Administrative Consultant (USDA Child & Adult Care Food Program)

Salary : $78,811.20 - $121,180.80 Annually
Location : Des Moines - 50319 - Polk County, IA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 27-01100
Agency: 282 Iowa Department of Education
Opening Date: 10/19/2026
Closing Date: 10/29/2026 11:59 PM Central
LinkedIn Tag: #LI-POST
Point of Contact:
To Apply: To ensure full consideration for this position, all requested materials must be completed and uploaded through the NEOGov online application process

Job Description
We are looking to find a highly qualified leader to serve as the Department's Administrative Consultant for the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This person will be an integral member of the Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services team.

Your Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership, coordination and project management of the CACFP.
• Interpret, monitor, and enforce federal and state law, complex regulations, and policies to oversee compliance.
• Provide oversight of trainings, meetings, conferences for CACFP center, DCH sponsor and State agency staff in collaboration with the bureau CACFP training coordinator.
• Lead and advise Bureau monitoring staff on program and financial compliance of CACFP-participating organizations.
• Oversee and coordinate documents used in appeals including testifying at hearings for appeals.
• Collaborate with other agencies that regulate and serve child care institutions.
• Identify changes and enhancements to the web-based, information technology system used by the Bureau that are necessary for program administration, integrity and compliance. Communicate functionality issues and complete user acceptance testing prior to implementation.
• Ensure secure collection, transfer and storage of program data.

Candidates are encouraged to include detailed information about their relevant experience in their application, or submit a cover letter and resume in addition to their application.

If you wish to review a copy of the Position Description Questionnaire, please contact

Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday; some nights, weekends and in-state travel and occasional out-of-state travel

A successful candidate will bring or have the ability and desire to learn:

• Ability to keep multiple projects moving forward at the same time and meeting deadlines with minimal supervision
• Experience being detail-oriented with ability to apply established procedures and requirements into practice with speed and accuracy
• Willing to travel and remain out of home location overnight on occasion as the job requires (primarily in-state travel)
• Proficiency with office software applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, Microsoft access and ability to learn other custom software applications including web-based systems;
• Experience in government regulation implementation;
• Ability to work collaboratively on, and provide leadership for, high-performing teams
• Ability to interpret and break down highly technical and regulatory language, and present information in an understandable manner
• Conflict resolution and interpersonal skills
• Experience working with USDA Food and Nutrition Programs preferred.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Opportunities to make a widespread difference in the lives of children, their families, and Iowa communities
• Collaborative, positive work environment
• Talented and passionate work colleagues that will help you learn and grow
• Opportunities to collaborate with experts from around the country
• Employee discounts from a variety of vendors
• Competitive salary and benefits package:

Minimum Qualification Requirements
Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university, and experience equal to five years of full-time, professional-level work in program administration, development, management, or operations.
2) A combination of a total of nine years of education and full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work may substitute for one year of full-time experience.
3) Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in social work, law, education, engineering, or public or business administration, and experience equal to three years of full-time, professional-level work in program administration, development, management, or operations.
4) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes two years of full-time work as an Education Program Consultant.
For additional information, please click on this
01

Do you understand that the answers to all of the following questions must be truthful, honest, and accurate to the best of your ability? Please read all questions and answers thoroughly and make sure you understand them completely. Ensure the answers to your questions match the information filled out on your application and the attachments you have uploaded. If the answers to your questions are inconsistent with your application information or uploaded attachments, you will be given zero points for the question. Knowingly misrepresenting the facts when submitting any information related to an application, examination, certification, appeal, or any other facet of the selection process will result in your disqualification from this application and future employment with the state of Iowa.

• Yes - I understand and agree.
• No

02

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Have you filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq?

• No - I have NOT filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq
• Yes - I HAVE filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq

03

Have you graduated from an accredited four-year college or university, and have experience equal to five years of full-time, professional-level work in program administration, development, management, or operations?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have a combination of a total of nine years of education and full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work may substitute for one year of full-time experience?

• Yes
• No

05

Have you graduated from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in social work, law, education, engineering, or public or business administration, and have experience equal to three years of full-time, professional-level work in program administration, development, management, or operations?

• Yes
• No

06

Are you an employee with current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes two years of full-time work as an Education Program Consultant?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have, or have had, a BoEE License?

• Yes
• No

08

Has there been probable cause, suspension, revocation or disciplinary action taken against you?

• Yes
• No

09

If any of the above apply to you, please describe:
10

Which best describes your education and experience? (If multiple responses apply for you, please choose the highest degree completed)

• Gradutate Degree (or higher) AND 2+ years of full timework experience with a major/emphasis in program administration, management or operations.
• Bachelor's Degree (or higher) AND 2+ years of full time work experience with a major/emphasis in program administration, management or operations.
• Bachelor's Degree (or higher) AND less than 2 years of full time work experience with a major/emphasis in program administration, management or operations.
• Not applicable

11

How many years of full-time work experience do you have communicating with internal and external clients and customers to meet their needs?

• 5 or more years of experience
• 4 years of experience but less than 5 years
• 3 years of experience but less than 4 years
• 2 years of experience but less than 3 years
• 1 year of experience but less than 2 years
• Less than 1 year experience
• Not applicable

12

How many years of full-time work experience do you have ensuring compliance with federal regulation and policy memoranda guiding implementation?

• 5 or more years of experience
• 4 years of experience but less than 5 years
• 3 years of experience but less than 4 years
• 2 years of experience but less than 3 years
• 1 year of experience but less than 2 years
• Less than 1 year experience
• Not applicable

13

How many years of full-time work experience do you have utilizing independent judgment to make correct decisions based on information received?

• 5 or more years of experience
• 4 years of experience but less than 5 years
• 3 years of experience but less than 4 years
• 2 years of experience but less than 3 years
• 1 year of experience but less than 2 years
• Less than 1 year experience
• Not applicable

14

How many years of full-time work experience do you have interpreting information received and determining whether it meets criteria found in various policies or regulations?

• 5 or more years of experience
• 4 years of experience but less than 5 years
• 3 years of experience but less than 4 years
• 2 years of experience but less than 3 years
• 1 year of experience but less than 2 years
• Less than 1 year experience
• Not applicable

15

How many years of full-time work experience do you have utilizing computer systems to document information while simultaneously obtaining it from the caller?

• 5 or more years of experience
• 4 years of experience but less than 5 years
• 3 years of experience but less than 4 years
• 2 years of experience but less than 3 years
• 1 year of experience but less than 2 years
• Less than 1 year experience
• Not applicable

Required Question