions team.
• Identifies necessary specifications, statements of work, and/or market surveys as a function of the procurement process.
• Serves as the POC for FNS-related technology and Point-of-Sale (POS) reports.
• Reconciles and audits Food Service Management Company (FSMC) invoices while tracking all fiscal year invoices.
• Leads special projects that will improve systems operations and will support key programmatic objectives and results.
• Facilitates and enforces DCPS meal charge policy and invoicing process.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and three to five years of related work experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• Specific experience in budget management preferred.
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Strong command of Excel and ability to learn quickly.
• Outstanding written and oral skills.
• Must be comfortable interacting at all levels of the organization.
• Must be attentive to detail, well-organized, able to work under pressure, and able to meet frequent and changing deadlines.
• Fully proficient in MS Office Suite and other applicable computer applications.
• Experience in technologies such as Point-Of-Sale or any other technology pertaining to food service applications preferred.
• Working knowledge of food and beverage services and operations preferred.
• Experience with USDA reimbursement programs in K-12 school environment preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in technologies such as Point-Of-Sale or any other technology pertaining to food service applications preferred.
• Working knowledge of food and beverage services and operations preferred.
• Experience with USDA reimbursement programs in K-12 school environment preferred.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $87,024 - $98,195 per year.