Legislation and Nutrition Officer - DGA13597

Are you a qualified nutrition professional with a passion for healthy eating, sustainability and improving outcomes for children and young people? We are seeking an enthusiastic and forward-thinking Legislation and Nutrition Officer to lead the development and delivery of nutritional, legislative and sustainability initiatives across our school meals service.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key strategic role in shaping the future of school food provision across Dumfries and Galloway. You will lead on the implementation of the National Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020, ensuring compliance with current and future legislation whilst developing innovative, sustainable, and nutritious food services.

Working closely with colleagues across Facilities Services, Education, NHS partners and external stakeholders, you will:

• Lead the development of nutrition and sustainability strategies for school meals services
• Creating and evaluating strategies
• Developing procedures and systems
• Create, analyse and review menus for nursery, primary and secondary pupils in line with Scottish Government Legislation and nutritional standards
• Develop bespoke menus for medical, allergen and religious dietary requirements
• Lead the Better Eating Better Learning Action Plan and contribute to wider health improvement initiatives
• Promote healthier choices through projects such as Beyond the School Gate, Breakfast Clubs and food education programmes
• Develop and deliver training programmes for catering staff
• Provide expert advice on food legislation, allergen management, menu development and nutritional standards
• Support inspection processes, service development projects and partnership working across the region

We are looking for a highly motivated individual who can combine technical nutritional expertise with strong leadership and communication skills. Essential requirements include:

• SCQF Level 9 or postgraduate qualification in Nutrition Science
• Registered Nutritionist status (RNutr or ANutr)
• Experience in menu planning, food costing and nutritional analysis
• Experience developing training programmes and action plans
• Knowledge of the National Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020
• A current driving licence is an essential requirement of this post. However, if you have a disability which precludes you from holding a driving licence consideration will be given if alternative transport can be arranged.

This role provides the opportunity to make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of children and young people while influencing the future direction of school food services. You will work with a wide range of partners and contribute to innovative projects that support nutrition, sustainability and climate change objectives across the region.

With an exciting benefits package, working for Dumfries and Galloway Council supports you to invest in your own health and wellbeing. Employees have access to our bespoke Vivup platform with over 800 discounts on everyday essentials from top UK retailers, restaurants, utility providers and more. Employees also get access to membership of The Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland), exclusive discounts from local businesses, a Cycle-to-Work scheme, financial support from My Money Matters, and guidance from our trained Wellbeing Champions.

Here at Dumfries and Galloway Council we are committed to equality, diversity and equal opportunity with our values, which include treating everyone with dignity, fairness and respect, driving us to tackle inequality. We are looking for people that can bring different perspectives and experiences and especially welcome applications from those who are underrepresented in our organisation.

Apply Today! We would love to hear from you.