How to hire a food and nutrition teacher

How to hire a food and nutrition teacher, step by step

Here's a step-by-step food and nutrition teacher hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a food and nutrition teacher job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new food and nutrition teacher
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a food and nutrition teacher, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A food and nutrition teacher's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, food and nutrition teachers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of food and nutrition teachers.

   Type of Food And Nutrition Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   Food And Nutrition Teacher	Dietitians and nutritionists are experts in the use of food and nutrition to promote health and manage disease. They advise people on what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle or achieve a specific health-related goal.	$9-17
   Dietician	Dietitians are specialists in food and nutrition whose primary role includes encouraging healthy eating patterns, providing dietary instructions, and creating particular diets for individuals. They interpret the science of nourishment to daily knowledge of well-being and healthy food, as well as perform treatment and prevention among individuals or groups... Show more	$15-46
   Outpatient Dietitian	An Outpatient Dietitian is responsible for providing medical nutrition therapy, such as nutrition assessment, nutrition support, patient intervention, and education. They also identify the educational needs of others, develop formal educational training programs or classes, and teach or instruct others.	$18-49

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Dishes
   • Cash Handling
   • Food Handling
   • Tray Line
   • Nutrition Services
   • Cold Food
   • Cash Registers
   • Allergies
   • Patient Satisfaction
   • Prep Food
   • Patient Diet
   • Floor Stock
   • Breakfast Lunch

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Substitute foods for kids with food allergies.
   • Clean up spil food or drink or broken dishes and remove empty bottles and trash.
   • Assist the department in the clerical aspects of patient meal service through accurate menu processing and assists patients with menu selection.
   • Accompany the nutrition educators to discuss dietary issues with patients and family members
   • Improve quality and effectiveness of teaching, developing and launching new kindergarten program.
   • Counsele student and faculty clients for campus nutrition clinic using ADIME and motivational interviewing techniques

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your food and nutrition teacher job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A food and nutrition teacher can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, food and nutrition teachers' average salary in idaho is 53% less than in minnesota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level food and nutrition teachers 46% less than senior-level food and nutrition teachers.
   • Certifications. A food and nutrition teacher with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a food and nutrition teacher's salary.

   Average food and nutrition teacher salary

   $13.23hourly

   $27,511 yearly

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   Entry-level food and nutrition teacher salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a food and nutrition teacher job description

   A job description for a food and nutrition teacher role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a food and nutrition teacher job description:

   Food and nutrition teacher job description example

   + Performs all food service staff level functions, as needed, in the support of various sections in the department.
   
   + As directed and in partnership with department leadership, oversees the daily shift operation of the various sections such as, patient dining services, retail/catering operations including cash handling, food production, inventory/receiving, storing and issuing, sanitation and safety.
   
   + Gives daily work assignments to staff based on staffing schedule and daily needs, trains as needed.
   + Gives input into disciplining and evaluating staff.
   
   + Monitors staff compliance to department policies and procedures.
   
   + Gives input into scheduling needs.
   
   + Assists department leader in various supervisory functions; coordinates staff work activities, monitors and inspects work, monitors attendance and assists in addressing disciplinary problems as needed.
   
   + Performs supervisory duties in the absence of the department leader.
   
   + May assist with projects to ensure accurate and timely completion.
   
   + Some positions in this classification may be focused primarily on providing on the job (OJT) training for new or existing dining service associates, food and nutrition associates or related positions while also performing the primary duties of a dining service associate, food and nutrition associate or related position.
   
   + The incumbent provides input to the manager into the development of competencies and learning experiences to support OTJ training, ensures that the required learning experiences are provided in a scheduled and organized manner, evaluates the performance of each trainee against the competencies and reports trainee progress toward compliance to the supervisor or manager.
   
   + He/she signs off that compliance has been attained.
   
   + OTJ training is provided in the actual work space to which the trainee is assigned with the trainer working directly with the trainee by modeling each process, shadowing and providing feedback as the trainee performs the task.
   
   + The trainer may also periodically assist with training in a computer classroom setting to demonstrate the use of software.
   
   + Training on the rationale for diet modifications and the food items permitted on each diet modification may be provided in conjunction with a registered dietitian.
   
   + Works with manager to formulate plan for professional development.
   
   + Attends educational in-services as appropriate.
   
   + Ensures staff adhere to Department of Health standards.
   
   + Follows-up on customer complaints and attempts to resolve issues.
   
   + Performs open and close activities.
   
   + Assists manager in training staff on proper food service prep procedures, developing staff for advancement; including new hires.
   
   + Conducts daily team huddles and assists leadership with planning staff meetings/ in-services.
   
   + Performs all food service staff level functions, as scheduling and operational needs require, in the support of various sections in the department.
   
   + Performs other related duties as required.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   + High school diploma or equivalent.
   
   + Must have 2 years call center experience or 2 years food service with one year of healthcare food services experience preferred.
   
   + Demonstrated skills in customer service, must be able to read, write, and communicate effectively.
   
   + Demonstrates critical thinking by making sound judgments while quickly processing information, problem solving and prioritizing needs appropriately.
   
   + Must have basic computing skills and basic math skills.
   
   + Must maintain Serv Safe certified or attain certification within 6 months of hire, if not certified at time of hire.PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (Medium): 20-50 lbs; 0-33% of the work day (occasionally); 11-25 lbs, 34-66% of the workday (frequently); 01-10 lbs, 67-100% of the workday (constantly); Lifting 50 lbs max; Carrying of objects up to 25 lbs; Occasional to frequent standing & walking, Occasional sitting, Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing), Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Factors affecting environment conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks. Environmental exposures include, but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure Bio-hazardous waste Chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors Communicable diseases Electrical shock, Floor Surfaces, Hot/Cold Temperatures, Indoor/Outdoor conditions, Latex, Lighting, Patient care/handling injuries, Radiation, Shift work, Travel may be required. Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.
   
   **Connect With Us!**
   
   Connect with us for general consideration!
   
   **Division** _Emory Univ Hospital_
   
   **Campus Location** _Atlanta, GA, 30322_
   
   **Campus Location** _US-GA-Atlanta_
   
   **Department** _EUH Food & Nutrition_
   
   **Job Type** _Regular Full-Time_
   
   
   **Job Category** _Food Services & Dietetics_
   
   **Schedule** _Other_
   
   **Standard Hours** _40 Hours_
   
   Emory Healthcare is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity in all of its employment practices and decisions. Emory Healthcare prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age (40 and over), disability, citizenship, genetic information, service in the uniformed services, veteran status or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right food and nutrition teacher for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with food and nutrition teachers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit food and nutrition teachers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your food and nutrition teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit food and nutrition teacher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit food and nutrition teachers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new food and nutrition teacher

   Once you've found the food and nutrition teacher candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new food and nutrition teacher first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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