Program Associate Trainee

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a current employee at Food for Education.
  
• Demonstrated strong performance in current role, especially in kitchen-level operations and team coordination.
  
• Strong interest in growing into a leadership role within the Program team.
  
• Basic proficiency in digital tools such as Excel, Google Sheets, or Looker.
  
• Proven commitment to F4E’s values: excellence, ownership, continuous improvement, and curiosity.
  

Learning and Operational Exposure

• Shadow Program Analysts and Associates to gain hands-on experience in kitchen performance review, data analytics, and operational troubleshooting.
  
• Assist in analyzing daily meal production data, flagging inconsistencies or deviations in Looker/Tableau under supervision.
  
• Support the implementation of SOPs and learn to conduct compliance checks.
  
• Oversee daily kitchen operations across a designated number of kitchens, ensuring adherence to set guidelines for meal preparation, hygiene, and food safety.
  
• Provide support to kitchen teams to resolve operational challenges and ensure consistent execution of daily meal plans.
  
• Monitor meal production and consumption data, ensuring kitchens meet daily targets and quality standards.
  
• Support the enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for food safety, hygiene, and meal production in all kitchens.
  
• Conduct regular spot checks on kitchens to ensure compliance with program guidelines, Assist in identifying areas of non-compliance and work with kitchen teams to implement corrective measures..
  

Reporting

• Assist in collecting operational data from kitchens and Field Associates, ensuring data accuracy and timeliness.
  
• Prepare and submit reports to the Program Analyst on kitchen performance, meal production, and any operational challenges encountered
  

Team Collaboration and Communication

• Work with Program Associates to understand county team structures, performance management approaches, and internal reporting expectations.
  
• Support coordination of feedback loops between kitchens, regional teams, and compliance functions.
  
• Coordinate and distribute tasks to Field Associates to ensure all kitchens are visited and monitored regularly.
  
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Field Associates, providing operational guidance and addressing any issues they escalate.
  
• Supervise and provide guidance to a team of Field Associates, ensuring they effectively support kitchen teams within their assigned areas.
  
• Assist in building and maintaining relationships with local authorities and community leaders to foster collaboration and program support.
  
• Act as the first point of contact for any operational issues that arise at kitchen sites, escalating them to the Program Analyst if necessary.
  
• Monitor the resolution of any problems, ensuring that corrective actions are implemented and sustained.
  

Financial Planning Exposure

• Learn the basics of kitchen budgeting, purchase scheduling, and cost-per-meal analysis.
  
• Support budget justification processes and review sample quotations with guidance.
  

Training and Assessments

• Attend all scheduled weekly training sessions led by the Regional Program team and Operations leads.
  
• Complete weekly practical and theoretical assessments on operational workflows, data analysis, financial tracking, and leadership readiness.
  
• Reflect and document key learnings throughout the program.
  
• Support the training of kitchen staff and Field Associates to enhance their skills in operational excellence, food safety, and data management.
  
• Help organize and facilitate capacity-building workshops for kitchen teams, ensuring they are up to date with the latest procedures and guidelines.